„Unite in Diversity: Crossing Borders and Creating the Future of Europe”
European GSI Summer School – 13.9. - 22.9.2019
The European GSI School is an annual event, organised by the Gustav-Stresemann-Institute in Bonn. Partner-institutions such as the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) are involved and have been supporting the Summer School for many years.
The 30th European GSI Summer School is an international meeting point for students and young professionals, deeply interested in politics and foreign affairs. The participants will get to know the practical work of institutions of the European Union. They will reflect on the objectives and the general conception of European integration and will discuss these with experts from all disciplines.
The program covers workshops in Bonn as well as excursions to Luxemburg and Brussels to visit important European institutions.
At the same time the Summer School is a place to exchange ideas about a better future. Regardless of their nationalities, cultural roots or professions, young people discuss new ways to a peaceful and democratic society. The threat of various crises requires a new understanding between political actors and raises the issue, how to establish a successful international cooperation.
Vom 13.- 22. September 2019 richtet das GSI zum mittelerweise 30. Mal die „European GSI Summer School“ in Bonn, Luxemburg und Brüssel aus. Sie ist erneut ein internationaler Treffpunkt für politisch interessierte Studierende bzw. junge Berufsstätige aus ganz Europa und darüber hinaus.
Die Teilnehmer/innen lernen die praktische Arbeit von EU-Institutionen kennen, setzen sich mit Zielen und aktuellen Fragen der europäischen Integration sowie der Außenpolitik auseinander und kommen ins Gespräch mit Expert/innen. Das Programm umfasst, neben Workshops in Bonn, auch Exkursionen zu europäischen Institutionen in Luxemburg und Brüssel.
Die Summer School ist zugleich ein Ort des lebendigen Austausches junger Menschen, die sich, über alle nationalen Grenzen, kulturellen Prägungen und beruflichen Spezialisierungen hinweg, für die gemeinsame, friedliche und demokratische Zukunft Europas einsetzen wollen.
Im Mittelpunkt steht die Frage, wie angesichts der drängenden Krisen eine internationale Zusammenarbeit erfolgreich gestaltet werden kann und welche europäischen Akteure es dafür gibt.
Die „European GSI Summer School“ findet jährlich statt und wird vom Gustav-Stresemann-Institut in Bonn in Kooperation mit Programm-Partnern (u.a. dem Deutschen Akademischen Austauschdienst) durchgeführt.
Das Gustav-Stresemann-Institut engagiert sich seit über 65 Jahren als überparteiliche, unabhängige und gemeinnützige Bildungsinstitution für politische Bildung, europäische Integration und internationalen Austausch. Damit steht das GSI in der Tradition der Friedens- und Verständigungspolitik, für die Gustav Stresemann und Aristide Briand 1926 gemeinsam mit dem Friedensnobelpreis ausgezeichnet wurden.
Welcome address
Dear participants of the GSI European Summer School,
2019 is a special year – we are celebrating 70 years of the German Constitution and 30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it is the 70th birthday of the European Movement Germany and for the 30th time, GSI is hosting its Summer School. All these anniversaries are bound by a European context. They belong to European democracy and are a result of European citizens being involved and active. This is why this is a celebratory year, and we acknowledge it by reflecting on our common past and by thinking about our common European future.
Europe is a collaborative project, in many ways and on many levels. We engage in international cooperation because this is required for a peaceful continent. Now more than ever, it is important to stand up for European values, to connect with like-minded people and to engage with those we disagree with. We need more debate about ideas and more democratic discourse when it comes to finding the right political solutions. Global challenges like climate change, refugee movements or youth unemployment call for a courageous, strong and united European Union – but also one that understands how important political competition and pluralistic discussions are.
Democracy requires commitment! Democracy is about pluralism, it needs discourse and conversation beyond the national level. And it needs participation and involvement.
With these words, I wish you a successful Summer School.
Linn Selle
Chairwoman of European Movement Germany (EM Germany) and Patronage of the 30. European GSI Summer School
Welcome to GSI Bonn
Arrival of the participants and organisational tasks
GSI Team
12.00
Lunch at GSI Restaurant
14.00 - 15.00
Welcome in Bonn
Introduction of the team and the participants, brief presentation of the programme, the facts, figures and the European Summer School Blog
Anne Schulz
Head of 30th European GSI Summer School, Gustav-Stresemann-Institute
Antje Schlamm
Head of Section Scholarship Programmes East Central Europe, South East Europe, Turkey, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
15.00
Coffee break
15.30 – 18.00
Workshop: Warm up - The political system of the EU
European Institutions and policy fields (Parliament, Council, Commission, Court, European Council and other Institutions)
Dr. Birgit Klüsener
Director of the Department Scholarships, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
30 Years of European exchange 30 Years of European history The EU has grown in the recent decades. The hopes of the European democrats: Had they been fulfilled? Some frictions seem to stay on, some divisions even seem to increase.
