10.03.2023 | 18:30 - 20:00 | Lecture Hall 17 of the University of Bonn

About a year has passed since the Russian attack on Ukraine and the "turning point" proclaimed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. With this drastic event, the need for strategic positioning became clearly apparent to everyone. This applies not only to the still ongoing war in Ukraine: global challenges such as advancing climate change, the rapid digitization of all areas of society, the aftermath of the COVID 19 pandemic, and changes in decades-old geopolitical and geo-economic habits are also forcing political decisions on direction. Last but not least, the increasingly evident systemic rivalry with the People's Republic of China and a possible U.S. retreat from its international leadership role call for concrete goal formulations instead of "muddling through."
On what basis can such strategic decisions be made? The necessary prioritization within German and European security policy presupposes a comprehensive and broad debate on concrete goals and fields of action. Such a debate must be conducted within the broad society and, in particular, include those who will be affected by the consequences of current policies in the future.
As a representative of the young generation, Polis180 would like to seek dialogue with political decision-makers and experts in order to discuss the future direction of German and European foreign and security policy. What is our vision of a Germany in Europe and a Europe in the world in the future? Should Berlin assume a leadership role and, if so, how should this be shaped in concrete terms? What foreign policy challenges await us in the coming decades? How will partners and challengers develop on the international stage? And last but not least: How do we deploy our resources sustainably? What painful compromises are necessary - but what synergy effects are possible?

Funded by the Stiftung Internationale Begegnung der Sparkasse in Bonn, the Bundesverband Sicherheitspolitik an Hochschulen and the Institut Français.

Opening remarks:

Dr. Enrico Fels
Executive Director of the Center for Advanced Security, Strategic and Integration Studies, University of Bonn

Discussion:

Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann-Grüder
Senior Senior Researcher, Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies (BICC), Associate Fellow, CASSIS, tbc

Armin Laschet
MP, CDU, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, tbc

Sara Nanni
MP, Chairwoman for Bündnis 90/The Greens in the Defence Committee of the German Bundestag

Moderation:

Lukas Hochscheidt
Polis180