German’s Chancellor’s Chief Campaigner learns about Australian migration from ANU experts
Dr Klaus Schüler (centre right, pink tie) led a German delegation to the ANU Centre for European Studies, one of two high-level European delegations to the ANU this month.
Scholars from the Australian National University have briefed a visiting delegation, led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief campaign manager, about Australia’s migration, asylum-seeker and mobility policies.
Dr Klaus Schüler, Federal Director of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) said the insight into the most-discussed topic in Germany since Reunification would help inform his government’s decision-making.
Dr Schüler was joined by Dr Gerhard Wahlers, Deputy Secretary-General of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung political foundation and officials from the German foreign ministry and German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
ANU Centre for European Studies Executive Director, Professor Jacqueline Lo, said the meeting was another opportunity for the ANU to demonstrate its close ties with Germany and the European Union.
“Members and Associates of the Centre from across the university shared their expertise in fields including Australia’s migration history and the tension between humanitarian and security concerns,” Professor Lo said.
“I think members of the delegation were greatly impressed by the quality of the presentations and engaged in a lively discussion with the presenters.
“Our Centre’s Visiting Fellows, Professor Heribert Dieter of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Dr Bettina Biedermann from the Berlin School of Economics and Law, also gave insights to the delegation.”
Dr Schüler said migration was a crucial issue for Germany and the European Union, and added the ANU presentations and discussions had been particularly valuable in assisting delegation members in thinking about the challenges.
Dr Wahlers said dealing with the causes of the current migration problems confronting Europe would take a long time to resolve and added there will never be a return to the policies and approaches of the last decades of the 20th century.
The ANU Centre separately hosted a delegation featuring Members of the European Parliament who were in Canberra as part of the regular exchange program with the Australian Parliament. The MEPs were briefed about Australia’s migration policies, the proposed EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement and Australia’s role in the Asia Pacific region.
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