Initiated in 2002, the German Symposium has become a fixture in LSE’s events calendar – and in 2020 it is back larger than ever before!
Over the course of five days you have the opportunity to attend more than 25 debates with notable guest speakers from politics, economics and academia.
The Symposium organised by German students at LSE is completely free to attend. Under this year’s motto “Beyond Borders”, the panels will be discussing the pertinent and relevant issues of our time such as climate change, Brexit and the future of Europe, current trends in international trade and finance, and human rights and diversity. Further information and tickets for LSE German Symposium events can be found here.
Here are 5 reasons you should come along to this year's event:
1) Climate change
Discuss the challenges of climate change with the President of the Paris Climate Conference, Laurent Fabius, or one Europe's most prominent environmental activists, Luisa Neubauer. Here is your chance! Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister and father of the Paris Climate Agreement will reflect on the historic accord and how nations can continue to tackle one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
2) Europe
Another central theme of the Symposium will be the future of Europe. German Federal Minister Jens Spahn, Robert Habeck and Friedrich Merz will present their vision for the future of Europe and Anglo-German relations.
Besides Brexit, the state and future of the Eurozone and monetary union is one of the most discussed topics in Europe. Klaus Regling, Managing Director of the ESM, as well as economists Frank Smets, ECB, and Elga Bartsch, BlackRock, will discuss the new ways forward in creating a more perfect economic union.
3) Economic affairs
Germany’s leading economists Prof. Clemens Fuest, President of the ifo Institut, and Prof. Marcel Fratzscher, President of the DIW will assess the state of the European and German economy and new ways forward to reform an economic giant.
Sam Woods, Felix Hufeld and Dr Elke König, the heads of some of the world’s most powerful financial regulators will reflect on previous failures and assess the current state of the financial system. Are governments and banks falling back into complacency and ignoring the risk of a future crisis? How can regulators work together on an international level to regulate international financial institutions? Here you will have the chance to get the answers!
4) German Unity
After more than thirty years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, differences in living standards social challenges and, to some extent, a political life between East and West Germany remain. Dr. Franziska Giffey, German Minister for Family Affairs, will provide us with an analysis, possible solutions and perspectives on how a united Germany can be created at all levels.
5) Brexit – UK & EU
Brexit will certainly change trade relations between the UK and the EU, as well as Germany. New trade wars have broken out and the global economy seems to be changing. Dr. Peter Wittig, Germany’s Ambassador in UK will address these trends here at the German Symposium 2020 and venture forecasts for the future. Don't miss it: "Germany and Britain in a Global Economy" on February 3, 2020!
Find more information about the programme and the speaker on our website or Facebook page. Further information and tickets for LSE German Symposium events can be found here.
See you at the German Symposium!
Written by Ruoting Xia, LSESU German Society