Photo: David Ausserhofer
Our Political Breakfasts and Background Discussions 2023
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.
- Political Breakfast with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, 24 October 2023
- Political Breakfast with Liu Jianchao, 12 October 2023
- Hybrid Background Discussion with Hamid Karzai, 4 July 2023
- Background Discussion with Ayman Safadi, 11 May 2023
- Background Discussion with Egils Levits, 30 March 2023
- Political Breakfast with Fu Ying, 14 February 2023
- Background Discussion with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, 25. Januar 2023
Political Breakfast with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, 24 October 2023
Upon invitation by Körber-Stiftung, Mikhail Khodorkvsky shared his views on Russian domestic and foreign policy during a Political Breakfast, with a special focus on the work of the Russian opposition and Russia’s future. Guests from various ministries and representatives from different think tanks participated in this discussion at Körber-Stiftung’s Berlin office.
Alexander Dubnitzki, Holger Fabig, Irina Sherbakova und Thomas Lenk Photos by: David Ausserhofer 
August Hanning, Markus Speich, Monika Lenhard und Christian Freuding 
Christian Freuding und Astrid Irrgang 
Mikhail Khodorkovsky und Nora Müller
Political Breakfast with Liu Jianchao, 12 October 2023
On 12 October 2023, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of federal ministries and China experts at Körber-Stiftung’s Berlin office to discuss current foreign and security policy issues.
Nora Müller, Liu Jianchao, Thomas Paulsen und Wu Ken Photos by: David Ausserhofer 
Hans-Peter Friedrich, Sabine Stricker-Kellerer, Norbert Röttgen und Jürgen Trittin 
Jürgen Trittin 
Ralf Beste
Hybrid Background Discussion with Hamid Karzai, 4 July 2023
On 4 July 2023, the former Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, spoke digitally with experts from ministries, the German parliament, and think tanks and discussed the current situation in Afghanistan. Topics included the state of the country under the Taliban, German-Afghan relations and possibilities for humanitarian aid, and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
Nils Schmid Photos by: David Ausserhofer 
Ann-Veruschka Jurisch und Tobias Bacherle 
Derya Türk-Nachbaur 
Nora Müller und Susanne Hierl
Background Discussion with Ayman Safadi, 11 May 2023
On 11 May 2023, Körber-Stiftung invited several representatives from federal ministries, think tanks, and businesses, as well as Members of the German Bundestag to join Körber-Stiftung’s series “Political Breakfasts” for an exchange with Jordan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Safadi. Part of the agenda were topics such as Syria, the Arab League, and the Middle East conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
Youssef Bataineh, Ayman Safadi und Nora Müller Photos by: Sebastian Gabsch 
Christoph Ploß 
Nezahat Baradari und Christian Buck 
Abdulaziz Al-Mikhlafi und Tobias Bacherle
Background Discussion with Egils Levits, 30 March 2023
Latvian President H.E. Egils Levits met with members of the German Bundestag, representatives of various ministries as well as experts from different think tanks at Körber-Stiftung’s Berlin office on 30 March 2023. The participants actively engaged in discussions regarding Europe’s future security architecture, war crimes tribunals, and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Bruno Kahl und Zanda Martens Photos by: Svea Pietschmann 
Hanna Steinmüller und Tobias Winkler 
Jana Puglierin 
Kirsten Scholl
Political Breakfast with Fu Ying, 14 February 2023
On 14 February 2023, Körber-Stiftung welcomed Fu Ying, Vice-Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. Representatives of various ministries and experts from selected think tanks discussed with the former Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs during a Political Breakfast. Topics included the future of Chinese foreign policy, China’s position on Russia’s war in Ukraine, and China’s diplomatic relations with EU countries and the United States.
Zhou Bo, Zeng Yingru, Fu Ying, Nora Müller, Stefan Stähle, Karl-Heinz Kamp, Rainer Schmiedchen Photos by: Svea Pietschmann 
Julia Ganter, Volker Jacoby, Christian Schubert, Eckart Blaurock 
Janka Oertel 
Fu Ying
Background Discussion with Katrín Jakobsdóttir, 25. Januar 2023
On 25 January 2023, The Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, met for a background discussion with members of the German Bundestag and experts from ministries and think tanks. The discussion focused on Iceland’s priorities during its Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers and the 4th Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir und Nora Müller Photos by: Svea Pietschmann 
The Conference Room 
Franziska Hagedorn and Helga Margarethe Barth 
Omid Nouripour, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Michelle Müntefering