At the annual general assembly of the European Movement Germany on Monday, 21st of June, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle claimed for a new culture of stability in Europe and confirmed the strong partnership between the Federal Foreign Office and the European Movement Germany in the future.

The delegates of the annual assembly elected a new board and accepted the applications of 31 new members to join the network, thereby raising the number of member organizations in the EM Germany to more than two hundred.  Dr. Dieter Spöri was re-elected to a second time as President of the EM Germany, with Michael Gahler MEP, Axel Schäfer MdB and Dr. Michaele Schreyer being elected as Vice-Presidents. Dr. Franz Schoser was affirmed as treasurer.

Regarding the challenges the EU is currently facing, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called on Europe to act as one. With the Euro not only being a common currency but also a deeply political project, the trust in the currency had to grow again. For this to happen, the right lessons would have to be learned from the crisis.
He reaffirmed the promotion of the German model of a constitutionally anchored debt brake on the European level and demanded faster and more effective sanctions for member states which are not meeting the deficit rules due to unsound budgetary practices, for instance the blocking of access to money from the EU cohesion and structural funds.
In his speech, Westerwelle also praised the efforts of the European Movement Germany and promised the support of the Foreign Ministry for the work the European Movement is doing.