Time: June 13th (Thursday) at 5:00 pm
Place: Zielna Conference Centre, Zielna 37, 00-108 Warsaw.
The European elections are poised to shape the European Union’s agenda for the next five years, a period anticipated to be fraught with complex domestic and external challenges. At the forefront of these challenges is Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, a critical issue demanding immediate attention. As key allies of Ukraine, Poland and Germany are pivotal in shaping EU policies towards the region due to their substantial influence and stakes in Eastern Europe. Despite sharing numerous common interests, notable differences in their positions remain.
In light of this, Austausch e. V and the College of Eastern Europe (KEW), in collaboration with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Warsaw Office and the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation, are seizing the European elections as an opportune moment to host a public debate titled “Shoulder to Shoulder: German-Polish Cooperation within the EU on Eastern Europe Post-Election”. This event aims to harness insights from leading experts to foster enhanced cooperation between Germany and Poland, specifically regarding their roles within the EU in Eastern European matters. The debate will focus on formulating actionable recommendations to strengthen this bilateral relationship in the context of broader European objectives.
Program
17:00-17:15
Welcoming by organizers
- Joanna Maria Stolarek – Director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation Warsaw,
- Cornelius Ochmann – Managing Director at the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation,
- Jacob Riemer – Second Executive Manager at Austausch, e.V,
- Adam Balcer – Programme Director at the Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe.
17:15-19:00: Debate: “Shoulder to Shoulder: German-Polish Cooperation on Eastern Policy Post-Election” featuring:
- Rolf Nikel, former Ambassador, Vice President of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Vice President of the German Poland Institute
- Piotr Buras – Head, ECFR Warsaw, Senior Policy Fellow specializing in Germany’s EU and foreign policy, Poland in the EU and EU politics
- Justyna Gotkowska, Deputy Director at the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) and Head of the Security and Defence Department
- Susan Stewart, Researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
Moderated by: Agata Gontarczyk – Head of Europe and International Politics Programme at the Heinrich Böll Foundation Warsaw
