Reflections from the 54th Jung Königswinter Conference 2014
Although the financial and economic crisis which rocked the world in 2008 is far from over, there are at last small tangible signs that it is slowly being overcome. The public sector is gradually balancing its books, the Eurozone is set to grow this year and next year’s growth will be higher than this year’s. Nevertheless there remains a huge uncertainty around the future of the European project. The EU faces numerous socio-political tensions and diplomatic challenges on global scale. Today’s young professionals have a particularly tough challenge, with unemployment in the UK still around one million and stuck at 60% in countries compelled to accept bailouts such as Greece and Spain. Large gains for populist parties in this year’s European Parliamentary Elections confirmed the increasing extent of dissatisfaction towards the EU and policies like austerity.
Against this backdrop of uncertainty, 42 British and German young professionals gathered at the European Academy in Berlin in June to discuss the question “What Kind of EU do we want?” I was greatly honoured to represent the British German Association and their two Bristol affiliates, the Bristol Anglo-German Society and Bristol Hannover Council at the Conference.
Diverse professional backgrounds including academia, politics, law and economics laid the foundations for six days of intense, but enlightening discussions about the European Union and its institutions and the future of both from different perspectives, including socio-political, economic and diplomatic. Our discussions were further enriched by excellent key note speeches from the Director General at the Auswärtiges Amt (German Foreign Office) and British Ambassador and lectures from visiting political, academic and economic experts. We also enjoyed the hospitality of the British Ambassador, the German government and the Würth Group.
Despite the diverse backgrounds, opinions and nationalities of participants there was one desire that united everyone. That was to look forward to a brighter future and to do what we could to make it bright for all. Certainly, we have experienced some very difficult times in Europe over the last few years and many challenges still lie ahead. It was, however, inspiring to see so much enthusiasm and hear so many ideas about how these challenges could be faced.
Thanks to BGA Executive Committee Member Michael Withers (whom I know through my membership of the Bristol Anglo-German Society), I also had the pleasure of meeting with Thomas Schieb, former Head of Press at the German Embassy in London for lunch at the Auswärtiges Amt in Berlin. Over a delicious meal we discovered we had a mutual interest in Niedersachsen, he is originally from Braunschweig and I have served on the committee of Bristol Hannover (also in Niedersachsen) Council for three years. Mr Schieb also reaffirmed the German government’s commitment to keep Britain in the EU as it was in the best interests of both nations for Britain to remain part of the EU.
The Conference was a highly stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable experience. I would like to thank the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft for organising the event and the BGA, Bristol Anglo-German Society and Bristol Hannover Council for supporting my application. I would thoroughly recommend the Conference to any young professional with an interest in German-British relations.