In dialog – the pandemic, the economy and Europe

SPD Economic Forum – dialog with Olaf Scholz

The SPD Economic Forum was held as a hybrid event on October 12, 2020 with Germany’s Federal Minister of Finance Olaf Scholz. The minister was asked questions about measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and economic developments in the time of the pandemic. Does the Federal Government still have the strength needed to transform the economy with respect to decarbonization, electrification and digitalization both at European level and within Germany? In the lead up to the “super election year”, does the Grand Coalition still have ideas on how to achieve the necessary economic policy measures?

Europe after the German EU Council Presidency

As one of the stand-out Ministers of Finance in Europe, Olaf Scholz also commented on the challenges of the German EU Council Presidency 2020. What could Germany contribute to strengthening Europe within this framework, and what will happen in future in Europe after Brexit?

On the panel

Joining Vice-Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the panel were moderator Matthias Machnig, guests Gerhard Hofmann, board member of the Federal Association of German Cooperative Banks (BVR), Dr. Joachim Lang, Director General of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), and Prof. Dr. Barbara Praetorius, Professor of Economics at the HTW University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. Dr. Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, and Dr. Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) participated via video link.

A hybrid event

The hybrid event “In dialog with Olaf Scholz. The pandemic, the economy and Europe – challenges for the political economy” was attended by approximately 80 guests at the Allianz Forum on Pariser Platz, and about 300 guests joined the livestream on the internet.

Event Consult’s commission

As for similar events, Event Consult was commissioned to carry out the overall technical organization, the complete fit-out and the graphic design. In addition, our hosts and hostesses were responsible for accreditation and for taking care of the cloakrooms. Preparing the hygiene concept and ensuring compliance with the concept was also the responsibility of Event Consult GmbH.