Second European Neighbourhood Conference
From April 28 to 30, the second European Neighborhood Conference takes place in Tunis. Over 300 guests, including German President Joachim Gauck and Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid, discuss how a revised European Neighbourhood Policy can support political, economic and social change in the EU’s southern neighboring countries.
Reinhard Mohn Prize für Rita Süssmuth
Kai Uwe Oesterhelweg
Liz Mohn and Rita Süssmuth during the award ceremony for the Reinhard Mohn Prize on June 11 at Gütersloh Theater.
Rita Süssmuth, former president of the German Bundestag, receives the 2015 Reinhard Mohn Prize in recognition of her services promoting a modern migration and integration policy. Hannelore Kraft, premier of the state of North Rhine–Westphalia, gives the presentation speech. By honoring Süssmuth, the Bertelsmann Stiftung also recognizes her efforts on behalf of migrants and their countries of origin. In 2005, she was a member of the Global Commission on International Migration, convened by Kofi Annan, then UN secretary general and later recipient of the 2013 Reinhard Mohn Prize.
2015 NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition
Besim Mazhiqi
Proudly presenting their awards: winners Elsa Dreisig and Anatoli Sivko after the NEUE STIMMEN finals on October 24 in the Gütersloh Community Center.
A total of 1,318 up-and-coming opera singers apply to participate in the 16th NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition. After preliminary auditions held over several months on six continents, 42 young artists make it to the final round held in October in Gütersloh. Once there, 19 singers are selected to perform in the semifinals and, subsequently, 11 in the finals. Ultimately, soprano Elsa Dreisig, 24, from France and bass Anatoli Sivko, 28, from Belarus are chosen as the two first-place winners. Second place goes to Miriam Albano (Italy, mezzosoprano) and Darren Pati (New Zealand, tenor) and third place to Bongiwe Nakani (mezzosoprano) and Lukhanyo Moyake (tenor), both from South Africa.
First Vision Europe Summit
On November 17 and 18, the Bertelsmann Stiftung and six leading European think tanks come together in Berlin for the first Vision Europe Summit. The event focuses on the question of how Europe’s social and welfare models can be maintained and adapted for the future. Participants and guests include Germany’s minister for labor and social affairs, Andrea Nahles, along with members of the European Parliament and advisors from the European Commission. The Vision Europe Summit is planned as an annual event, with the seven think tanks taking turns organizing it each year.