Alumni and friends of European Summer School discuss the European status quo.
The European Union in the years to come: Solidarity or populistic split-up?
The status quo and the challenges of the future concerning economy, social security and possibly a fairer and deeper economic union.
Dr. Jürgen Born
Department Economics, Labour and Social Affairs, Institute for Church and Society, Evangelical Church of Westphalia
10.30
Coffee break
10.45 - 11.45
The European Union in the years to come: Solidarity or populistic split-up?
The status quo and the challenges of the future concerning economy, social security and possibly a fairer and deeper economic union.
Dr. Jürgen Born
Department Economics, Labour and Social Affairs, Institute for Church and Society, Evangelical Church of Westphalia
12.00-13.15
Crossing borders: The European Union and the candidates
The fast progress of integration seems to come to a very end. The candidates, which apply for membership, are waiting and speculating about uncertain perspectives. Is there a real chance for new countries to join the EU?
Moderation:Dr. Jan Ulrich Clauss
Former Science Director, Gustav Stresemann-Institute(retired)
S.E. Ramadan Nazifi
Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia
Gefördert durch den Minister für Bundes- und Europaangelegenheiten sowie Internationales des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen im Rahmen des Beneluxjahr.NRW 2019 Cooperation - the fundament for mutual success
Event open to the public
14.00-15.35
Lecture The Benelux Union - a story of success
Dr. Doris Gau
Liaison Officer from North Rhine-Westphalia at the Benelux Union
Debate: The power of the regions
Models of cooperation as the Benelux-Union, Euregio, local partnership
Crossing borders and the experience of NGOs: Wildfire as an environmental issue in Europe
An insight into the work of an international network and it`s projects supported by the EU
Bonn – a European City that masters change
The development of the former German capital into a center of international cooperation “Germany’s United Nations city”– Challenges and approaches
Dr. Maria Hohn-Berghorn
Director Liaison Office, International Academic Sciences, City of Bonn (retired)
10.45
Walk to Tram. Transfer together
11.30-13.00
Bonn: United in diversity – a European City
Exploring the city of Bonn and it’s sites of international importance
Brigitte Müller, Ulrich Dreesen BonnInformation
Return to GSI
13.15
Lunch at GSI Restaurant
14.00-15.30
Giving Europe a home –
European Simulation Game
Taking roles of representatives of different institutions in the EU, the participants initiate a common legal act in the field of culture.
The European Union – an area of freedom, security and justice exemplified by distinctive law cases
Dr. Michael Winkelmüller
European Expert, Specialist solicitor for administrative law
Partner Redeker Sellner Dahs, Bonn
11.45
Lunch Snack on invitation of the law firm Redeker Sellner Dahs, Bonn
Afterwards
Return to GSI
14.00-15.30
Climate Change as an international task - Europe´s role in the World Lecture and debate
Richard Kinley
Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (2006-2017, retired)
15.30
Coffee break
16.00-17.30
Crossing borders: The role of media and the danger of nationalistic discourse
Digital media embrace the great possibility of international understanding. The chance to communicate with people from different countries and to collect information are as comprehensive as it had been never before. But on the other hand, social networks are used to promote nationalistic propaganda. Are the media entitled to support a pro-European point of view and fight against nationalistic ideas? Should they stay neutral? In which way the nationalistic propaganda can be abolished successfully?
Moderation: Lena Kronenbürger
Freelance writer, Editor-in-chief, 42 Magazine
Schengen Agreements and the freedom to travel, visit of the European Museum Schengen
Schengen as a historical place of European Cooperation – Information visit with comments
Anne Schulz
11.30
Lunch
12.00-13.00
German Diplomacy in the most European of all EU member states
Lecture by the German Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Arrival at the European Investment Bank and security check Visit of the European Investment Bank
Participants will hear a general presentation on the role and activities of the EIB with a questions and answers session at the end.
Olivia Saunders
Civil Society Officer
12.00-13.00
European GSI Summer School Blog
Romain Hamet
13.00
Lunch
14.30 -16.30
The European Court of Auditors
The guardian of the financial interests of the citizens of the Union. The ECA’s role as the EU’s “financial watchdog”, a closer look on the annual report and the recommendations.
