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Picture collage with participants of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch© Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann

30 Years Europanetzwerk Deutsch

30 years of Europanetzwerk Deutsch means more than 3,000 scholarship holders from 39 countries, over 240 EU courses in Germany, more than 15,000 hours of German learning and specialist discussions with experts, and more than 1,000 individuals from the European environment connected each year. 

Since 1994, EU officals and ministry officials have experienced the first-hand benefits of multilingualism and European cooperation in face-to-face and digital course and event formats. The motto of our anniversary year was "The Future of Europe". In addition to our popular formats, a number of special events also took place.

Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth and Alumna of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch, congratulates the program on its 30th anniversary. Photo: © 30 Jahre Europanetzwerk Deutsch, Iliana Ivanova

Congratulations from EU commissioner (ret.) Iliana Ivanova (ret.)

Iliana Ivanova, EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth (ret.) and alumna of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch, congratulated on its 30th anniversary. Here you can hear and see the importance she attaches to multilingualism and the German language in European communication and for what she is still grateful to Europanetzwerk Deutsch.


Impressions and thoughts

  • Discussion on the podium in the European House in Berlin with four people and an audience. © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    To kick off the anniversary year, the European elections in June 2024 were discussed during a networking evening at the European House in Berlin.
  • Quote from alumna: "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is the perfect example of how Europe should work together because it is well organized with a flair for diversity, inclusive and purposeful." (Francesca Siniscalchi, European Commission) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is the perfect example of how Europe should work together because it is well organized with a flair for diversity, inclusive and purposeful." (Francesca Siniscalchi, European Commission)
  • Quote from alumna: “For me, linguistic diversity in Europe is a reflection of a broader history shared under the principles of peace and unity, because each language keeps this unity alive.” (Beyza Karatas, College of Europe Natolin) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    “For me, linguistic diversity in Europe is a reflection of a broader history shared under the principles of peace and unity, because each language keeps this unity alive.” (Beyza Karatas, College of Europe Natolin)
  • Alumni group in front of the State Theater in Wiesbaden © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    The alumni reunion of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch took place for the first time in Wiesbaden in 2024 in cooperation with the Hessian State Chancellery.
  • Alumni group in Eberbach Monastery having dinner together. © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    A special highlight was the celebratory evening to mark the program's 30th anniversary at Kloster Eberbach with State Secretary Uwe Becker and the Goethe-Institut's EU Representative Elke Kaschl-Mohni.
  • Quote from alumnus: “The Goethe-Institut is a place where we can better understand German culture and language, but also make new acquaintances.” (Juraj Bezuh, Permanent Representation of Croatia to the European Union) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    “The Goethe-Institut is a place where we can better understand German culture and language, but also make new acquaintances.” (Juraj Bezuh, Permanent Representation of Croatia to the European Union)
  • Quote from alumnus: “For me, the Europanetzwerk Deutsch is an opportunity to improve my German and meet new people because it is very professionally organized.” (Žarko Vojnić, State Audit Office of Serbia) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    “For me, the Europanetzwerk Deutsch is an opportunity to improve my German and meet new people because it is very professionally organized.” (Žarko Vojnić, State Audit Office of Serbia)
  • Audience chats in a relaxed manner before the event. © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    Alumni of Europanetzwerk Deutsch, students of College of Europe Natolin and other friends of German language came together in Warsaw for a German-Polish networking evening.
  • Three discussants on the podium © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    The panel included Viktor Elbling, German Ambassador to Poland (left), Justyna Szczepanowska-Bielicka, Chancellery of the Polish Prime Minister and alumna of Europanetzwerk Deutsch (in the middle) as well as Marek Prawda, Polish Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (right), who discussed German-Polish relations.
  • Quote from alumna: “For me, German-Polish cooperation is past, present and future, because it connects, forgets and makes amends.” (Magdalena Sroka Barwińska, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    “For me, German-Polish cooperation is past, present and future, because it connects, forgets and makes amends.” (Magdalena Sroka Barwińska, Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland)
  • Quote from alumna: “German-Polish cooperation is a great life experience for me and a lesson in tolerance and mutual understanding, because as a participant in the Europanetzwerk Deutsch and Erasmus program, I believe that it is the best thing that could have happened to me to understand German-Polish relations.” (Katarzyna Czerwińska-Walerowicz, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Poland) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    “German-Polish cooperation is a great life experience for me and a lesson in tolerance and mutual understanding, because as a participant in the Europanetzwerk Deutsch and Erasmus program, I believe that it is the best thing that could have happened to me to understand German-Polish relations.” (Katarzyna Czerwińska-Walerowicz, Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Poland)
  •  On the podium the discussants and organizers of the anniversary evening. © Cédric Puisney
    The anniversary year “30 years of Europanetzwerk Deutsch” finally came …
  •  Participants of the anniversary event pose with silver balloons with the words 30 years written on them. © Cédric Puisney
    … to a worthy finale at a celebratory event in Brussels.
  • Quote from alumna: "If we see linguistic diversity in Europe as an opportunity, we can better understand and communicate our traditions, identity and cultural heritage and make contact with other cultures more easily." (Vania Ivanova, European Commission) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    "If we see linguistic diversity in Europe as an opportunity, we can better understand and communicate our traditions, identity and cultural heritage and make contact with other cultures more easily." (Vania Ivanova, European Commission)
  • Quote from alumnus: "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is particularly important because it gives me the opportunity to make new contacts and get to know German society better." (Angel Kalinov, Court of Justice of the European Union) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is particularly important because it gives me the opportunity to make new contacts and get to know German society better." (Angel Kalinov, Court of Justice of the European Union)
  • Quote from alumna: "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is a new world, because the German language has opened a new window." (Sonya Staykova, Supervisory Authority to the Supreme Judicial Council Bulgaria) © Europanetzwerk Deutsch/Ludwig Nachtmann
    "For me, Europanetzwerk Deutsch is a new world, because the German language has opened a new window." (Sonya Staykova, Supervisory Authority to the Supreme Judicial Council Bulgaria)
  Pictures collage with participants of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch highlighted in blue with the European flag @ Europanetzwerk Deutsch

