- March 19, 2019
On March 19, 2019, the Aspen Institute Germany hosted a discussion on “Pick and Choose? The UK’s Farewell to Europe” at the Permanent Representation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in Berlin. The event began with an input statement by Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in London. The subsequent panel discussion with Ambassador Dr. Wittig, Damien McGuiness, BBC Correspondent, and Metin Hakverdi, Member of the German Bundestag and Brexit rapporteur for the Social Democrats (SPD), provided an opportunity to assess the political, societal, and economic consequences of the UK’s decision to leave the EU as well as possible repercussions on the Anglo-German relationship. The discussion also targeted the question whether Brexit may either trigger a spillover of societal tensions to the rest of Europe or serve as a salutary shock. Additionally, the participants discussed possible scenarios in the Brexit process ranging from an extension of the Article 50 period to a second referendum. Bettina Vestring, freelance journalist and author, moderated the discussion.
