Fourth Round of Exchanges 2024
The Aspen Institute Germany is hosting two 5-day in-person meetings between U.S., German and Canadian legislators as part of its annual Laboratories of Democracy program. The first delegation trip will take place March 12-16, 2024 in Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate and the second trip will take place June 11-15, 2024 in Austin, Texas, USA.
In addition to issues of political leadership at country level, sub-national diplomacy and transatlantic cooperation, the fourth round of exchanges focuses in particular on the core topic of critical infrastructure. The project focuses on critical infrastructure in the areas of climate change and natural disasters, pandemics and healthcare, as well as cyber security and the influence of third countries. Natural disasters, cyberattacks and pandemics are constantly and frequently posing major challenges for the infrastructure of countries on both sides of the Atlantic. In order to avoid supply shortages and instability, a proactive policy must be developed that aims to ensure the long-term security and functionality of critical infrastructures and reduce potential risks. To address these issues, the project provides a platform for the exchange of innovative ideas and best practices necessary for the development of long-term strategies to ensure the functionality of this infrastructure.
The publication “Critical Infrastructure” is available online.
Aspen Germany thanks all speakers and participants of the fourth cohort of the Laboratories of Democracy Initiative: Representative Brad Barker (R), Member of the Montana House of Representatives; MLA Charles Chiasson (New Brunswick Liberal Party), Critic for Transportation and Infrastructure in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; MdL Stefan Ebner (CSU), Member of the State Parliament of Bavaria; MdL Julia Eisentraut (Alliance 90/The Greens), Member of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia; MdL Alena Fink-Trauschel (FDP), Member of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg; Representative Brian Harrison (R), Member of the Texas House of Representatives; MdL Lea Heidbreder (Alliance 90/The Greens), Deputy Chairwoman of the Alliance 90/The Greens parliamentary group in the State Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate; MLA Robert Henderson (Prince Edward Island Liberal Party), Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island; Representative Jason Hughes (D), Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives; MdL Bijan Kaffenberger (SPD), Member of the State Parliament of Hesse; MLA Samir Kayande (Alberta New Democratic Party), Deputy Assistant Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; MdL Cornelia Klisch (SPD), Deputy Chairwoman of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the State Parliament of Thuringia; MPP Natalia Kusendova (Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Francophone Affairs; MLA Michael Lee (BC United), Shadow Minister for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation; MLA Gilles LePage (New Brunswick Liberal Party), Cabinet Minister in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick; Representative Karianne Lisonbee (R), Majority Whip in the Utah House of Representatives; MLA Brandon Lunty (United Conservative Party of Alberta), Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; MdL Helmut Martin (CDU), Deputy Chairman of the CDU parliamentary group in the State Parliament of Rhineland-Palatinate; MdL Ansgar Mayr (CDU), Member of the CDU parliamentary group executive board in the State Parliament of Baden- Württemberg; MPP Mary-Margaret McMahon (Ontario Liberal Party), Member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario; Delegate Lily Qi (D), Member of the Maryland House of Delegates; MPP Matthew Rae (Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario), Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; MdL Heide Richter-Airijoki (SPD), Member of the State Parliament of Saxony-Anhalt; Representative Cindy Ryu (D), Member of the Washington House of Representatives; MdL Tanja Schorer-Dremel (CSU), Deputy Chairwoman of the CSU parliamentary group in the State Parliament of Bavaria; Representative Matthew Soper (R), Member of the Colorado House of Representatives; Senator Pat Spearman (D), President Pro Tempore in the Nevada State Senate; MLA Heather Sweet (Alberta New Democratic Party), Opposition Deputy House Leader in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; Senator Löki Gale Tobin (D), Member of the Alaska State Senate.
The project is funded by the Transatlantic Program of the Federal Republic of Germany with funds from the European Recovery Program (ERP) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK).
Impressions from the exchange including interviews with the participants are available on YouTube.
