All ears for civil society’s view on Europe: the King and Queen of Belgium listen to ’s Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the occasion of the German-Belgian Conference 2014.

Networking for Europe EM Germany activities report 2013/14

European Movement Germany is the largest supports and shapes the Europeanisation of civil society network for Europe in Germany. structures and actors by providing informa- It currently unites 236 interest groups from tion and a space for networking. As a quasi- all sections of society: trade and professional autonomous non-governmental organisation associations, trade unions, educational pro- of the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges viders, scientific institutions, foundations, Amt), European Movement Germany initi- political parties and businesses. ates and organises Europolitical dialogue be- tween politics and civil society and in provid- Since 1949 European Movement Germany’s ing commentary brings out the main points aim has been to promote European integra- concerning Europe. EM Germany’s President tion in Germany and Europe. To this end, it is Dr. Rainer Wend.

With the support of our 236 member organisations The network …

Europe stronger in : More transparency: political de- A thousand good reasons for Eu- The Federal Government has never mands take full effect rope: the year of election campaigns been more European Transparency instead of trilogue, Euro- In accompanying the elec- With the return of Frank-Walter Stein- pean commemorations for the 100th tion, the formation of the new govern- meier to the Federal Foreign Office, Pe- anniversary of the start of World War ment and the European Parliament ter Altmaier’s move to the Chancellery, One, EU citizens‘ right to vote in state elections, with reference to European as well as Wolfgang Schäuble and Ur- elections, and civil society fora on the policy, the main themes of EM Ger- sula von der Leyen at the head of cen- future of Europe: in 2013, EM Germany many’s work for 2013/14 were set. EM member organisations approved a list Germany’s PR campaign “a thousand of the association’s political demands reasons for Europe” managed to utilise for the first time. the “snowball effect” of a successful network in order to reach around two EM Germany realised its political pro- million voters. Nearly 100 leading fig- gramme by using tried and tested ures from associations, trade unions networking tools: member question- and organisations made personal pleas naires concentrated existing activities and identified alliance partners; politi-

A close partnership: Michael Roth MP, State Min- cal discussions and dialogue formats ister for Europe, is often a guest at EM Germany sharpened the professional public’s events. view on matters and debated methods tral portfolios, EM Germany is dealing of implementation. with known pro-Europeans in the Fed- eral Government. It is an encouraging Since June 2014 and under the aegis sign that for the first time in history, the of EMI, the alliance Europe+ has been words “better coordination on Europe” building an international action forum Call to vote: adverts each featuring one of a have found their way into a coalition for civil society participation in the 100 member organisations reached around agreement. In close partnership with deepening of the EU. two million citizens both on and offline. the Federal Foreign Office’s new State to call upon people to go and vote, Minister for Europe and Member of the which were then disseminated within Bundestag, Michael Roth, the dialogue the relevant organisation through its format on the Federal Government’s member magazine and website. Sev- Europolitical priorities was able to be eral EM Germany board members also “extended” into Web 2.0. EM Germany had their say with their own essays broadened its institutional coopera- posted on the EP election portal of The tion with the Federal Foreign Office in European, a magazine that focusses on 2013 through two partner projects – debate. In addition, two EM Germany the fourth Belgo-German Conference Having a say in Europe: democratic participa- synopses took a comparative look at and in the area of EU Careers: a good tion was also a big topic at the EM Germany the small print in party manifestos for Stakeholder Forum premise for the establishment of a new the national and European parliamen- objectives agreement for 2015-2018! tary elections. … and its most important projects in 2013/14

Kings and conferences: EM Ger- Reason to celebrate: 60 years Eu- a direct line to European policy many on the international stage ropean Competition for Schools Networking on and offline: As EM Germany’s core topic, transpar- The royal visit to the fourth Belgo- With a big ceremony at the Schiller ent European communication plays German conference wasn’t the only, Gymnasium in Berlin - a European an important role both analog and but certainly the most glamourous School of course! – Germany’s old- digitally. In cooperation with European highlight of the year. Despite its short est student competition celebrated Movement International, EM Germany its 60th birthday in September 2013. has been preparing its new website, European Parliament President Mar- which will go online this autumn. Ex- tin Schulz enthusiastically discussed ternal interested parties participated with young people whether “Europe in online Twitter debates during EM is just something for geeks”. Films, Germany debriefings more intensively videos and a rap version of the hymn than before. The informative round- “Europeana” entertained around 300 tables, which take place on almost a guests – pupils, teachers and volun- weekly basis, are also helpful barome- “Epoch-making change“: that is how President of teers from ministries for education ters of the Europolitical mood amongst the Bundestag, , said he viewed and cultural affairs and civil society. interest groups in their relevant policy the EU’s enlargement to the East in his speech at A specially published commemora- the EU10x10 anniversary event. tive publication and an anniversary notice, EM Germany successfully organ- film appeared to go one step further ised the conference “Diverse and fed- in making one of the largest student eral neighbours: how do Germans and competitions in the country even Belgians want Europe?”

