EM Germany Newsletter CW 43/2022 | Forecast for a political autumn of European challenges
Exploding energy prices, inflation and, not least, war in the immediate neighbourhood are the new normal. Politics and society at all levels in free, democratic Europe are under enormous pressure. With all due understanding of constraints and unpredictability, we call for more „community method“, also in our dialogue with the German government. We remind them of their own coalition pledge.
Our President Dr Linn Selle summed it up last week demanding a „European reflex“. Everything in the new normal is interconnected in a European way. Purely national debates and solutions go astray. That is why yesterday we combined EM Germany’s Debriefing on the past meeting of the European Council with a briefing on the European Commission’s 2023 work programme.
In the autumn, we will focus on crucial European policy issues, such as the Berlin process on the Western Balkans, the measures on the rule of law conditionality and the strengthening of the EU, for example by implementing the proposals from the Conference on the Future of Europe.
With a new EM Germany Board and new Political Demands and above all with your help, we will make our contribution to a Europe in democratic community.
Yours
Bernd Hüttemann
Secretary-General of the European Movement Germany
#EBDGrafik of the week
EM Germany News
Facing autumn with a united front? European Council and Commission discuss European responses to global crises | The meeting of the European Council and the presentation of the European Commission’s Work Programme 2023 provided new impetus for the pressing issues on the European policy agenda. The EM Germany (De-)Briefing on 25 October provided an opportunity for a political classification and analysis of the European Summit by Sibylle Katharina Sorg, Head of the European Department of the Federal Foreign Office and Dr Kirsten Scholl, Head of the European Department of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection. Dr Jörg Wojahn, representative of the European Commission in Germany, presented the European Commission’s Work Programme 2023. The first comment was made by President Dr. Linn Selle under the moderation of Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann. | More (in German)
The German government must face the energy crisis with a European reflex | In the run-up to the European Council, President Dr. Linn Selle appealed to the German government to face the current energy crisis in a united manner and together with its European partners. In this context, Selle also stressed the necessity of a timely agreement by the EU institutions for an EU climate social fund in the ongoing trialogue negotiations in order to counteract the increased cost of living and price rises for low-income households. Germany, as the largest member state, should play a decisive role in coordinating and finding a common European solution to the crisis. | More (in German)
President Dr. Linn Selle as guest on the Phoenix Runde | The demand to face the energy crisis together with the European partners and to act strictly pan-European in this crisis in the national interest was reiterated by President Dr. Linn Selle as guest on the Phoenix Runde on 20 October. On the topic „EU in Crisis Mode – Is the Community Crumbling?“, Selle discussed the energy market crisis, the war against Ukraine and the meeting of the European Council with the writer Nora Bossong, the former ARD studio director in Brussels Rolf-Dieter Krause and the President of the German-Hungarian Society Gerhard Papke. A broadcast recording can be found in the phoenix media library. | More (in German)
In exchange on Western Balkans and strengthening transparency in the EU | EM Germany’s Secretary General Bernd Hüttemann spoke on 20 October 2022 with EM Germany’s Vice-President Manuel Sarrazin, the German government’s special envoy for the countries of the Western Balkans, and the Dutch Ambassador in Berlin H.E. Ronald van Roeden on the role of societal forces in the Berlin process with the Western Balkan countries and new initiatives to strengthen transparency in the EU legislative process. | More (in German)
EU Careers Ambassadors Conference and introduction meeting | An exciting programme awaited twelve students from all over Germany from 7 to 14 October in Brussels, where they were prepared for their new role as EU Careers Ambassadors by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). Through lectures by EU officials on topics such as application and employment procedures, event organisation and online communication, the future careers ambassadors gained the necessary insights to inspire fellow students to pursue a career with the EU in the future. EM Germany supervises this project. | More (in German)
Upcoming Events
In order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the EM Germany hosts its events as video conferences whenever possible.
28.10.2022 | EM Germany & EM Austria De-Briefing ECB Governing Council with Gabriel Glöckler, Principal Adviser in the Directorate General Communication, and Katrin Assenmacher, Head of Division in the Directorate General Monetary Policy, moderated by EM Austria’s Finance Officer Ortrun Gauper.
03.11.2022 | EP rapporteur in dialogue: Birgit Sippel MEP on the proposed EU Regulation introducing checks on third-country nationals at the EU’s external borders
09.11.2022 | EM Germany De-Briefing ECOFIN & Eurogroup with Dr Judith Hermes, Head of the Department for European Policy and International Financial Policy at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
10.11.2022 | College of Europe online consultation for applicants and interested students
11.11.2022 | EM Germany Executive Board meeting – first meeting of the new Executive Board at the European House
More information
Our Presidency Calendar on the Czech EU Council Presidency contains all dates of the semester.
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