'Germany - Land of Ideas' Presents Ideas for Europe

23/03/2007 - 13:16

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 Francois-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.

"Germany - Land of Ideas" is a joint nation-branding initiative of
the Federal Government and German industry, represented by the
Federation of German Industry (BDI). The aim of the initiative is to
portray Germany, at home and abroad, as an innovative, cosmopolitan
and enthusiastic country. The patron of the initiative is the German
President Horst Kohler. The "Germany - Land of Ideas" initiative is
funded by the "Germany - Land of Ideas e.V." society. It realises
various core projects: the event programme - "365 Landmarks in the
Land of Ideas", international media service and the FanClub. In
collaboration with the federal location marketing agency, the
initiative also realises - supported by the Federal Ministry of
Economy and Technology - the campaign "Invest in Germany - Land of
Ideas" to promote Germany as a business location.