EM Germany set further bilateral core themes through the German-Serbian civil society forum and various “EBD Exklusiv” round-tables with ministers Live at EBD Exklusiv, online on Twitter: Sandro Gozi, Italy’s State Secretary for Europe and Vice and state secretaries from Norway, President of EM Germany sister organisation CIME Switzerland, Romania and Bulgaria, areas for representatives of federal Italy and Great Britain. In unparalleled and state ministries and the diplomatic cooperation with ten embassies, EM corps in Berlin. In the autumn of 2013 Germany celebrated the anniversary more popular: with the number of debriefings were resumed with the of the as yet largest EU enlargement participants reaching 84.000 pupils, then Federal Ministry for the Environ- round with 200 high-ranking guests the recently finished 61st competition ment, Nature Conservation, Building at the event “EU10x10 – Europe’s ex- round set a new record. and Nuclear Safety. tended horizon”.

More information can be found in our annual report 2013/14: www.netzwerk-ebd.de/ueber-uns/jahresbericht/ European Movement Germany’s areas of activity

Governance & Participation Actors & Networking Education & Information This area of activity develops and fo- This area of activity conceives and co- This area of activity combines EM Ger- cusses the association’s European policy ordinates measures to identify and in many’s educational and informational measures. The Europeanisation and de- a sustainable way network EU actors in measures. The proposal is above all mocratisation of governance in the EU’s public administration, EM Germany’s aimed at teachers and learners as well multi-level system, based on structured member organisations and beyond. as proponents from civil society. The dialogue between non-governmental This includes network meetings such as implementation of these measures interest groups and political institutions, “Brussels in Berlin” or College of Europe realises the purpose of the association, counts among this. The association alumni, similarly through cooperation in accordance with its charter, by pro- directly achieves these measures itself, projects with member organisations moting European integration through in accordance with its charter, by devel- or allied strategies and EM Germany’s informational and educational work. In oping its own initiatives to promote Eu- database. The implementation of all concrete terms, it concerns the “Euro- ropean integration. Europolitical state- these measures realises the purpose of pean Competition” as an established ments by committees, off-the-record the association, supports the various tool for European education in schools, discussions, working groups, public European informational, cooperative the setting up and development of pro- events, publications, as well as a com- and educational activities of member jects for young people and students, as prehensive online strategy are among organisations and thus making the sig- well as the dissemination of European these initiatives. Background to this is nificance of European unity visible to a ideas through information campaigns Art. 11 on participative democracy in the wider public. and cross-border educational projects. Treaty on European Union.

Board members 2013/14 President: Dr. Rainer Wend; Vice-Presidents: Michael Gahler MEP, Axel Schäfer Member of the Bundestag, Prof. Dr. Michaele Schreyer, former EU Commis- sioner; Treasurer: Peter Hahn; Members: Gabriele Bischoff, German Federation of Trade Unions; Gesa-Stefanie Brincker, Hertie School of Governance; Dr. Jan Ulrich Clauss, Gustav Stresemann Institute; Michael Dollinger, German Federal Youth Council/Young European Federalists (JEF) Germany; Dr. Sabine Hepperle, Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK); Carola Lakotta-Just, European Movement Saxony-Anhalt; Kirsten Lühmann Member of the Bundestag, German Public Servants Association and Tariff Union (dbb); Oli- Contact ver Luksic Member of the Bundestag, Free Democratic Party (FDP); Prof. Ursula European Movement Germany Männle Member of the Landtag, former Minister, Christian Social Union (CSU); Responsible according to press law: Christian Moos, Union of European Federalists Germany (EUD); Dr. Christine Bernd Hüttemann Pütz, Heinrich Böll Foundation; Dr. Reinhold Rickes, German Savings Banks As- Sophienstraße 28/29 sociation (DSGV); Daniel Sahl, Federation of German Industry (BDI); Rainder D-10178 Berlin Steenblock, former Minister, Alliance ʼ90/The Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen); T +49 (0)30 30 36 20-110 Michael Stübgen Member of the Bundestag, Christian Democratic Union (CDU); F +49 (0)30 30 36 20-119 Tilman Tögel Member of the Landtag, Social Democratic Party (SPD); Katharina [email protected] Wolf, German Women Lawyers Association www.netzwerk-ebd.de