Europe

French Embassy in Berlin: Economy Meets Culture

Conference on economy and entrepreneurship in Europe, and musical exchange

June 19th, 2017
2017_06_19 Frech Embassy in Berlin meets.jpg

On June 7th, 2017, the Bertelsmann Foundation and the French Embassy in Germany organized an event gathering economic and cultural actors. 

Along with Politics, Economy and Culture can also serve as means to strengthen the French-German relations. It was for this purpose that Mrs. Liz Mohn, Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Bertelsmann Foundation, and Mrs. Anne-Marie Descôtes, the new Ambassador of France in Germany, hosted a large audience attending the conference. The latter was given by Mr. Jean Lemierre, President of BNP Paribas.

After this lecture, a musical exchange took place. The Soprano Sarah Aristidou, the Tenor Abdellah Lasri and the Pianist Markus Zugehör as well, performed works of Robert Schumann, Giuseppe Verdi, Johann Strauß, Charles Gounoud and Franz Léhar.

Mrs. Liz Mohn highlighted that French-German relations are relevant for European integration in the framework of the European crisis. A common culture between the two countries is an asset for a better mutual understanding and friendship, as well as a strategic competitive advantage for the European economy.

Mrs. Anne-Marie Descôtes claimed that “Culture built bridges and brings human beings closer together. Through the creation of a European citizenship and a European consciousness, it plays a significant role in the further development of the German-French friendship and European integration. We have to protect and to promote European humanist values which is the foundation to build our common life – Tolerance, Diversity, Openness as well as  Cosmopolitanism.”


Hélène Meyer, News from Berlin
Berlin Global