Königswinter Conference

The Königswinter Conference is named after the city of Königswinter near Bonn, where the Conference was held for the first time in 1950. Since then, the Conference has convened annually, bringing together around 100 high-ranking German and British delegates from the fields of politics, diplomacy, science, journalism and business for an exchange of views. For many, the Königswinter Conference has become the epitome of a vibrant and effective bilateral forum. Königswinter has long been supported by both the British and the German government.

State Secretary Silberberg addresses
participants in Potsdam, 2007

Location, Date and Programme
The Königswinter Conference takes place alternately in Germany or Britain, normally in spring or early summer of each year. The overall theme of the Conference is always a broad one in order to allow for exchange between participants of different backgrounds.

The conference lasts for two days, beginning with a plenary discussion. Afterwards, participants break up into working groups devoted to in depth discussion of a specific topic, such as security issues or economic questions. Results of these working group meetings are presented in the closing session.

The 60th Conference will take place in London, September 16-17, 2010.

Former Federal President Host Köhler underlined the importance of Königswinter as follows:
"’Königswinter’ has become such a widely-recognised brand name for bilateral social dialogue that you could almost have it patented. The central task of the Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft and the Königswinter Conference remains highly relevant: to bring two of Europe’s large nations even closer together, and to promote the German-British relationship, also within the European framework".