On  21 November 2018 METRO AG in cooperation with the European Movement International, Forum Europe and EuroCommerce hosted the 10th Brussels Wednesday Social, which was attended by over 250 guests from politics, business and civil society.

The world is experiencing increasing uncertainty, volatility, and divided societies. Institutions, principles, values, which once seemed stable, are constantly questioned and can no longer be taken for granted. Protectionism, economic nationalism, populism, and identity politics are on the rise. Many people distrust global institutions, conventional governments, international cooperation, and multinational companies. Can the European Union still fulfil its promises of freedom, democracy, peace, prosperity, and open societies in these circumstances?

The event was part of a series of discussions entitled ‘Prospects for Europe’, launched in March 2017 by the partners of the Wednesday Social, with the aim to foster debate on an innovative and sustainable vision for the EU, involving stakeholders from civil society, political institutions and the business community.

See the full event report and photos here.

Agenda

16:00 – 16:30  Registration & Welcome Coffee

16:30 – 16:35   Introductory Remarks by Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General, European Movement International

16:35 – 17:30   Panel 1: Open Societies and Protectionism moderated by Paul Adamson, Chairman, Forum Europe

• Jeremy Wates, Secretary General, The European Environmental Bureau
• Marco Cilento, Senior Advisor, European Trade Union Confederation
• Corinna Horst, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director, GMF
• Carl Dolan, Director, Transparency International EU

17:30 – 18:00  Keynote Interview – Paul Adamson in conversation with Alex Barker, Brussels Bureau Chief, the Financial Times

18:00 – 18:05  Introductory Remarks by Christian Verschueren, Director General, EuroCommerce

18:00 – 19:00  Panel 2: World Economy and Protectionism moderated by Katrina Sichel, Communications Specialist

• Karl Brauner, Deputy Director General, WTO
• Cora Jungbluth, Senior Expert International Trade and Investment, Bertelsmann Foundation
• Olaf Koch, CEO, METRO AG

19:00 – 19:15 Closing Remarks by  Maria Heider, Director EU Affairs, METRO AG

19:15   Dinner Reception (walking buffet)