19.03.2024
Networking event
in Berlin

To kick off our anniversary year, we discussed the European elections 2024 with experts during a networking evening in Berlin. In addition to current challenges in the EU, we focused in particular on the question of how the European integration process can be successful in the future.
Read our report on the networking evening with the most important information:

 

 Pictures collage with participants of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch highlighted in blue with the European flag © Goethe-Institut

14.11.2024
Anniversary celebration
in Brussels

At the end of our anniversary year, alumni and partners of Europanetzwerk Deutsch came together in Brussels for a celebratory event. Under the motto “Linguistic diversity as an opportunity for Europe?”, the role of the German language in Europe and the relevance of our program were among the discussed topics.
Read the report about the anniversary celebration on Belgieninfo here:

Wie eine Familienfeier - 30 Jahre Europanetzwerk Deutsch


Voices from our network

Alumni group during alumni event 2023 in Berlin standing on a bridge holding up silver balloons lettering 30 years Photo: © Bernhard Ludewig

In addition to language courses and cultural events, the Europanetzwerk Deutsch also organizes regular alumni meetings to maintain the network. At one of our meetings, we asked the participants what they appreciate in the program...

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Alumna Cristina Asturias with balloons in the background which result in the number 30 for the anniversary of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch Photo (detail): © Bernhard Ludewig

Cristina Asturias works in the European Commission's Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. Here you can hear why she is taking part in the Europanetzwerk Deutsch program for years...
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Alumnus Oleg Dmitrijev, holding balloons which result in the number 30 for the anniversary of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch Photo: © Bernhard Ludewig

Oleg Dmitrijev works at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and is enthusiastic about the Europanetzwerk Deutsch. He wanted to improve his language skills and learn more about Germany's foreign policy and has learned a lot more...

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Emmanuelle de Foy during alumni event 2023 Photo: © Bernhard Ludewig

Emmanuelle de Foy works at the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs. She explains why the Europanetzwerk Deutsch is an important instrument of European diplomacy for her...

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Dr. Francesca Siniscalchi during alumni event 2023 Photo: © Bernhard Ludewig

Dr. Francesca Siniscalchi works for the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. Here she unfolds why she believes that the Europanetzwerk Deutsch courses teach what it means to be European...
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Magdalena Sroka-Barwińska during alumni event 2023 Photo (detail): © Bernhard Ludewig

Magdalena Sroka-Barwińska works at the  Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland. She associates the Europanetzwerk Deutsch with new friendships and unique experiences. Find out why she would recommend taking part...

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Martin Kotthaus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Belgium at the interview for the 30th anniversary of the Europanetzwerk Deutsch © Goethe-Institut/Tatjana Bratkina

Martin Kotthaus about Europanetzwerk Deutsch

Martin Kotthaus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Belgium, supports with the Europanetzwerk Deutsch for many years. Listen here to find out why he considers the program to be an investment...
(You can find the complete interview here.)

More statements from our Alumni:

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