06.11.26 | Democracy Under Pressure – German-French Friendship in Turbulent Times

Date and Time:

Friday, November 6, 2026
7:15 – 8:30 P.M. (Admission from 6:45 P.M.)

Venue:

Lecture Hall II, Main Building, University of Cologne
Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne

As seating is limited, advance registration via dfm-info@uni-koeln.de is required. The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible. The event will not be streamed. The event will be held in German.

More than sixty years after Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle signed the Élysée Treaty, many take the Franco-German partnership for granted. Yet the war in Ukraine, unresolved questions about European defense, and political polarization in both countries are putting it to the test. How closely do Paris and Berlin still stand together when it comes to defending freedom and democracy? 

Joining us to discuss this question are Dr. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of its Defence Committee; Dr. Holger Löttel of the Stiftung Bundeskanzler-Adenauer-Haus; and Dr. Claire Demesmay, Director of the Institut français in Bonn. Professor Markus Ogorek will open the evening.

The event is co-hosted by the Institut français and the Adenauer School of Government in partnership with the Franco-German Law Program (DFM).

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