Strengthening Europe’s cohesion. German, French and Polish perspectives on a stronger cooperation within the EU Monday, 18th of November until Tuesday, 19th of November

Programme

Chair and coordinator:
Nicolai von Ondarza, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin

Monday, November 18th

09:45 Arrival and coffee

10:00 - 10:30 Introduction
Towards a better mutual understanding
Welcome address and taking stock of previous discussions so far

Ellen Ueberschär, Małgorzata Kopka-Piątek, Nicolai von Ondarza

10:30 – 12:00 Assessing the EU’s new Strategic Agenda and the ‘geopolitical’ Commission under Ursula von der Leyen: German, French and Polish perspectives

What are the main priorities for Germany, France and Poland for the EU’s reform agenda? What is the political assessment of the political programme of Commission President elect von der Leyen?

Input (5 min):
• Reinhard Bütikofer (D)
• Agnieszka Cianciara (P),
• Anne Macey (F)

12:00 - 12:30 Coffee Break

12:30 - 13.30 Domestic political dynamics and their implications for European policies
Since the last meeting, we have seen parliamentary elections in Poland, three regional elections in Germany and a new reform push by President Macron in France. What are the implications of these domestic political dynamics on the respective EU policies?

Input (5 min):
• Jan Jakub Chromiec (P)
• Kai Olaf Lang (D)
• Wojtek Kalinowski (F)

13.30 - 14.30 Lunch

14.30 - 16.00 Working Groups – Understanding each other preferences in foreign policy
Division into three groups, discussing the priorities of France, Germany and Poland towards three major foreign policy challenges: Russia, Transatlantic Relations and China.

Each group will be composed of non-nationals, i.e. French and German participants in the group on Poland, German and Polish participants in the group on France and so on.

What are the main foreign policy priorities for Germany, France and Poland towards Russia, the US and China? What role does the EU play in their respective foreign policy toolbox? Is there scope for trilateral initiatives?

16:00 – 16:15 Coffee Break

16:15 – 17:15 Presentation and discussion of results

17.15 – 17.30 Coffee Break

17:30 – 19:00 Analysing the public discourse – Public Opinion on the EU
How is public opinion on the EU shifting in Poland, France and Germany? What developments are affecting the public discourse on the EU? Which role do France, Germany and Poland play in each other’s public discourse?

Input (5 min):
• Sylvie Strudel (F)
• Maria Skóra (D)
• Wojciech Przybylski (P)
•
19.30 Dinner

Dinner discussion: What way forward in Poland after the elections?

Input:
Piotr Buras, ECFR Warsaw
Manuel Sarrazin, MdB, The Greens

Tuesday, 19th of November

9:00 Arrival and coffee

9.15 – 9:30 Welcome and summary of the discussions from the first day
Ellen Ueberschär and Nicolai von Ondarza

9.30 - 11.00 Discussion on the Impulse Paper ‘Five policy for German-French-Polish cooperation in Europe’ part I

Discussion on:
• Overall Format
• Democratic Public Space
• Economic and social policy (incl. Eurozone)
• Energy and climate policy

11.00 - 11.30 Coffee Break

11.30 – 12:30 Discussion on the Impulse Paper ‘Five policy for German-French-Polish cooperation in Europe’ part I

Discussion on:
• Migration
• Foreign and Security Policy
• Outlook

12:30 – 13:00 Wrap-up and feedback

13.00 - 14.00 Lunch

14:00 End