#rethinkeurope

“We must get Europe’s values and potential across to our people in order to move to the next stage.”

Bernd Eulitz

Member of the Excecutive Board, Linde AG

"Europe's biggest challenge is global competition for resources, innovation and prosperity. But also, the fight for the environment: does Europe manage to speak with one voice in this case?"

Zhengrong Liu

Member of the Executive Board, Human Resources & Corporate Communications of Beiersdorf AG

“Europe is a moving continent. Approaching neighbors is the proven principle of peacekeeping. The people in Europe benefit from a joint development and can harvest the success together. An important role is played here be the media. It must recognize and name danger. Only educated people can realize their ideals together.”

Peter Limbourg

Director General, Deutsche Welle

"Europe means dialogue - and that takes place with #rethinkeurope here in Passau."

Manfred Weber

Member of the European Parliament, Chairman of the EPP Group

“When I think about Europe, the first thing that comes to my mind are my studies. It was the first time I experienced what it meant to live, study and work in another country without barriers. Those freedoms connected a young generation. That’s why it is even more frightening now that we are reverting to old times and rigid boarders. The short-dated selfishness of specific countries is more important than solving the grand challenges of our saturated society.”

Doris Hummer

President of the Federal Economic Chamber of Upper Austria

“This event offers a good platform for cross-industry exchange and can help to set the future political course correctly.”

Knurt Bartsch

Managing Director, KERMI GmbH

“For Europe’s future, it is of utmost importance that we bring personalities together who seriously and responsibly reflect on the shared European future and do not fear debates.”

Prof. Dr. Ernst Struck

Representative of the University of Passau in the consortium for the establishment of the Turkish-German University of Istanbul

"In Brussels we have representatives of all 28 Member States and I can really say that this cooperation is much more interesting than in a purely national context. We bring the different traditions together and we work together for the good of Europe. And that is incredibly enriching."

Helga Schmid

Secretary General of the European External Service (EEAS)

“The motto, spirit and the people behind it are a guarantee for revitalizing our European home. The conflict between unity and diversity can only be successfully solved by true-to-life solidary and subsidiarity.”

Dr. Walter Koren

Director General of Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (2002 – 2017)

“#rethinkeurope makes you stop and think about your daily life and parts of it that can seem too mundane, but are in reality are the true identifier of who you are as a person and a citizen.”

Maryia Kukharava

Senior Communications Officer at the Erasmus Mundus Association

“‘United in diversity’ is the motto of the EU. Sadly, the trends point in the opposite direction. ‘Diversity without unity?’ The European Congress in Passau resolves the tension magnificently.”

Dr. Walter Koren

Director General of Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (2002 – 2017)

“A company has to reinvent itself over and over again.”

Thilo Kuther

CEO Pixomondo and Oscar winner 2012

"There is so much for the world to learn from Africa and to become as inspired by it as I have become."

Dr Eliada Wosu Griffin-EL

Associate Professor & Director of the Massey Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Robert Morris University

“We cannot take the cooperation and coexistence of the people in Europe for granted. On the contrary, we must take a stand and work for this grand idea of Europe’s founding fathers each and every day. This includes a fair treatment of the European institutions: We should be happy for Europe’s achievements.”