
Photo: Marc Darchinger
Our Political Breakfasts and Background Discussions 2022
Körber-Stiftung regularly invites a small circle of high-ranking members of Berlin’s foreign policy community to the Political Breakfasts and (Digital) Background Discussions. For 60 years, Körber-Stiftung has been committed to promoting international dialogue across political, national and religious boundaries, following the credo “Talk to each other, rather than about each other”.
With the Political Breakfasts and (Digital) Background Discussions, we offer a space for an honest and substantive exchange between the speakers and Berlin’s key decision-makers. As with the Bergedorf Round Table, the discussion takes place in a confidential setting to facilitate an open and constructive dialogue. This is an overview of our Political Breakfasts and (Digital) Background Discussions in 2022.
- Digital Background Discussion with Qian Hongshan, 14 December 2022
- Political Breakfast with Shalva Papuashvili, 1 December 2022
- Political Breakfast with Members of the House of Lords, 30 November 2022
- Digital Background Discussion with Hamid Karzai, 25 October 2022
- Background Discussion with Markéta Pekarová Adamová, 19 September 2022
- Political Breakfast with Edi Rama, 19 May 2022
- Political Breakfast with Rumen Radev, 17 May 2022
- Political Breakfast with Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, 18 March 2022
- Digital Background Discussion with David H. Petraeus, 28 February 2022
- Background Discussion with Clément Beaune, 13 January 2022
Digital Background Discussion with Qian Hongshan, 14 December 2022
Qian Hongshan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, joined Körber-Stiftung’s Digital Background Discussion series and spoke with members of the German Bundestag as well as experts from ministries and think tanks. Following the 20th National Party Congress, the focus was on China’s future international role and its foreign policy priorities.
Political Breakfast with Shalva Papuashvili, 1 December 2022
Accompanied by a delegation of members of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, discussed current foreign policy challenges with German parliamentarians and experts from ministries and think tanks. During the Political Breakfast, Russia’s war in Ukraine and its consequences for Georgian domestic and foreign policy were central topics. Aside from that, expectations on both sides regarding EU accession were discussed.

Jörg Wojahn, Shalva Papuashvili, Nora Müller Alle Fotos: David Ausserhofer Nora Müller with Shalva Papuashvili Volkmar Klein, Jana Puglierin, Axel Schäfer, Knut Abraham Knut Abraham, Tobias Winkler, Astrid Irrgang
Political Breakfast with Members of the House of Lords, 30 November 2022
Members of the European Affairs Committee of the House of Lords joined Körber-Stiftung for a background discussion on British domestic and foreign policy with members of Berlin’s foreign policy community. During the visit, The Earl of Kinnoull, The Lord Hannay of Chiswick GCMG, The Lord Liddle and The Rt Hon. the Lord Foulkes of Cumnock spoke about the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine, Brexit, and priorities of British foreign and defence policy.

Susanne Hegels, Volker Jacoby, Edgar Lenski, Christoph Israng, Martin Bergfelder Alle Fotos: David Ausserhofer Linn Selle, Jens Hanefeld, Andrej Hunko, Susanne Hegel The Earl of Kinnoull, Nora Müller, The Lord Liddle, Astrid Irrgang The Berlin Pulse 2022
Digital Background Discussion with Hamid Karzai, 25 October 2022
The former president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, discussed current developments in Afghanistan as part of Körber-Stiftung’s Digital Background Discussion series on 25 October 2022. One year after the fall of Kabul, Hamid Karzai shared his views and described the current situation in the country. The participants also discussed the expectations of the Afghan people towards the international community and their own country.
Background Discussion with Markéta Pekarová Adamová, 19 September 2022
On 19 September 2022, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of various ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Political Breakfast at the office of Körber-Stiftung. Markéta Pekarová Adamová shared her views on the Czech EU Council presidency and the future of the EU. Questions on European security, Russia’s war against Ukraine and Czech politics were also part of the debate.

Knut Abraham and Sara Nanni all Photos: David Ausserhofer Jörg Nürnberger, Kai Olaf-Lang and Milan Nic Christoph Israng and Knut Abraham Catalina Cullas Skrijinskaia
Political Breakfast with Edi Rama, 19 May 2022
On 19 May 2022, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of various ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Political Breakfast at Körber-Stiftung. Edi Rama shared his views on the future of the EU and EU enlargement. Questions on European security and Russia’s war against Ukraine were also part of the debate.

Manuel Sarrazin and Susanne Schütz Photo: David Ausserhofer Derya Türk-Nachbaur Photo: David Ausserhofer Nils Schmid and Christiane Hullmann Photo: David Ausserhofer Adis Ahmetovic, Aniko Merten and Jörg Wojahn Photo: David Ausserhofer
Political Breakfast with Rumen Radev, 17 May 2022
On 17 May 2022, Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of various ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Political Breakfast at Körber-Stiftung. The debate focused on Russia’s war against Ukraine as well as European support and arms deliveries. Diverging strategic cultures within the EU, the future of European security and the role of NATO were also discussed by the participants.

Irena Dimitrova Foto: David Ausserhofer Sabine Stöhr Foto: David Ausserhofer Tobias Winkler, Knut Abraham und Ole Diehl Foto: David Ausserhofer Angela Ganninger Foto: David Ausserhofer
Political Breakfast with Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, 18 March 2022
On 18 March 2022, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of several ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Political Breakfast at Körber-Stiftung. Against the backdrop of Putin’s war against Ukraine, questions regarding European security formed the core of the debate. Other topics included energy security and migration.

Andreas Michaelis, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk and Nora Müller Photo: David Ausserhofer Paweł Gronow, Nora Müller, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk and Thomas Paulsen Photo: David Ausserhofer Eckart Blaurock, Oliver Kohl and Liana Fix Photo: David Ausserhofer Nora Müller, Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Thomas Paulsen and Janusz Styczek Photo: David Ausserhofer Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk, Nora Müller and Thomas Paulsen Photo: David Ausserhofer Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk Photo: David Ausserhofer
Digital Background Discussion with David H. Petraeus, 28 February 2022
David H. Petraeus, Partner at KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of several ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Digital Background Discussion hosted by Körber-Stiftung to discuss the security challenges posed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Background Discussion with Clément Beaune, 13 January 2022
On 13 January 2022, Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs in the French government, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of several ministries and experts from select think tanks for a Background Discussion at Körber-Stiftung. Beaune shared his views on the future of the EU as a kick-off to the French EU Council Presidency. Aside from the programme of the presidency, the question of European Security as well as the situation in Ukraine were also part of the debate.

Anne-Marie Descôtes, Clément Beaune and Nora Müller Photo: David Ausserhofer Nora Müller, Nils Schmid, Norbert Röttgen and Clément Beaune Photo: David Ausserhofer Christoph Israng and Rolf Nikel Photo: David Ausserhofer Norbert Röttgen and Alisa Vogt Photo: David Ausserhofer