On 22 November 2025, the annual conference of the Czech-German Discussion Forum, titled 80 Years after the War: Czech-German Relations in Light of Current Challenges, took place at the Czernin Palace of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The conference, organized by the Forum 2000 Foundation and funded by the Czech-German Future Fund, focused on the significance of historical experience as an impetus for building strong relations and innovative cooperation in Central Europe.
Politicians, experts, and public figures discussed the political and security priorities facing Germany and the Czech Republic eighty years after the end of the Second World War, in a situation that in some respects evokes the pre-war period in an eerily similar way.
The conference also included a debate on the current state and future prospects of economic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Germany, with a broader perspective within the European context. Participants discussed key challenges facing both economies, such as rising protectionism, geopolitical turbulence, digitalization, and competitiveness. The debate explored opportunities for deepening trade relations, investment prospects, and joint strategies for sustainable economic development.
Speakers also discussed cooperation between the parliaments of both countries, with an emphasis on strengthening Czech-German relations in this area. The participants further focused on the opportunities that such cooperation offers both at the regional and national levels. Furthermore, the positive experience with the establishment of an interparliamentary working group was mentioned.
A panel discussion titled Memory versus Perspective: How Do We Tell History to the Young? focused on approaches to conveying historical events to younger generations. Speakers addressed educational methods, challenges, and opportunities related to teaching historical chapters in both the Czech Republic and Germany, highlighting examples of best practice—including successful projects of the Czech-German Future Fund whose authors were invited to take part in the discussion.
In the afternoon programme, a panel debate was held focusing on current security challenges in Europe from the perspective of the Czech Republic and Germany. The discussion dealt with the ongoing transformation of the international relations system, the world order, and the security architecture to which both countries must adapt. Speakers reflected on opportunities to deepen Czech-German partnership in the field of security and discussed concrete steps and possible joint responses to global risks.
The conference concluded with a reception at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Prague.
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