Cocktail Reception & Dinner
Location: Deutsche Telekom, Lichthof,
Französische Str. 33, Berlin
Welcome: Guido Kerkhoff, Member of the Board, Deutsche Telekom; Ambassador Philip D. Murphy, U.S. Embassy Germany
Keynote: Jens Reich, Member of the German Ethics Council, former physician, molecular biologist and civil rights activist, member of the Neues Forum
Topic: “The Significance of 1989”

Registration
Location: Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin (Parliament of the City of Berlin)

Participants proceed from their hotels to the conference site at the Parliament of the City of Berlin

Conference Opening
Location: Room 376, 2nd floor
Welcome: Senator Harald Wolf, Senator for Economics, Technology, and Women, City of Berlin

1989 – What did it Mean for Us?
Location: Room 376, 2nd floor
Moderator: Pavol Demes, Director, GMF Bratislava
Panelists: David Gill, Deputy of the Representative, Protestant Church in Germany (EKD); Monika Konczyk, member of the board, NSZZ Solidarnosc (MMF 2007); Curtis Robinhold, Finance Director, BP (MMF 1999); Dirk Rumberg, Executive Director, Vieras GmbH (MMF 1993); Jiri Sitler, Director for Asia and Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic (MMF 1995)

The MMF Program through a Historical Perspective - How We Experienced the Period of Political Revolutions - Eyewitness Accounts from MMF Fellows from the Inside and Outside

Coffee break

Three parallel Breakout Sessions:

Panel I: The Transformation of Europe

Location: Room 377, 2nd floor
Moderator: Hildegard Bentele, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MMF 2008)
Panelists: Jean-Christoph Bas, Strategic Partnership Manager, Alliance of Civilizations (MMF 1991); Ulrike Guérot, Senior Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations; Hope M. Harrison, Professor, George Washington University and Fulbright Senior Scholar at the Bundesstiftung zur Aufarbeitung der SED-Diktatur; Ivanka Ivanova, Director, Law Program, Open Society Institute (MMF 2008)

The collapse of the Central and Eastern European oppressive regimes and a vision for a new Europe was a political project for Western and Central Europe. How did the political transformations differ from country to country?  What lessons can we learn?  Are U.S. and Western European approaches to democracy promotion successful? What impact did EU enlargement have and was it successful? And what were the economic implications/what happened to the liberal market idea?

Panel II:  Has NATO’s Role Changed?

Location: Room 376, 2nd floor
Moderator: Sylvia Hartleif, Senior Advisor, Foreign Affairs Committee, German Bundestag (MMF 2004)
Panelists: Ron Asmus, Executive Director, Transatlantic Center and Strategic Planning; Gernot Erler, MdB, State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (invited); Rastislav Kacer, President, Slovak Atlantic Commission; Gerlinde Niehus, Head, Corporate Communications Section, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO

The political transformation in Central and Eastern Europe deeply affected the transatlantic alliance. NATO candidates were required to reform in order to help NATO advance its strategic interests and stability in Europe. Was it successful?  Where is NATO at its 60th birthday?

Panel III: The impact of 9/11 - From Bush to Obama

Location: Room 388, 2nd floor
Moderator: Olaf Boehnke, Foreign Policy Advisor to Dietmar Nietan, German Bundestag (MMF 2007)
Panelists: Ali Arıkan, External Relations Representative - Retail Group, Hacı Ömer Sabancı Holding A.Ş. (MMF 2009); Troy Eid, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP (MMF 2001); Craig Kennedy, President, GMF; Heinrich Kreft, Senior Advisor, CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group

9/11 fundamentally changed the U.S. engagement with the world. The U.S. and Europe had to re-shape preferences, missions and goals. What happened to the transatlantic relationship? Is multilateralism still a guiding principle for political discourse? What kind of political player is Europe? What other players have appeared on the global scene? What did the Bush administration mean for the legitimacy of American leadership in Europe and elsewhere and what resume can we draw from Obama’s first year in office?

