Discussion events in cooperation with the Schwarzkopf Foundation

No. 7 "250 Days of Obama - Taking Stock of the Transatlantic Relationship"

Schwarzkopf Foundation, Berlin, September 21, 2009

Speaker: Charles King Mallory IV, Executive Director of Aspen Institut Deutschland e.V.

Moderator: Malte Lehming, Der Tagesspiegel newspaper

After 250 days of Obama, Charles King Mallory did a stock-take of the transatlantic relationship. Whether in the Middle East conflict, international climate policy, engagement in Afghanistan or economic and financial policy, the new American administration has set a course that has effects on the transatlantic relationship.

No. 6 "EU Agricultural Policy and Hunger in Developing Countries"

Schwarzkopf Foundation, Berlin, June 8, 2009

Speaker: Julien Mousnier, Member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel, and Tobias Reichert, Director of the NGO "Germanwatch"

Moderator: Dr. Cornelius Adebahr, Political Advisor, Wirtschaft am Wasserturm.

According to estimates of the United Nations" Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the number of people suffering from starvation worldwide has increased by 113 million due to higher food prices and has now reached around 963 million.

Among other things, these figures have provoked an intensive discussion about the role of EU agricultural policy and its impact on developing countries, despite the fact that prices for agricultural products have since fallen considerably again on the world market. Does Europe need to increase its agricultural productivity in order to feed the world, or does EU agricultural policy, with its high subsidies for European farmers, contribute to hunger and poverty in developing countries?

No. 5 "Morocco, the EU and the European Neighborhood Policy"

Europäisches Haus, Berlin, February 11, 2009

Speaker: H.E. Mohammed Rachad Bouhlal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Marzenna Guz-Vetter, Representation of the European Commission in Germany, Dr. Isabel Schäfer, Scientific Assistant of the Free University Berlin;

Moderator: Dr. Detlev Clemens, Deputy Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany

Good relations between Morocco and the European Union are essential for both partners. Ever since the Association Agreement entered into force on March 1, 2000, contacts between Morocco and the EU have been stepped up considerably in all areas. They have a clear goal: to create a free trade zone by 2010. Economic ties between Morocco and the EU are already very strong today: almost two thirds of Morocco's exports go to the EU. From the viewpoint of the European Union, there are problems that need to be solved jointly, particularly as regards illegal immigration to Europe, the fight against terrorism, fishing rights and a number of business and trade issues. It remains to be seen to what extent the Union's new initiative for the Mediterranean can better foster the dialog between the EU and Morocco.