Council of Europe Anniversary Conference – 75 Years of Germany in the Council of Europe | 8 July 2025 at the Federal Foreign Office

In 2025, Germany will celebrate 75 years of membership in the Council of Europe – the first international organization to admit the Federal Republic of Germany after the Second World War. The anniversary will be marked by the Council of Europe Anniversary Conference on 8 July 2025 at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, hosted by the Council of Europe and the Federal Foreign Office, with the support of the European Movement Germany e.V..

Under the theme "Strengthening Networks for Democracy – 75 Years of Germany in the Council of Europe", representatives from politics, academia, and society will come together to discuss key challenges and future prospects for the Council of Europe.

Date: 8 July 2025 | 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Entry from 09:45 AM)
Location:  Weltsaal of the Federal Foreign Office, Berlin
Conference Language: English

Programme

Panel 1: Freedom in Europe – Supporting Ukraine through the Council of Europe

What strategies are needed to secure Ukraine's resilience in the long term and protect democratic structures?

• Robert Spano, Chair of the Board of the Register of Damage for Ukraine and former president of the European Court of Human Rights
• Dr. Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination at the Council of Europe
• Dr. Lukas Wasielewski, Head of Division for Public International Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Jurisdiction at the Federal Foreign Office
• Moderation: Wilfried Jilge, Associate Fellow at DGAP's Center for Order and Governance in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia
• More Panelists to be announced soon.

Panel 2: Democracy Under Pressure – Europe's Response through the Council of Europe

How can the Council of Europe respond to increasing pressure on democratic structures at the local and societal levels?

• Prof. Angelika Nußberger, former Vice-President of the European Court of Human Rights and Professor of International Law at the University of Cologne

• Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe

• Özge Erdoğan, Deputy Chair of the German Federal Youth Council
• Dr. Bernd Vöhringer, Mayor of Sindelfingen and Member of the Congress of Local and Regional authorities of the Council of Europe
• Frank Schwabe, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection and Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

• Moderation: Tristana Moore, Founder of Moore Media and former BBC journalist

Panel 3: The Council of Europe’s Responses to Future Challenges

What challenges will the Council of Europe face in the coming years, and how can it further strengthen its role as a guardian of human rights?

• Prof. Anne Peters, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law

• Johanna Nelles, Executive Secretary to the Istanbul Convention and Head of the Unit on Violence against Women, Council of Europe
• Lajla Fetic, AI Governance and Digital Policy Expert and Head of AI Public Interest & Policy at appliedAI Institute for Europe gGmbH

• Moderation: Daniel Höltgen, Director of Communications, Council of Europe

Additional Information:

• Participation is free of charge

• The venue is wheelchair accessible – please let us know if you require assistance

• Please allow sufficient time for security checks at the entrance

• Photos will be taken during the event. By registering, you consent to the use of these images for public communication

The Anniversary Conference is part of the European Movement Germany's General Assembly. EBD member organisations can find all relevant information here.

If you have any questions or cooperation inquiries, feel free to contact: europakonferenz@netzwerk-ebd.de

Context

As early as 1948, the European Movement called for the establishment of a pan-European body at The Hague Congress - the Council of Europe was founded in 1949. The Federal Republic of Germany has been a member since 1950. That same year, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was signed.