The “Ich will Europa” campaign uses advertisements, TV spots and the internet to enable people who support the European idea and European integration to say what they think in the midst of the eurocrisis. It has received the backing of the “Engagierte Europäer,” a group of German foundations which includes the Allianz Kulturstiftung, the BMW Stiftung Herbert Quandt, the Gemeinnützigen Hertie-Stiftung, the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the Schering Stiftung, the Schwarzkopf-Stiftung Junges Europa, the Stiftung Genshagen, the Stiftung Mercator, the VolkswagenStiftung, the Stiftung Zukunft Berlin, and, last but not least, the Bertelsmann Stiftung. They are all in favour of a strong and united Europe.
Celebrities from the worlds of politics, sport, culture, and people from all walks of life are taking part in the campaign as ambassadors of Europe. They include former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, Gesine Schwan, the President of the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance, former EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen, Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, historian Timothy Garton Ash, footballer Philipp Lahm, violinist David Garrett, folk music star Florian Silbereisen, TV presenter Katrin Bauernfeind and DJ Paul van Dyk. New ambassadors are joining in on a daily basis.
Numerous media companies are supporting the campaign in a practical kind of way. Thus ProSiebenSat1 Media (ProSieben, Sat1, Kabel 1, N 24), the RTL Media Group (RTL, Vox, n-tv) and RTL II are carrying campaign spots on TV and on their websites. Axel Springer Verlag, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Verlag, Gruner & Jahr, Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt, Spiegel Verlag, Süddeutscher Verlag, WAZ-Mediengruppe, Zeit Verlag and google Deutschland are just some of the media groups which are helping to make people sit up and take notice. On the website www.ich-will-europa.de people can say why they believe in Europe, and they can find out more about what it means to be a European. A Facebook page has been turned into a discussion forum. The website also provides an insight into what the participating foundations are doing in and for Europe. It is updated on a regular basis and is thus an easily accessible source of information for everyone.
“The Bertelsmann Stiftung,” said chairman Aart De Geus as the campaign got under way, “is committed to the basic idea of the United States of Europe. Only if we join forces, and that also applies to a large member state such as Germany, will the Europeans be in a position to find effective answers to the challenges of a globalized world. This presupposes that there will be more integration, especially in the areas of economic and social policy. Yet this will only become possible if Europe, despite the current crisis, receives broad public support and has robust democratic foundations. This is a conviction that we share with all the other “Engagierte Europäer.” And that is why we are giving our unconditional support to the “Ich will Europa” campaign.”