Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014
In 2014, discussions at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum focused on the expectations towards German foreign policy, on the challenging situation in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, especially the crisis in Ukraine and the emergence of IS, and on the question of what role Europe can play in the “Asia-Pacific century”? Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier opened the Forum with a speech on priorities and perspectives of German foreign policy. Being on her first visit to Germany, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, gave a keynote speech. Mogherini affirmed that, “We have to overcome the idea that national interests are in collision with Europe.” Further speakers included the Director, President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Jane Harman, State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office Dr. Markus Ederer, Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger.
Report

Sharp Criticism of Russia and New Impetus for European Foreign Policy at the 2014 Berlin Foreign Policy Forum
Expectations are particularly high at premieres; the same can be said of the first visit to Germany by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. The German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, put his arm around “Dear Federica” in support as soon as he arrived at the meeting. Steinmeier, aware of the opinion that the former Italian foreign minister was too inexperienced for her new post, was attempting to dispel any remaining doubt. Steinmeier stressed, “I’ve known her for quite some time, and we have often discussed German, European and international politics.” However, it quickly became clear that Mogherini was in no need of such support. She took to the podium at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum to provide a keynote speech, and it was received with much applause. During her speech, Mogherini affirmed that, “We have to overcome the idea that national interests are in collision with Europe.” She also reminded the audience that the EU and its member states were “on the same side.”
Participants
List of Participants (PDF)
Videos
Welcome Remarks by Dr. Klaus Wehmeier
Keynote Speech by Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Keynote Speech by Federica Mogherini
Reviewing German and European Foreign Policy
Panel Discussion at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014 with Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Jane Harman, Federica Mogherini und Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Moderated by Christiane Meier.
The Middle East in Disarray
Panel Discussion at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014 with Dr. Christoph Heusgen, Najib Mikati, Ambassador Dr. Alireza Moayeri und Dr. Abdulaziz Sager.
Moderated by Souad Mekhennet.
Is War in Asia a Realistic Scenario?
Panel Discussion at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014 with Dr. Markus Ederer, Prof. Dr. Carolina Hernandez, Prof. Dr. Jonathan Holslag, Minoru Kiuchi, MP and Prof. Dr. Wang Dong.
Moderated by Dr. Thomas Paulsen.
Geopolitical Challenges in Eastern Europe
Panel Discussion at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014 with Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Andrey Kortunov, David Kramer, Pavlo Sheremeta and Dr. Norbert Röttgen, MP.
Moderator: Christiane Hoffmann.
Agenda
10 November 2014
19:00
Reception at the Federal Foreign Office
11 November 2014
8:15 – 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 9:10
Welcome Remarks by Dr. Klaus Wehmeier, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board, Körber Foundation, Hamburg
Reviewing German and European Foreign Policy
9:10 – 9:20
Keynote Speech by Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany
9:20 – 9:30
Keynote Speech by Federica Mogherini, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
9:30 – 10:30
Panel Discussion
Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President and CEO, International Crisis Group, Brussels
Jane Harman, Director, President and CEO, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington, D.C.
Federica Mogherini, The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany
Moderator: Christiane Meier, Correspondent, ARD Morning Magazine, Berlin
The Middle East in Disarray
11:00 – 12:30
Dr. Christoph Heusgen, Director-General, Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to the Federal Chancellor, Federal Chancellery, Berlin
Najib Mikati, fmr. Prime Minister of the Lebanese Republic
Ambassador Dr. Alireza Moayeri, Director, Iranian National Center of Globalization Studies (INCGS), Presidential Office, Tehran
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center, Jeddah
Moderator: Souad Mekhennet, Journalist and Author, The Washington Post, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Frankfurt am Main
12:30 – 14:30
Breakout Sessions – Lunch (see below)
Is War in Asia a Realistic Scenario?
14:30 – 16:00
Dr. Markus Ederer, State Secretary, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Carolina Hernandez, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City
Prof. Dr. Jonathan Holslag, Professor of International Politics, Free University, Brussels
Minoru Kiuchi, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tokyo
Prof. Dr. Wang Dong, Associate Professor and Director, School of International Studies, Center for Northeast Asian Strategic Studies, Peking University, Beijing
Moderator: Dr. Thomas Paulsen, Executive Director International Affairs, Körber Foundation, Berlin
Geopolitical Challenges in Eastern Europe
16:30 – 18:00
Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman, Munich Security Conference
Andrey Kortunov, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council, Moscow
David Kramer, President, Freedom House, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Norbert Röttgen, MP, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Deutscher Bundestag, Berlin
Pavlo Sheremeta, fmr. Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine
Moderator: Christiane Hoffmann, Deputy Head, Berlin Office, Der Spiegel