The IDU held its latest Forum in Berlin, Germany from Sunday the 26th to Wednesday the 29th, June 2022. Joined by over two hundred delegates from more than 60 countries, the Forum took place at the AXICA Convention Centre at the foot of Berlin’s famous Brandenburger Tor. Given recent events, the focus of this year’s Forum was on Ukraine and the brutal Russian invasion. The questions of how the democratic world should respond, supply chain concerns, and what steps must be taken to ensure democracy, once again, prevails over autocracy, were discussed.
Former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, both gave keynote speeches to offer the IDU membership insights on the war from their experience as former leaders of the country and frontline fighters. That the Russian invasion affects not only the region but also European and worldwide policies, was outlined by High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt, who spoke about the consequences of the war for the Balkans, a region of ongoing tensions. At dinner on the top of the Reichstag, former Taioseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland Enda Kenney addressed those attending with a characteristically engaging and informative speech.
Erna Solberg, former Prime Minister and now Leader of the Opposition in Norway, opened the day on Tuesday morning, which was followed by a full agenda of panels. IDU delegates listened to expert conversations on topics including: “Breach of Civilization – The Russian War Against Ukraine”, “Darkness looms over Ukraine’s neighborhood – Protecting Freedom and Democracy in Eastern Europe”, “Zeitenwende– Can the EU become a credible geopolitical actor?”, “The Supply Crisis – How the Covid Pandemic and the War in Ukraine are disrupting global supply chains”, “Between commerce and geopolitics – Is there a grand strategy towards the expansion of China?”, and “The Collision of Systems – Defending Freedom, Democracy and Western Values”.
In all, 26 speakers contributed their political and commercial expertise to these discussions, including Candice Bergen, Leader of the Opposition in Canada, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Former Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Sofia Brambilla, Argentinian Member of Parliament and IWDU Chairwoman, and Igor Grosu, Chairman of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
The main Forum events concluded with a gala dinner in the stunning Bode Museum on Berlin’s acclaimed Museumsinsel. Thanks go to the main dinner speaker David McAllister, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, for an outstanding contribution to this unique evening. During the dinner, this year’s Bush-Thatcher Award for Freedom was presented to the President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and the party she co-founded, PAS. The President addressed the IDU via video, humbly accepting the award on behalf of her party. As she could not be present in person, the award was accepted by ChairmanGrosu and Mihail Popsoi, Vice President (International Secretary) of PAS. The Rt. Hon Stephen Harper, Lord Ashcroft, and Chris Fussner were delighted to present the award on behalf of the IDU.