Event reports
Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering, on arriving in London, met the German Ambassador to the UK, Dr Peter Ammon, for an exchange of ideas. Among other things, they discussed British-German relations, the political situation in the European Union, as well as the future role of the UK in the European Union. The former President of the European Parliament then met with his predecessor in this role, Lord Henry Plumb, member of the House of Lords, where they discussed the future challenges facing the European Union and the current political situation in the UK. These were also the central themes of the meeting with the Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke, member of the House of Commons. In particular, home affairs, the economy and foreign policy challenges facing the UK were discussed, following the 23 June Brexit referendum vote.
At the launch of the English translation of Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering's autobiography "United for the Better: My European Way" at Regent's University, London, the Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung spoke with Quentin Peel, Associate Fellow at the Europe Programme at Chatham House and former Financial Times correspondent in Brussels, Bonn and Berlin, about his different positions in European politics. Over the course of 35 year, between 1979 and 2014, Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering helped to shape European politics in the European Parliament. At the end of the discussion, which was opened by Professor Aldwyn Cooper, Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Regent's University, and Professor John Drew, Chancellor of Regent's University, Dr Pöttering discussed the current state of British politics and the of the UK in Europe with the more than 80 members of the audience.
During the event, Dr Pöttering met with former colleagues in the European Parliament from the British Conservative Party, scholars of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Professor Rüdiger Görner.
