Themes of Königswinter

The 61st Königswinter Conference took place from May 19-20, 2011 at Schloss Neuhardenberg near Berlin under the headline:

Staying Secure in a Changing World: Globalisation, Resources, Budgets
[Click here for the full conference programme]

Three study groups worked on the following subjects:

Group A: Economic Security
• How do the rapidly changing structures of the world economy and world trade impact on our economic perspectives and on our living conditions? What are our expectations? What steps do or should we take nationally and in the EU-context?
• In view of the growing international demand, how do we secure the necessary resources for our economies long-term?
• Do the British and the German national long-term energy concepts provide a sustainable and secure energy mix? What role for the EU?
• How do high public and private indebtedness affect our economic and budgetary prospects? 

Group B: Social Security
• Can we still guarantee a fair society in the future? Is equality better for everyone?
• Do the drastic steps taken by governments to reduce the budget deficits threaten social cohesion and undermine political participation and support for democratic structures?
• Given the demographic trends (ageing, shrinking) and the budget constraints, what will social security look like in our countries in 5-10 years? What are the political implications?
• Is migration a solution or a problem? Can we learn from each other’s experience? 

Group C: Security and Defence
• What are the new threats to our countries? What response do we need?
• How do we finance that response? Will this force us to do more together?
• Does the Strategic Concept give a new meaning to NATO?
• How should the NATO-Russia relationship/cooperation be shaped and developed?

Please click here to download the the topics of Königswinter 2011.

Please click here for a list of all Königswinter topics since 1950