Networking Lunch
Location: Casino, 1st floor

A Transatlantic Player At Work: Update on GMF and its Programs - Current and Future Challenges? 
Location: Room 376, 2nd floor
Moderator: Thomas Kleine Brockhoff, Senior Director, Policy Programs

Four Panel Breakout Sessions

Panel I: Addressing Climate Change in Times of Economic Crisis

Location: Room 377, 2nd floor
Moderator: Christina Elvers, Program Associate Brussels Office, GMF
Panelists: Mylo Einarson, City Administrator, City of Grafton (MMF 2003); Andrzej Blachowicz, National Administration of the Emissions Trading Scheme (MMF 2008); Gerardo del Caz, Advisor for trade, economy, industry, and energy to the Speaker of the Partido Popular in the Spanish Parliament (MMF 2008); Karsten Sach, Deputy Director General, International Cooperation, Federal Environment Ministry of Germany

The ongoing economic crisis has had an impact on the climate debate. Climate policy is an especially low political priority in regions that have suffered factory closures and job losses, and there is fear about losses of competitiveness. On the other hand, the economic crisis presents opportunities to tackle climate change from new angles. Stimulus packages have included an increase in funding for low-carbon development like “smart” electricity transmission grids as well as investments in renewable energies. These issues dominate ongoing national policy debates and in the international negotiations that will culminate in a major UN conference in Copenhagen in December. In what ways does the financial crisis tie the hands of negotiators or, conversely, present opportunities for a breakthrough in the negotiations? How can countries suffering economic crises muster the political and financial strength to break out of traditional, high-carbon development patterns?

Panel II: Has the Financial Crisis Undermined the Global Market Economy – What Economy Works Best in the Modern World?

Location: Room 376, 2nd floor
Moderator: Michael Brown, Director, Citigroup Global Markets (MMF 2008)
Panelists: Maria Helena Andre, Deputy Secretary General, European Trade Union Confederation (MMF 1991); Benoit Chervalier, Lecturer, Sciences Po Paris; Kati Suominen, International Trade Economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, Transatlantic Fellow, GMF;
Matthias von Randow, Director Global Traffic Rights and Political Affairs, Airberlin group (MMF 1987)

While continental Europe tends to favor a large state, high taxes, heavier regulation of products and labor markets and a more generous social safety net, the Anglo-Saxon model promotes a free market economy with little regulation.  The current financial crisis has had far-reaching implications. It has fueled public outrage at financial institutions, produced protective government measures, led to layoffs and bankruptcies, asked companies to revisit their global strategies and investments and renewed questions about the benefits of globalization.  Where do transatlantic approaches to the crisis differ? Has the economic crisis sped up or slowed down the shift of power to the East (China, India)?  And what kind of future is there for a market economy? 

Panel III:  Global Security Architecture in the 21st Century

Location: Room 304, 2nd floor
Moderator: Monika Schmitt-Vockenhausen, German Ministry of the Interior (MMF 1987)
Panelists:  Hans Binnendijk, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, Theodore Roosevelt Chair, National Defense University, Director, Center for Technology and National Security Policy; Michael Matthiessen, Council of the European Union (MMF 1991); Hartwig von Schubert, Joint Staff College of the German Armed Forces (MMF 1983)

Asymmetric threats are one of the major challenges of the 21st century and demand coherent objectives in the field of security policy. How does the international community deal with these threats? Do we need more security networks in order to cope with international terrorism, piracy at sea, organised crime? Are there sufficient collaborations on a national and international level – to create a global security architecture?

