Towards good neighborliness? Panel discussion on Franco-German border experiences during the pandemic

Karlsruhe. The Forum Recht Foundation invites you to a panel discussion titled „Beyond Borders: Franco-German Border Experiences During the Pandemic“ on Tuesday, April 26, at 7:00 p.m. This is the first public event to be held at the Foundation’s new premises in Karlsruhe. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 turned the carefree freedom of travel in Europe—and especially life in the immediate border regions—upside down. Experts and those directly affected will reflect on the historical significance of this situation—for the city of Karlsruhe, for the region, and for Europe—and how legal frameworks have significantly influenced everyday life:

• Prof. Dr. Florian Weber, Department of European Studies at Saarland University in Saarbrücken
• Carolyn Moser, Max Planck Institute for Foreign Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg
• René Richert and Matthias Ackermann, mayors of the municipalities of Riedseltz and Birkenhördt and initiators of a manifesto for Franco-German friendship
• Heike Greczko Deputy Director of vhs Karlsruhe and a cross-border commuter
• Lionel Clergue, an engineer at the Michelin tire plant and a cross-border commuter

The event will be moderated by the journalist and president of the Justizpressekonferenz e. V., Kolja Schwartz.

This joint project by the Forum Recht Foundation and the Centre Culturel Franco-Allemand Karlsruhe (CCFA) Foundation, in cooperation with Michelin and vhs Karlsruhe, marks the launch of an artistic project by Yves Mettler (DE/CH) and Nicolas Couturier (FR). The project is scheduled to take place from October 25 to 29, 2022, in public spaces in Strasbourg and Karlsruhe.

Admission is free. To register, please visit event@stiftung-forum-recht.de.

Beyond Borders: German-French Cross-Border Experiences During the Pandemic

When: Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stiftung Forum Recht, Karlstraße 45 A, 76133 Karlsruhe
More details: www.stiftung-forum-recht.de

Statements

Assistant Professor Dr. Florian Weber, Chair of European Studies, Saarland University, Saarbrücken:
„The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined the open borders we’ve come to take for granted. We must act together to make border regions resilient to future crises!“

Lionel Clergue, Engineer, Michelin Tire Plant:
„Borders remind us of how diverse and rich our neighbors“ cultures are.”

Dr. Heike Greczko, Deputy Director of the vhs Karlsruhe:
„In the wake of the COVID-19-related border closures and their consequences in our border region, there must be a renewed awareness on all sides that a special friendship requires special care.“