European Podium

Europe needs unity – now.
How capable of action is Europe in times of multiple crises? This question was the focus of the Europa-Podium 2026 on January 29 in the ballroom of St. Johann Town Hall in Saarbrücken. 
Under the title “Between internal crises and external expectations – Franco-German responsibility for Europe's future,” Karoline Gil, Prof. Dr. Nicolas Hubé, and Prof. Dr. Joachim Schild discussed Europe's ability to preserve its democratic values in the face of geopolitical tensions and social polarization with over 90 participants. The panel was moderated by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brückner.
The central message: National solo efforts will not get us anywhere. Only joint European responses to internal and external challenges will ensure political capacity to act and cohesion. The appeal of young voices for more participation and tangible democracy was particularly strong.
In the end, the clear conclusion remained: Europe is not a distant Brussels, but our common project – and it needs unity, courage, and commitment to preserve its values.

Since 2008, the ASKO Europa-Stiftung and the Europäische Akademie Otzenhausen, in cooperation with the Frankreichzentrum (Centre for French studies) of Saarland University and Europe Direct, Saarbrücken, have been organizing a European Podium during the German-French Week in January.

Speakers from Germany, France and optionally a third EU member state discuss current issues in the Franco-German and European context from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Examples of previous topics:

  • 2025: “40 Jahre Schengener Abkommen”
  • 2024: "20 years of EU enlargement to the east - perspectives of the Weimar Triangle in the European election year"
  • 2023: "Between Europeanization and Renationalization. How much political trust does the EU enjoy?"
  • 2022: „Ein stärkeres Europa in der Welt? Die Außenpolitik der Europäischen Union auf dem Prüfstand“
  • 2021: "Wer schafft das Europa von morgen? Zivilgesellschaftliche und politische Antworten und Positionen aus der Großregion"
  • 2020: "Die EU und Afrika. Wohin führt der Weg?"
  • 2019: "Bürger, Parteien, Parlament - Eine kritische Vorausschau auf die Europawahlen"
  • 2018: "Was ist und was kann kulturelles Erbe?"
  • 2017: "Europa á la carte"
  • 2016: "Das unbekannte Euroland - Portugal als Testfall für die europäische Krisenbewältigung"