“While all of this is happening in the Middle East, our support for Ukraine will not waver” - Analysis and Consulting
"We must step up to our global responsibilities"
Right at the beginning of the Europe speech, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, lauded the Foundation's Makerthon competition. "Europe is about ideas and the courage to turn these ideas into reality." It needs more people to think about "how we can change things, how we can fix things, how we can reform, how we can bring the European union closer to the people we represent. How we can make Europe less about bureaucracy and more about change."
Metsola emphasized that "it is our responsibility to explain, to listen and to counter the narrative of extremists and populists". The EU cannot be taken for granted. Not anymore. The world is challenged on multiple fronts, but we must live up to our global responsibility or we should not be surprised if others with a very different outlook, and a very different value set fill the vacuum.
There can only be a "political solution"
In her speech, Metsola also addressed the events in the Middle East and made it clear: "How we deal with these events will determine the future of the region and the future of Europe." One thing is clear: "These terrible acts were committed by a terrorist organization. We must be clear that Hamas does not represent the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people." Hamas must be stopped and must not be allowed to act with impunity, but it must also be ensured that civilians are protected and that international and humanitarian law is the guiding principle. "We support a fair solution based on the coexistence of two states," emphasized Metsola. This will be the way to live safely in Israel and at the same time give the Palestinian people a perspective.
At the beginning of the event, the chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, welcomed the partners of this year's event: Allianz SE, Schwarzkopf Foundation and the European Academy Berlin as well as members of the youth organizations Service Civique Européen, the Jugendkarlspreis and the Green Youth initiative. According to Lammert, there will be at least two outstanding European events next year - the European parliamentary elections and EURO2024. Even though the two events are very different, both events are associated with "expectations, hopes and perhaps also fears", which Philipp Lahm, Tournament Director of the 2024 European Football Championship, also addressed in his welcoming speech.
"Sports clubs are places for living democracy"
With 200,000 soccer clubs in Europe, Philipp Lahm sees sport as a "unifying and mobilizing element". In his speech, he called on the younger generation to remember what a "privilege" it is to grow up in a system that is "peaceful, free, democratic and rule-based". Europe is not a matter of course, but a destiny that you can determine yourself. This is precisely what the much-invoked "turning point" teaches us. This should not only be "filled with life in terms of defense policy, but also socio-politically". It is the task of every generation to adapt to the challenges and thus preserve the achievements of the EU - in line with John F. Kennedy's motto: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
KAS Makerthon Europe
This was followed by four pitches from committed and young Europeans who addressed the question of how they want to tackle the challenges in the areas of climate policy, global competition, increasing polarization and the role of the EU in the world. Kim Prox spoke out in favor of an EU Buddy Program for networking and cultural exchange and won the vote with 39 percent. There were also three other ideas to be voted on: An EU legal form for start-up growth (29 percent), the creation of a European cooperative network (18 percent) and an Erasmus program for soldiers (13 percent).
In the concluding panel discussion, Metsola called on the young audience on site and in front of the screens to go to the polls on June 9, 2024 to elect the tenth European Parliament. For the first time in Germany, it will be possible to vote from the age of 16 - a privilege that should not be taken for granted and should be utilized, according to Phillipp Lahm.
About this series
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, its educational institutions, centres and foreign offices, offer several thousand events on various subjects each year. We provide up to date and exclusive reports on selected conferences, events and symposia at www.kas.de. In addition to a summary of the contents, you can also find additional material such as pictures, speeches, videos or audio clips.