The guest list alone revealed the relevance of this new dialogue format: ​​Sir Liam Fox (former UK Secretary of State for Defence), Serap Güler (Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office), and H.E. Ahmed Alattar (Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates) were just a few of the renowned international personalities present. The Europe Table struck a chord with the spirit of the times; the future of Europe is a matter of great public interest and around 200 leading figures from political, business and cultural circles had  accepted the invitation to attend.

The former State Minister, Armin Laschet, who not only serves as Chairman of the German Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, but is also the event’s patron, regards the two-hour programme to be the launch of a regular get-together that is to be staged annually at the Allianz Park at the Aachen Soers. “Two institutions in Aachen that have an impact far beyond the city itself have never organised a joint event before. I am therefore all the more delighted that the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein and the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen have now launched the Europe Table,” said Laschet, who also chairs the Charlemagne Prize Board of Directors.

Subsequently, various experts exchanged views on topics such as migration and its associated challenges, new forms of cooperation in the Middle East and digital sovereignty. Maria Kalesnikava, the Belarusian opposition leader, civil rights activist and 2022 Charlemagne Prize laureate, offered further unique insights. “In reality, Belarus has been in Russian hands for six years now. Yet, we see ourselves as Europeans and possess a European mindset. This war, therefore, is not just directed against us, but against European values,” she observed, reflecting on the political situation in her home country. The host, Michael Bröcker, wanted to know if she had ever regretted the actions that led to her political imprisonment for several years. “Not for a single second. On the contrary, they showed me that a great deal is possible if you have a strategy,” came the clear reply.

Statements like this deeply touched Dorothee Bär, Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space. “You radiate such positivity and optimism. We could all benefit from a bit more of the kind of commitment you show; it has personally inspired me, too,” she said, addressing the civil rights activist directly at the conclusion of her keynote speech. Earlier, in her address, Bär had highlighted the European dimension of the much-talked-about Artemis mission – specifically the lunar orbit. “This mission was only able to take place because Europe supplied the crucial module.” The European Service Module, which carries the word “European” in its name and which is manufactured by European partners – was just one example of why she looks to the future with confidence. “I have absolutely no fears about the future. I am grateful for us to have the opportunity to exchange ideas here in Aachen,” the Federal Minister said in her closing, marking the successful debut of the Europe Table.