'Germany - Land of Ideas' Presents Ideas for Europe

Business Wire, March 23, 2007

Panel Discussions Link the EU's Past and Future

BERLIN -- Today's "European Anniversary Summit" panel at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) built a bridge between the past and future of the European Union. The event was part of this weekend's celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome.

The event was co-hosted by the "Germany - Land of Ideas" nation-branding initiative and Invest in Germany, the government's location marketing agency, with the support of the Network European Movement Germany and the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi).

Roughly 200 guests attended the event, which began with a review of the origins of the European Union (EU) under the heading "Birth of a Great Idea" and continued with the exploration of options for the future of Europe.

Michael Glos, Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, gave the architects of the "European Economic Community" a warm welcome at his ministry: "Europe - Succeeding Together" is the motto of our presidency. If we Europeans join forces and act together, we can successfully shape the future and do justice to the founding fathers' vision of the 'birth of a great idea'."

That historic date was at the heart of the accounts given by the contemporary witnesses invited to speak at the event: Prof. Renee Haferkamp (B), Dr. Jean Fran[?]ois-Poncet (F) and Dr. Ernst Albrecht (D), who witnessed and contributed to the negotiations in the lead-up to the Treaties of Rome. Prof. Bino Olivi (I), Ambassador Carlo Trojan (NL), Dr. Jacques Santer (LUX) and Prof. Dr. Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb (B) shaped the further development of the European Union (EU) over many years. They painted an impressive picture of the European conciliation process and described their vision of a future Europe. Prof. Dr. Otto von Habsburg, a European of the first hour, long-time Member of the European Parliament, and Honorary President of the Paneuropa Union, said: "The signing of the Treaties of Rome was accompanied by great hopes. The spirit that inspired the founding fathers to create Europe is present to this day. I am happy that we have succeeded at so much already - the union now has 27 members. But we haven't reached the end of the road. Countries like Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the Ukraine have a right to Europe, one that needs to be redeemed!"

That afternoon, building on this foundation of historical knowledge and political experience, international economic leaders discussed Europe's prospects in the context of globalisation under the heading "Global Europe - Competing in the World."

The panel participants were: Dr. Francesco Sinigaglia (CEO Bioxell), Francis Massin (Managing Director Nanocyl), Dr. Thomas Scherer (Vice President Airbus Germany) and Jan Muehlfeit (Vice President Microsoft Europe), who is counting on the spirit of innovation to help Europe prevail in global competition: "In the global economy, the competitiveness of organizations, countries and regions will depend on their creativity and innovation. Europe's only asset is its people, which is why we need to sell ideas. I do believe that we need to move from 'Made in Europe' to 'Invented in Europe'."

Pictures may be downloaded at: http://www.land-of-ideas.org/CDA/picture_archive,366,0,,en.html

Further information about the "European Anniversary Summit" is posted at: http://www.land-of-ideas.org/CDA/eu_summit,9320,0,,en.html

Please visit www.land-of-ideas.org for further information about the initiative.

Initiators

The Network European Movement Germany is a non-partisan union of stakeholders in the field of European policy (making). It organises European communications and European forecasting in coordination with EU protagonists at the national and European levels. Its roughly 130 member organisations represent nearly all social groups: business and trade associations, unions, educational and scientific institutions, foundation, political parties and others. The network bundles, connects and enhances the European policy expertise, information and activities of its member organizations. Its aim is to lastingly improve European communications, European forecasting and European policy coordination in Germany, in close cooperation with political institutions.

Invest in Germany (IiG) is the federal investment promotion agency informing, assisting, and consulting foreign investors about investment opportunities in Germany. We provide full service support from site analysis to the implementation of investment decisions. Our industry teams study markets, supply information on structures and costs, and ensure professional guidance for successful business launches in Germany. Companies planning to establish or expand business operations in Germany can obtain detailed information on the legal and corporate investment framework, tax regulations, regional and federal financial support, and visa requirements. IiG handles all investment information discreetly and confidentially and all services are free of charge. Investors can contact the IiG headquarters in Berlin or its offices in the US, Japan, and China.