On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, the Institut Pierre Werner (IPW) and the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge eV are organising an online debate, in English, on Wednesday 2 September 2020 at 18:30.
The debate, moderated by Bernd Kleinheyer, will address the impact of World War II and the current challenges of multilateral cooperation and European integration. The guest speakers on this occasion will be Prof. Dr. Sonja Kmec, John Wessels, Dr. Heinrich Kreft and Brigadier General Dirk Backen.
Whilst 8 May 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, the conflict did not end worldwide until 2 September 1945. At that time, the war-torn European countries faced colossal challenges: to rebuild their economies, restore democracy and above all maintain new peaceful relations between them.
The United States (US) not only played an important role in liberating Europe from Nazi occupation, but also in rebuilding and reconciling Germany with its neighbours. Nowhere else is it possible to understand the success of this partnership as well as in Luxembourg. The European institutions, the economy and the coexistence of bi-national families, tourists and cross-border commuters are a prime example.
This unique peace project aspiring to joint multilateral work and European integration is nowadays put to the test in a multipolar world: whether it is geopolitics, global warming or the restrictions imposed on travellers within the framework of the fight against COVID-19. It is precisely in these situations that this transatlantic and European cooperation is so important.
The event, funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by the German Embassy in Luxembourg, will be broadcast live on the Facebook site of Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e.V. (www.facebook.com/volksbund).
