"Unwelcome again – Stress test for Europe"

20th German-Russian "Autumn Talks"

Friday, November 20 - Saturday, November 21, 2015

German-Russian "Autumn Talks" of the year 2015 celebrate the anniversary in difficult times. A well-known conference on the hot topics between two countries and their cooperation at the civil society level, initiated in 1995 by the DRA, the Protestant Academy Foundation and the Heinrich Böll Foundation has been held for the twentieth time. At the same time, relations between Russia, on the one hand, and Germany and other European countries, on the other, are tense as never before since 1991.

In the given framework the 20th German-Russian "Autumn Meetings" are trying to find an answer to the question of whether the general concept of peaceful co-development on the continent might once again become a consensus among politicians of all parties; if so,  how and to what extent can civil society contribute to this process.

When: Friday, 20 November - Saturday, November 21, 2015

Where: The French Church of Friedrichstadt on the Gendarmenmarkt in Berlin-Mitte

Organizers: German-Russian Exchange, Protestant Academy in Berlin

The political situation in Europe has gotten so tense due to the war in Ukraine in 2014, that for the first time in 70 years many felt the real danger of a multilateral armed conflict in Europe. The abolishment of the Russian and European mutual sanctions is highly unlikely in the nearest future. Russian political establishment is ostentatiously pivoting to Asia.

The division is salient not only at the foreign policy level, but also in civil space. The new national-patriotic discourse in Russia, together with a sharp distancing from international civilian exchanges (for example, recently adopted the "Law on unwanted foreign organizations"), clearly worsen relations. Appeared in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, the discourse on the legitimacy of large states’ claims on the spheres of influence once again demonstrates the danger of nationalist thinking for peace in Europe.

At the same time, the contradictions and differences within Europe are not limited exclusively to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and the EU sanctions. The dramatic events around Greece, the political strengthening of the Euroscepticism in the UK, France, Germany and other EU member states, as well as borders tightening in Hungary or temporarily introduced in response to the crisis of refugees border control regime of the Schengen countries – all these have raised the question of the very existence of the united Europe as a notion, as a necessary binding link, which should make possible the peaceful co-existence and integration of different communities and countries on the continent.

In the given framework the 20th German-Russian "Autumn Meetings" are trying to find an answer to the question of whether the general concept of peaceful co-development on the continent might once again become a consensus among politicians of all parties; if so,  how and to what extent can civil society contribute to this process.

The discussions raised, among other things, the following questions:

To what extent the individual nations and European countries associate themselves with the European idea? Is there a common vision of European values, which could act as a bridging link?

What are the causes of nationalist tendencies in Russia and other European countries? What is the role of the internal political conflicts and foreign events in this? How can we explain the present discourse about the "unique Russian way"?

The current Ukrainian crisis. What are the main expectations and requirements of all parties concerned; what steps are to be made in order de-escalate the situation; which measures would be possible and appropriate?

How can we achieve a balance between national interests and integrative model of development? What negotiation framework would be appropriate, who is the contact person, for example, in Russia? What is the role of the German-Russian relations in all this?

What is the role of civil society and European cooperation in creating a common vision of an open, peaceful, democratic and social Europe, of equal citizens and nations?

Which scenario of further deterioration in EU-Russia political relations should be expected and how to counter the disruption of social relations, in spite of the intransigent attitude, first of all, from Russia?

Supported by the Heinrich Böll Foundation; "Die Zeit"; the Federal Centre for Political Education.