Panel IV: A Challenge to Democracy – Populism and Radicalism and its Global Dimension

Location: Room 388, 2nd floor
Moderator: Paul Stafford, Attorney & Counselor, The Stafford Law Firm, GMF Board member (MMF 2003)
Panelists: Thomas Grumke, Expert, Department for the Protection of the Constitution, Ministry of the Interior, State of Nordrhein-Westfalen (MMF 1997); Borbála Kriza, Researcher and Faculty Lecturer, Eötvös Loránd University (MMF 2008); Andreas Umland, Assistant Professor of Contemporary Russian History, The Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt

Recent years have seen a considerable upsurge of social and political extremism in Europe. In Western Europe as well as in several new EU member countries, radical right-wing agendas and xenophobic rhetoric have been appealing to considerable audiences, successfully establishing organizations in society, and even entering parliaments and politics. Underlying this populist and/or extremist onslaught on politics in Europe are the fundamental social, economic and political transformations that have taken place recently in Europe and elsewhere. Many of these right-wing movements even have become international in their outlook. Traditionally associated with political party ideologies and elections, right wing extremism is an international, a modern and a complex phenomenon today with a globally compatible life-style and its own web space.  What motivates these right-wing groups? What does transnational right wing extremism look like? And what are some of the societal/government responses?

Nightowl Sessions

Session 1: The New German Government – Which Way Forward?
Location: Mövenpick Hotel, Lobby, Lower Level
Moderator: Dirk Schattschneider, Deputy Head, Representation of North Rhine Westphalia (MMF 2003)
Panelists: Horst Meierhofer, Member of the German Parliament, FDP (MMF 2008); Ursula Mogg, former Member of the German Parliament, SPD (MMF 1990); Gerhard Schick, Member of the German Parliament, Greens (MMF 2007) (preliminary confirmed); Johannes Leithäuser, Correspondent, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (MMF 1991)

German citizens elected a new government on September 27. The Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party won the majority, the Social Democrats experienced a historic defeat and the new “Left Party’ won significantly, as did the Greens. While the new government is still constituting itself, we have asked a group of Germans to debate what we can expect from the new government in terms of interior policy as well as external relations and specifically transatlantic relations.

Session 2: My 1989 - Eyewitness Accounts of an Escape from East Germany
Location: Mövenpick Hotel, Room Enzian
Moderator: Will Bohlen, Director of Communications, GMF
Panelists: Baerbel Arendt-Hilgenberg; Detlev Hilgenberg; Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, Senior Director, Policy Programs, GMF

On 19 August 1989, a Pan-European Picnic was held on the Austrian-Hungarian border near the town of Sopron. In a symbolic gesture agreed to by both Austria and Hungary, a border gate was to be opened for three hours.  More than 600 East Germans seized the opportunity presented by this brief lifting of the Iron Curtain and fled into the west. The Hungarian border guards, despite their orders to shoot anyone who attempted to cross the border, did not intervene.

Update on MMF and Alumni Relations
Location: Deutsche Bank Berlin Representation, Lichthof
Moderator: Neil Sumilas, Director, Alumni Relations

Three Panel Breakout Sessions

Panel I: Transformative Moments for Cities
Location: Ihne Room, 4th floor
Moderator: Mechthild Mäsker, head of department, NDR (MMF 2002)
Panelists: Dr. Hinrich Lehmann-Grube, former Mayor, Leipzig; Pauline Krikke, Mayor, City of Arnhem (MMF 1992); Michael Fernandez, Managing Principal, JMF & Co. (MMF 2009); Jay Williams, Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio

The economic crisis poses numerous challenges for cities on both sides of the Atlantic. How are cities particularly hard hit by the economic downturn dealing with the challenges ahead? Are there benefits to the decline – e.g. increased interest in public transportation, more funds for schools, less expensive urban housing? And are there lessons to be learned from cities in East Germany and Eastern Europe that lived through a systemic shock 20 years ago?

Panel II: Are Europe and the United States Falling out of Love with Labor Migration?

