10th Franco-German Dialogue 2008

"Sustainable Development – A new imperative for Europe?"

The most recent Climate reports of the UN-Expert Commission from 2007 leave no doubt about what the increase of extreme weather conditions mean for us: the Earth is in the middle of a dramatic climate change. This means that politicians are being confronted with a new task – the challenge of sustainability – and politicians are trying the react to the challenge, on a national as well as on an international level: sustainability strategies on a national as well as on a European level, expert commissions , national as well as international conferences, media effectiveness in the post Kyoto process, etc.

Scientific as well as political and also public debate is gaining momentum and all of these dimensions be the focus of the expert discussion at the 10 th Annual Franco-German Dialogue.

According to the definition of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 I Rio de Janeiro, sustainable development aims to integrate the economy, the environment and social development. In connection with the scientifically proven and alarming facts, it – sustainable development – must become the imperative for intelligent political, economic, and civil action – on a national, Franco-German as well as on a European level. In the end it concerns nothing more than the civil reorganization of our society.

Incorporated into two panel discussions, four work groups, will discuss the foreign policy and security policy, economic and social policy, institutional as well as education policy and cultural policy aspects of sustainability. Based on regional respectively national and individual stand points, we are continuing to develop the European idea.