Details

The Social Market Economy has been serving – in different shapes – as a basis for high growth and employment rates after the Second World War and thus been standing for prosperity as well as political and social stability in Europe. The international financial crisis has proven the fact that the principles of a reasonable framework setting for economic activities may not be eroded. Especially regionally and globally coordinated policies have shown their effectiveness in fighting the crisis. With its reform strategy “Europe 2020” the EU has made a new start in advancing the European competitiveness with a stronger politico-economic as well as fiscal regulation. A “European Social Market Economy” for the 21st century shall be achieved.

Nevertheless, the financial crisis has brought the question of the economic system back on the agenda. The European economic and societal model of the Social Market Economy has to assert itself in the

context of liberal market approaches on the one hand and state-centric dirigisme on the other. We are challenged to promote the principles of the Social Market Economy in a globally interconnected economy and to identify supporters of this model. The KAS-document “Guidelines for Prosperity, Social Justice and Sustainable Economic Activity” is committed to this endeavour. Especially states gaining influence on a global scale have to take up decisions on their further direction: Which way will they pursue to a politically, socially and ecologically balanced growth path? How is, in this context, the European model of economic development seen abroad? Which approaches are discussed in important emerging economies? How can an international dialogue on economic governance be structured and a consensus be reached?

These questions also bring up convergences as well as divergences between the governance mode of the Social Market Economy and normative economic orders from other cultural areas. Which common orientations and starting points can be identified – despite different moral concepts? Which analogies and congruencies with the principle of the Social Market Economy can be found? How can a rational exchange about each other’s positions be enhanced? These questions shall be at the centre of the

experts’ conference which will bring together representatives from European institutions, experts from the respective countries involved as well as KAS representatives from different projects of the Foundation abroad. The aim is to explain and discuss the concepts of economic governance and the strategic dispositions in this field within the European Union as well as in important emerging economies.

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Cercle Royal Gaulois Artistique et Littéraire, 5, Rue de la Loi, 1000 Brussels

5.30 pm

Welcome

Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering MEP

Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Former President of the European Parliament

5.45 pm

Keynote Speech

For an International Value-driven Economic Governance – Guidelines for Prosperity, Social Justice and Sustainable Economic Activity

Valdis Dombrovskis

Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia

Comments

Corien Wortmann-Kool MEP

Deputy Chairwoman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament

Johannes Laitenberger

Head of Cabinet of President Barroso, European Commission

Discussion

Chair: Wolfgang Landmesser, WDR/NDR, Brussels Office (tbc)

Final remarks

Dr. Gerhard Wahlers

Deputy Secretary General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

7 pm

Reception

Conference languages will be English and German. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

European Office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, 11, Avenue de l’Yser, 1040 Brussels

Conference languages will be English and German. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

- Experts’ Conference -

9:30 am

Registration and coffee

10 am - 10.30 am

Welcome and Introduction

Economic Activity in Freedom and Responsibility –The Global Dialogue of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on Ordnungspolitik and the Social Market Economy

Dr. Gerhard Wahlers

Deputy Secretary General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

10.30 am - 12.30 am

Panel I: Competition of Economic Models: Which Concept can stand its Ground?

• Jagadeesh Gokhale, Ph.D, Cato Institute, Washington, USA
• Prof. Dr. Chin Leng Lim, University of Hong Kong, China
• Prof. Dr. Jörg M. Winterberg,Director of the SRH University of Applied Science, Heidelberg

Chair

Thomas B. Stehling, Head of the KAS Country Programme Spain

2 pm - 4 pm

Panel II: Growth and Responsibility: Which Path of Development do the G20-Economies pursue?

• PD Dr. Heribert Dieter, Research Division Global Issues, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) Berlin
• Dr. Wilhelm Hofmeister, Head of the KAS Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia
• Dr. Werner Böhler, Head of the KAS Country Programme South Africa
• António José Cabral, Chief Advisor Barroso Cabinet, European Commission

Chair

Olaf Jacob, Head of the KAS Regional Programme Social Order Policy in

Latin America (SOPLA), Rio

4.30 pm - 6.30 pm

Panel III: Economy driven by Values – Normative Orders of the Social Market Economy

• Frank Priess, Head of the KAS Country Programme Mexico
• Rev. Rüdiger Noll, Director, Church and Society Commission, Conference of European Churches
• Thomas Birringer, Head of the KAS Regional Programme Gulf States
• Prof. Dr. Volker Nienhaus, Former President of the Philipps University Marburg

Dr. Hubert Gehring''. Hubert Gehring''Hubert Gehring''bert Gehring''rt Gehring'' Gehring''ehring''ring''ng'''', Head of the KAS Country Programme Czech Republic

6.30 pm

Final remarks