SYDNEY: EABC Cocktail Reception with Mr Mark Hauptmann MdB, Member of the German Bundestag – May 2016

EABC Cocktail Reception with Mr Mark Hauptmann MdB, Member of the German Bundestag

Tuesday, 24 May 2016, Sydney

The Norwegian Chamber participated in the EABC's Reception with Mr Mark Hauptmann MdB, Member of the German Bundestag.

Mr Hauptmann spoke about a number of the challenges facing the EU, from the security threat posed by instability in countries like Egypt, Libya, and the Ukraine; the difficult task of dealing with migrants fleeing those conflicts, to the possible looming threats of Brexit and the uncertainty this creates.

However, Mr Hauptmann also expressed optimism that an EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement could be completed by 2019, a collaboration with an important like-minded partner that that he hopes will augment the successful economic policies that Germany has implemented. This New Strategy has seen the German economy growing steadily with the lowest unemployment rate in its modern history.

He emphasised the German focus on innovation, research and development, dubbed Industrie 4.0, championing the internet and the digital age as the fourth industrial revolution, as well as speaking about his governments successful initiatives promoting renewable energy generation.