“Europe Table – an opportunity for Europe”: New European dialogue format celebrates premiere
Under the motto “Welcome Home,” a spectacular Opening Ceremony on 11 August, will welcome the world equestrian elite to the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026. But before riders from around the globe come together in the Main Stadium, a new format will offer high-ranking economic and political representatives from various countries the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas in person.
The new dialogue format centres on enabling a trustfully, interdisciplinary exchange on the major strategic challenges of current times. The topics the format focuses on include politics, economics, security and defence. High-profile experts and representatives from these fields have been secured as participants, including Federal Minister, Dorothee Bär; Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Serap Güler; Belarusian opposition leader and human rights activist, Maria Kalesnikava, Dr. Markus Krebber (Chairman of the Board of RWE AG), Sir Liam Fox (former British Secretary of State for Defence), and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Ahmed Alattar.
Apart from that, the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize will be actively involved. This means that Europe’s most lucrative prize will be present on the sidelines of this global sporting event for the first time, much to the delight of the organisers.
The Chairman of the Charlemagne Prize Board of Directors, former State Premier, Armin Laschet, emphasised: “Sport connects people worldwide. The fact that decision-makers from business and politics are coming together this year to discuss the crucial issues facing Europe makes Aachen a special place for exchange in a divided world.”
Michael Bröcker, Editor-in-chief at TableMedia and one of Germany’s most influential and knowledgeable journalists covering the Capital, is responsible for the content and hosting of the event. The format will celebrate its premiere immediately before Media Night and the Opening Ceremony in the Champions’ Circle at the Allianz Park. This will combine an intimate European dialogue with the international reach and unique atmosphere of one of the year’s most important sporting events.