Location: Lichthof, Ground floor
Moderator: Delancey Gustin, Program Associate, Immigration Program, GMF
Panelists: Szolt Darvas, Resident Scholar, Bruegel; Fidele Mutwarasibo, Immigrant Council of Ireland; Jessica Zorogastua Camacho, Chief of Staff of the Regional Immigration Minister of the Madrid Regional Government (MMF 2007)

The EU enlargement to Central and Eastern Europe has been closely linked with new Central and Eastern European migration trends. Has it increased or decreased, or is there no change? Have the people benefitted from the possibility of finding jobs abroad or is it just another kind of a brain drain? What kind of impact does low-skilled labor from CEE have on the welfare state? And what are the implications of the global economic crisis on labor mobility worldwide? 

Panel III: A German-German Retro-Perspective on 1989
Location: Wallot Room, 4th floor
Moderator: Stephan Dorgerloh, Council of the Protestant Church of Germany (MMF2003)
Panelists: Wolfgang Hauptmann, ARD; Dr. Ruth Leiserowitz, Historian; Heike Witzel, Consultant, (MMF 1992)

1989 is not only about the Fall of the Berlin Wall and epochal events that led to the collapse of the Soviet Empire, the rebirth of Central and East European nations, and the reunification of Germany. It is also a time period of broken dreams, winners and losers, and periods of great uncertainties. What happened to Berlin?  How did East and West Germans view each other? What was it like for foreigners living in the divided city?  How did the West change through the political upheavals? What are the lessons for a formerly divided city?

Summary of Breakout Sessions and opportunity for statements and reflections
Location: Lichthof, Ground floor           

Closing
Location: Lichthof, Ground floor
Keynote: Rolf-Ernst Breuer, Speaker of the Board (1997- 2002), Director of the Board, (2002-2006), Deutsche Bank
Topic: “Causes of the Financial Crisis and Perspectives Going Forward”

Afternoon Site Visits

The Political Berlin
This site visit will include a visit to the German parliament which assembls since 1999 again in its original Reichstag building, which dates from the 1890s and underwent a significant renovation under the lead of British architect Sir Norman Foster.  Participants will also visit the Chancellery (opened in 2001), the office of the German Chancellor, Head of the German federal government.
Let by MMF Sylvia Hartleif, MMF

A Bike Trip between East and West
This site visit will take you on a bike trip starting at Wannsee through the outskirts of Berlin, passing by some impressive villas and castles and will include a visit to “Glienicker Brücke”, the bridge where East and West exchanged spies during the Cold War.
(PS. In case of bad weather, this tour will be replaced by a walking tour of the neighborhood where the German government is based)
Let by MMF Olaf Böhnke

The Stasi Past
This site visit will take you to Hohenschönhausen , one of the main prisons for people detained by the former East German Ministry of State Security (MfS), or 'Stasi.' If timing permits, the tour will conclude at Alexander Platz which currently houses a free exhibition on the peaceful revolution in 1989.
Let by MMF Heike Witzel

The Jewish Community in Berlin
In Berlin Mitte, amidst small streets and hidden courtyards, one finds traces of the old Jewish quarter.  This site visit will take you to some of the remnants of the reform community to the Scheunenviertel, where immigrants from Eastern Europe created a colorful atmosphere in the heart of the metropolis.  This trip will also take you to the new Jewish Museum, designed by Daniel Libeskind.
Led by MMF Cornelia Dömer

Kreuzberg – The Turkish Berlin
This site visit will take you to Kreuzberg, for many years a neglected part West Berlin, tucked up against a portion of the Wall so remote that nobody with means wanted to live there.  In the 1960's, Kreuzberg became the center of Turkish immigrant life in Berlin, these days also intermixed with a new population of the young and trendy. 
Led by MMF Özcan Mutlu

Closing Reception
Location: GTZ Berlin Representation
Keynote: Steven Erlanger, The New York Times, Bureau chief, Paris
Topic: “A Journalist View - Reporting on Central and Eastern Europe and Russia in the 1980s and Afterwards”

Wrap-up Session
Location: Hotel Mövenpick, Breakfast Room
Departure