More than 30 years after the restart of German-Polish relations, much is being discussed about their poor state at the political level. The last German-Polish intergovernmental consultations took place five years ago. At EU level, Poland and Germany are diverging on many issues. Also, the common desire to support Ukraine does not always lead to low-friction cooperation.

At the same time, many institutions of German-Polish cooperation have been working for three decades to improve relations between our neighbouring countries. The federal government and most federal states now have Polonia Commissioners. A diverse scene of Polish migrant organisations works for the large Polish community.

Together with our guest Irene Hahn-Fuhr, board member of the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation, we will discuss Labora lecture on the state of German-Polish relations and the participation of Polonia in Germany. In her input, Irene Hahn-Fuhr addresses the following topics in particular:

  • How are the institutions of German-Polish cooperation constructed and what are the consequences for the current impact of the institutions?
  • What further development of German-Polish cooperation should be addressed?
  • What impetus for German-Polish cooperation stems from the elections in Poland?

This is complemented by short inputs from Minor's studies and consulting work, including on the demographics and labour market integration of Polish immigrants in Germany and on narratives in German-Polish historical-political education. We will also address the question of what Polonia representatives can do in Germany among the invited experts.

To our guest

Irene Hahn-Fuhr has been a board member of the Foundation for German-Polish Cooperation since August 2022. The political scientist is managing director of the think tank Zentrum Liberale Moderne in Berlin. Previously, she worked in the German Bundestag as an office manager for the European policy spokesperson of the Bündnis90/Die Grünen parliamentary group, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and the European University Viadrina, as well as the head of the foreign office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Warsaw.

To the Labora Lectures

With the Labora lectures the Minor – Labora brings together experts from science, politics and practice in an intensive exchange on issues and social developments that affect the shaping of the future of our society. We aim at mutual learning on innovative ideas, methods and approaches to improve the situation of marginalized or disadvantaged groups. We welcome the guests with a special wine, other drinks and some food that accompanies the evening in the fireplace room. The Labora lectures are organised and implemented in cooperation with Minor – Project Kontor for Education and Research, Minor – Science Society and La Red – Networking and Integration. 

The Labora lectures It's called Chatham House Rules.