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Talks on the Capital
Minister-President’ Talks
This series of talks was initiated by the Stiftung’s Advisory Board members Klaus Bresser, Ernst Elitz, Jürgen Engert and Hermann Rudolph and its Chairman Volker Hassemer. Berlin should never be a “city unto itself”. What do Germany’s federal states expect from the capital and metropolis Berlin? – That is the question the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin asks of the federal states’ Minister-Presidents when it invites them to give one of the Talks on the Capital in Berlin.
We already have an impressive collection of opinions on Berlin voiced by several Minister-Presidents. The talks have given new impetus to the general debate on the future of Berlin and its relationship with the federal states. For the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, the debate does not end with the Minister-Presidents’ talks. It is pursuing a range of options in response to the federal state heads’ expectations.
Talks on the Capital by Leading Figures of German Society
Following the Talks on the Capital by the Minister-Presidents of Germany’s federal states, the group of speakers is being extended to include prominent figures of German society. They, too, are – in a quite private capacity and on behalf of the organizations and institutions they represent – contributing to the development of Germany’s capital Berlin and helping improve its viability.
The first of this new group of speakers to give a talk ¬– on 9 September 2010 – was Peter Heesen, Chairman of the German Civil Service Federation, who outlined his expectations, wishes and demands for the capital Berlin in the course of a discussion with Klaus Bresser and Jürgen Engert.
Talks on the Capital by Representatives of Neighbouring Polish Regions
Following the highly successful series of talks given by the Minister-Presidents, the Polish Ambassador to Germany, Marek Prawda, the former Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony, Georg Milbradt, and Volker Hassemer jointly framed the idea of promoting cooperation between the capital region and the neighbouring Polish regions by inviting the political representatives of these regions to speak in Berlin. The initiators hope that this series of talks will help forge new partnerships and ties on both sides of the border, but also – and in particular – with the nearby capital of Germany.
The series kicked off on 18 May 2011 with a talk by the Mayor of Szczecin, Piotr Krzystek.
Talks on the Capital by Foreign Ambassadors
In view of the great success of these events, the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin is now inviting representatives of countries that are of particular importance to Berlin to give a Talk on the Capital. The capital Berlin must not only be open and receptive to domestic voices and developments, it must also show interest in the way the world views this city.
The first talk in this series was given on 23 June 2011 by His Excellency Mr. Vladimir M. Grinin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Federal Republic of Germany.
"Berlin can’t just take, it must give. Berlin doesn’t just belong to Berliners: it's the capital of all Germans." - Klaus Bresser
New Book: “Reden über die Hauptstadt” (Talks on the Capital)
The Talks on the Capital given so far have been collected together and published in a single volume by the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin under the title “Reden über die Hauptstadt. Die Bundesländer und Berlin – Ministerpräsidenten im Dialog” (Talks on the Capital. The German Federal States and Berlin – Minister-Presidents in Dialogue). The book contains the talks given by Matthias Platzeck, Peter Althaus, Christian Wulff, Günther H. Oettinger, Georg Milbradt, Wolfgang Böhmer, Ole von Beust, Jens Böhrnsen, Peter Müller and Peter Harry Carstensen.
“Whatever the German federal states feel or think, Berlin is the capital,” stated Egon Bahr, former Federal Minister and honorary citizen of Berlin, at the book’s presentation in the Berlin studio of German broadcaster ZDF. Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and nearly ten year after the German parliament and government moved to the city, Berlin had, he believed, definitively regained its status as Germany’s capital.
Bahr and the former director of German radio broadcaster Deutschlandradio, Ernst Elitz, co-presented the book “Reden über die Hauptstadt”, which is published by the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin. What do the federal states expect of Berlin? What can Berlin expect of Germany? In their Talks on the Capital, the Minister-Presidents spoke constructively and discerningly about shared prospects at the beginning of the 21st century.
The federal government should complete the move to Berlin by swiftly bringing the remaining federal ministries from Bonn to the new capital, said Bahr, taking up an expectation expressed by nearly all the Minister-Presidents in their Talks on the Capital.
Apart from all the political questions concerning Berlin, one development has, in his view, been of particular importance: “Young people from all over the country come to Berlin and develop a fondness for this city,” said Bahr.
Excerpts from the Minister-Presidents’ Talks
“Whether and how Berlin can master the challenges it faces as Germany’s capital and as a European metropolis depends on whether the Metropolitan Region as a whole succeeds in developing a sound economic foundation for the 21st century.”
Matthias Platzeck, Talk on the Capital, 12 June 2006
“Berlin is Germany’s ‘label’. And if this city develops greater self-assurance, it is also the label that Germany will acquire globally, driving development in other parts of Germany.”
Dieter Althaus, Talk on the Capital, 4 October 2006
“Berlin’s fascination is largely rooted in the diversity of its inhabitants’ lifestyles and the many different cultures the people living there come from. The basic requirement for such diversity is tolerance. ”
Christian Wulff, Talk on the Capital, 3 November 2006
“The federal states should raise their profile in the capital so as to make the whole of Germany – in all its diversity – visible in Berlin.”
Günther H. Oettinger, Talk on the Capital, 30 March 2007
“Berlin should exploit the opportunities offered by its location at the heart of Europe. Brussels will remain Europe’s political capital, but the process of European integration can help Berlin regain the economic and cultural status it once enjoyed.”
Georg Milbradt, Talk on the Capital, 23 April 2007
“How Berlin is perceived by the rest of the country and the image of Berlin that prevails there depends primarily on Berlin itself.”
Wolfgang Böhmer, Talk on the Capital, 14 May 2007
“By 2015 or 2020, Berlin could become the European Metropolis that brings together East and West, utilizing the impetus provided by the diversity of mentalities found there.”
Ole von Beust, Talk on the Capital, 17 September 2007
“Berlin’s showcase function as the country’s capital also makes considerable demands on the city, of course. It places burdens on Berlin, which is why Article 22 of the Basic Law adds this second sentence to the first: ‘The Federation shall be responsible for representing the nation as a whole in the capital’.”
Jens Böhrnsen, Talk on the Capital, 30 November 2007
“Of course, as a centre of culture Berlin will not enjoy the same elevated status that Paris does in France. But is that really a disadvantage?”
Peter Müller, Talk on the Capital, 23 June 2008
“For Germany’s federal states, Berlin is a place for balancing interests, a forum for nationwide dialogue in which the federal states have a major say. I would like to see the capital performing a bridge function!”
Peter Harry Carstensen, Talk on the Capital, 27 November 2008
“Berlin is the capital of all Germans – that is my core message to the federal states. Even in a federal system, there is no reason why we should not have a strong capital. But that is something Germany will have to get used to because, for many people, Bonn was no rival.”
Klaus Wowereit, panel discussion, 16 March 2009