On Wednesday, 7 May, Martin Schulz, the former President of the European Parliament, will be a guest in Chemnitz. Schulz, who is also Chairman of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, will take part in the evening panel discussion "Too much, too little, too foreign - what kind of EU do we want?" at the Hartmannfabrik and will be welcomed by Lord Mayor Sven Schulze at City Hall beforehand.
Entry in the Golden Book, 5 p.m., Town Hall, Markt 1
At 5 pm, Martin Schulz will sign the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz in the presence of Lord Mayor Sven Schulze in the Green Parlour of the City Hall. Representatives of the media are invited to attend.
Martin Schulz was President of the European Parliament from 2012 to 2017. He received the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen for his services. Mr Schulz has been a Member of the European Parliament since 1994.
Panel discussion, 6 p.m., Hartmannfabrik, Fabrikstraße 11
What do the people of Chemnitz want from the EU? And can it deliver? Former President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz and other guests will be discussing this at the public panel discussion "Too much, too little, too foreign - what kind of EU do we want?" at the Hartmannfabrik from 6 pm.
Citizens are invited to discuss where they think the EU regulates too much and where it should regulate more, whether more participation processes or even a common army are needed.
Admission to this event is free of charge. Please register by 5 May at www.chemnitz.de/podiumsdiskussion-eu.
"Regulations for straws, light bulbs and bottle caps - the EU intervenes in our everyday lives on a daily basis and does not make itself popular. Its structure is unfamiliar to many, it is not a state, but it is not a conventional international organisation either," says co-organiser of the event, Prof. Dr Matthias Niedobitek from the Chair of European Integration at Chemnitz University of Technology, explaining the situation. At the same time, he defends the union of states: "But that's not the EU's fault, it was created that way. But how can it be better?"
Martin Schulz will be joined on the podium by Chemnitz author Dr Burkhard Müller, Leipzig doctoral student Nora Mandru and deputy editor-in-chief of the Freie Presse Chemnitz Anne Lena Mösken to discuss the issue. ARD presenter Susann Reichenbach, also known from the MDR Thüringen Journal, will moderate the event.
The panel discussion is a joint contribution by the City of Chemnitz and the Jean Monnet Professorship for European Integration at Chemnitz University of Technology to Europe Week in the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025.
Dance and theatre performances, discussions, film screenings and music shows from and with European partners can be experienced in Chemnitz from 6 to 10 May.
Note for media representatives:
A separate overview of all events organised by the City of Chemnitz during Europe Week will follow.