American Council on Germany

Conferences and study tours the acg regularly organizes policy conferences to bring together policymakers, business leaders, journalists, academics, and analysts to share their expertise and exchange perspectives on issues of contemporary concern. These conferences promote transatlantic understanding and strive to facilitate more effective policy coordination. The conferences have both taken a wide view of transatlantic relations and have focused on specific issues ranging from smart cities to health care to nato's role and russia to climate and energy policy. Following the conferences, participants often develop practical policy solutions to complex problems. At the 2022 german-american conference, allianz ceo oliver bate shared the key findings of a study on the state of trust in the german-american partnership, and german defense minister christine lambrecht delivered a keynote address. For more than 30 years, the American Council on Germany has arranged in-depth fact-finding trips for practitioners and experts to travel across the atlantic to meet with their professional counterparts and exchange best practices. Through study tours and leadership missions, the acg has given groups of professionals the opportunity to engage in dialogue with officials, business leaders, journalists, and other experts to gain a better understanding of the political, economic, social, and environmental landscape on either side of the atlantic. In 2022, the acg conducted nine study tours under the umbrella of the following initiatives: - study tour on social cohesion - leadership mission on agriculture policy and resource scarcity - sustainable urban development study tour - transatlantic cities of tomorrow: digitalization and the future of work - stronger together manufacturing workforce missions in the past study tours have also focused on immigration and integration, energy policy, the environment and sustainability, german elections, and german and european politics and foreign and security policy. After the conclusion of each immersive exchange, participants are encouraged to continue their engagement in the issues analyzed and to apply lessons learned with their local communities. For more than 20 years, the anna-maria and stephen m. kellen fellowships have provided young berlin-based journalists the opportunity to travel to the united states to explore current trends in transatlantic relations. In 2022, the acg awarded two kellen fellowships. In addition to events and activities, the acg engages in outreach to its members and the community at large through traditional and new media to keep them informed about the myriad of issues affecting the german-american relationship and transatlantic affairs. In addition to a series of publications, the acg produces a weekly compilation of opinion pieces and analysis as well as a monthly newsletter.

Policy discussions and national outreach the American Council on Germany is the leading u.s.-based forum for strengthening german-american relations. It delivers a deep and nuanced understanding of why Germany matters to the united states, because the only way to understand contemporary europe is to understand Germany's role within europe and around the world. And, the only way to understand contemporary Germany is to put it in a european context. The acg examines german-american relations on three levels: the bilateral relationship, the ties between europe and the united states, and how the transatlantic partnership can meet global challenges. The acg organizes and hosts dozens of policy discussions in new york, at its warburg chapters across the country, and on-line. In addition to german and u.s. Domestic politics and u.s. and european foreign policy, these events cover a wide swath of economic, political, and social issues of common concern in europe and the united states. By examining the issues facing europe and the united states, the acg is able to provide insights and analysis of policy choices on both sides of the atlantic. In january of 2022, the world was emerging from the worst of the covid-19 pandemic. There was widespread hope that we would be able to put the coronavirus behind us and move on and address the deep economic, public-health, and societal challenges left in its wake. The new german coalition government had an ambitious agenda for the country and for its yearlong rotating g7 presidency. But, just weeks into the new year, these plans and an uneasy return to a post-pandemic norm were upset when russia invaded ukraine on february 24. This volatile and uncertain environment set the backdrop for much of the American Council on Germany's policy programming during 2022. Over the course of the year, the acg held more than 170 policy discussions in response to current developments including virtual events that reached almost 7,000 unique viewers. Through a range of events and activities in new york city and at its eric m. warburg chapters across the country, the acg provides businesspeople, policymakers, journalists, academics, and tomorrow's leaders with insights into german and european affairs. In 1992, the acg launched its national outreach through a network of eric m. warburg chapters. There are more than 20 chapters, including atlanta, boca raton, boston, charlotte, chicago, dallas, denver, indianapolis, madison, minneapolis/st. Paul, nashville, philadelphia, phoenix, pittsburgh, st. louis, san diego, san francisco, seattle, and greater Washington dc. Through its chapters the acg encourages discussion and the exchange of ideas concerning Germany and european affairs in communities across the country. The acg has made a concerted effort to engage students and faculty at local high schools and universities in many chapter cities. Government officials, politicians, business leaders, journalists, academics, and policy analysts have been among those to speak at chapter events.

Young leadersthe American Council on Germany reaches out to the next generation of decision-makers and opinion leaders from academia, business, government, media, and the non-profit sector by organizing conferences to familiarize them with key transatlantic issues. These conferences also enable these representatives from the "successor generation" to establish a network of contacts at home and on the other side of the atlantic. The main goals of the acg's young leaders programs are to provide a forum for bright, informed, and sophisticated young professionals to discuss major issues in an informal setting; to encourage participants to deal frankly with the issues on their own terms; to explore and debate their differences and common interests; and to create an enduring community of leaders who are engaged and committed to strengthening the transatlantic partnership. The annual week-long american-german young leaders conference brings together up to 50 germans and americans. The relationships formed during the young leaders' brief time together serve as a valuable investment in the transatlantic relationship. Alumni have gone on to become high-ranking members of the u.s. and german governments; congress and the bundestag; the european parliament; local city governments; military leaders; and editorial writers. In july, the 42nd young leaders conference brought together about 35 germans and americans in berlin for a packed agenda. Together the young leaders analyzed issues from the war in ukraine to the rise of china and from disruption in the global economy to energy dependence. In the acg's first young leaders conference since the covid-19 pandemic began, the group took a close look at covid's ongoing impact. They considered Germany's groundbreaking zeitenwende policy, the latest g7 summit, the future of nato, climate change, cybersecurity, and intelligence cooperation. They looked at the core principles Germany and the united states committed themselves to in the post-world war ii period and the ongoing implications. Lastly, the young leaders crafted mission statements and vision statements for the german- American partnership.

Fellowshipsthe American Council on Germany offers fellowships to give American and german experts, journalists, scholars, and other early career professionals from a variety of fields the opportunity to travel overseas to gain a better understanding of how issues are approached on the other side of the atlantic. In the process, they forge lasting connections with their transatlantic counterparts. Since 1976, more than 1,100 individuals have traveled across the atlantic to broaden their personal and professional horizons under the auspices of the fellowship programs. The cornerstone of the acg's fellowships is the mccloy fellowships on global trends, which awards funding to practitioners to research the most pressing challenges on the transatlantic agenda. Five mccloy fellowships on global trends were awarded in 2022. The carl duisberg fellowships for future german transatlanticists offer young germans the opportunity to spend two months working with the acg while conducting research on a critical concern for german-american relations. In 2022, two duisberg fellowships were awarded. For more than 20 years, the anna-maria and stephen m. kellen fellowships have provided young berlin-based journalists the opportunity to travel to the united states to explore current trends in transatlantic relations. In 2022, the acg awarded two kellen fellowships. In addition to events and activities, the acg engages in outreach to its members and the community at large through traditional and new media to keep them informed about the myriad of issues affecting the german-american relationship and transatlantic affairs. In addition to a series of publications, the acg produces a weekly compilation of opinion pieces and analysis as well as a monthly newsletter.