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24th International WDR Europaforum 2022

Programme

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shaken the international order to its foundations. Solidarity with Kiev is the imperative of the hour. Europe is called upon to assert its fundamental values in a changed world.

10.00 Welcome

Tom Buhrow | Director-General of Westdeutscher Rundfunk
Dr. Jörg Wojahn | Head of European Commission Representation in Germany

10.15 Keynote address

Roberta Metsola | President of the European Parliament

10.20 Interview

New unity or new dispute?
Consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine for the EU 
Frans Timmermans | Vice-President of the European Commission
Interview: Markus Preiß, Head of ARD Studio Brussels

11.00 Discussion

Tricky balancing acts
Handling the ‘Zeitenwende’ (turn of the times) in practical politics
Lars Klingbeil | Co-Chair of SPD
Prof. Dr. Hedwig Richter | University of the Bundeswehr, Munich
Moderation: Dr. Joachim Görgen, Head of Trimedia News Südwestrundfunk

11.40 Discussion

Erroneous certainties?
Assessing the chances of a new peace order
Bijan Djir-Sarai | Secretary General of the FDP, MP
Martin Schirdewan | Co-Chair Left Group European Parliament
Moderation: Isabel Schayani, Head of WDRforyou, Moderator „Weltspiegel“

12.05 Discussion

A paradigm shift
Germany’s future role in Europe
Friedrich Merz | Federal Chairman of the CDU, Chairman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group in the Bundestag
Prof. Dr. Ursula Schröder | Scientific Director of the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg
Moderation: Andreas Cichowicz, Editor-in-Chief Norddeutscher Rundfunk

12.45 Break

13.45 Interview

Aleksandra Otschman | Journalist, Kiev
Interview: Sabine Scholt, Head of WDR Programme Group Current Affairs, Europe and Abroad

14.00 Interview

A question of values
European foreign policy in a changed world
Annalena Baerbock | Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Interview: Tina Hassel, Head of the ARD Capital Studio Berlin
Followed by exchange with students

14.50 Interview

Lena Chernenko | Journalist, Moscow
Interview: Sabine Scholt, Head of WDR Programme Group Current Affairs, Europe and Abroad

15.00 Discussion

No room for subtleties?
The ‘Zeitenwende’ (turn of the times) as cultural challenge
Claudia Roth | Minister of State for Culture and the Media, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
Sasha Marianna Salzmann | Author and dramaturge
Sonja Zekri | Cultural correspondent Süddeutsche Zeitung in Berlin
Moderation: Vivian Perkovic, Journalist, Moderator Kulturzeit/3sat

16.00 End

Studio expert
Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer | Executive Director for Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations

Presenter
Sabine Scholt | Head of WDR Programme Group Current Affairs, Europe and Abroad

Concept | Realisation
Ferdos Forudastan | Head of WDR Europaforum, Chief editorial office WDR Television
Heribert Roth | Editor WDR Programme Group Current Affairs, Europe and Abroad