Event Summary
Munich Security Conference hosts Digital Conversation on international development and security
Together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Munich Security Conference brought together experts for a virtual, intimate discussion on the effects of COVID-19 on the European neighborhood. Gerd Müller, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, was among the participants.
On April 30, 2020, the Munich Security Conference (MSC), in collaboration with the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, hosted a Digital Conversation titled "Crisis within a Crisis: International Development, Security and COVID-19". Gerd Müller, Germany's Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, discussed the effects of COVID-19 on the European neighborhood with high-ranking representatives from international organizations, the media, NGOs, and research institutions.
On the sidelines of the event, Federal Minister Müller said: "The COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a health crisis. It has already led to a global food and economic crisis. Global supply chains are breaking down. Hundreds of millions of people have lost their livelihoods practically overnight – without short-time work benefits, without unemployment benefits. More than one billion children are currently unable to go to school, causing about half of them to lose their only meal of the day. This leads to massive unrest and famine. Terrorist groups are already deliberately exploiting this to destabilize states, especially in the Sahel. The pandemic is thus also a great challenge to security and peace."
During the discussion, it was emphasized that because of COVID-19 Germany and Europe are currently looking inwards, but that the pandemic could cause even more devastating damage outside the European Union. The southern European neighborhood is at particular risk. Without sufficient medical equipment and social security, most states in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel are hardly in a position to cope with a pandemic and its consequences. This would also have an impact on Europe.
In the face of COVID-19, solidarity with the European neighborhood is an imperative of humanity as well as it is in our very own interest. The consequences of further destabilization of these regions will also be felt in Europe.Wolfgang Ischinger•Chairman of the Munich Security Conference
A central element of the debate was the concern of many participants about sufficient financial support for developing and emerging economies to overcome the crisis in both the short and long term. Many of the countries affected were already in a precarious economic, political, and social situation before the pandemic, and this situation is now worsening in a cascade-mode. The discussion emphasized that many regions already felt the global economic effects of the pandemic ahead of the virus itself.
At the same time, participants stressed the importance of harvesting the transformative potential of the crisis and shaping the responses to the pandemic and its economic consequences in an ecological and social way. Europe has a leading role to play in such a transformation – also to compensate for the increasing withdrawal of the US from its global leadership role. The discussion also underlined the need to deal proactively with the impending debt crisis in developing countries. Participants stressed that it was crucial that the public in Germany and Europe be made aware of the transnational effects of COVID-19 and the need for a response based on solidarity.
About the "MSC Digital Conversations"
The MSC has acknowledged early on that local health issues have the potential to evolve into full-fledged international security crises. Aware of the need for international action, the MSC partnered with the World Health Organization, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Chatham House, and Merck, to promote the discussion and collaboration between health officials, NGO leaders, security strategists, the private sector, and decision-makers. Within its Human Security Series, the MSC has been organizing events and conferences on health-related challenges since 2016. Moreover, health security has become an integral part of the MSC's annual conference in Munich as well as its Core Group Meetings. Additionally, a chapter in the annual Munich Security Report regularly focuses on health security issues.
The MSC has set itself the task of making the COVID-19 pandemic the focus of its activities for the immediate future. In the coming weeks and months, the MSC will be staging a series of high-level events called "MSC Digital Conversations" to examine the security implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and promote dialogue between high-ranking representatives from government, academia, NGOs, international organizations and the private sector. MSC Digital Conversations are typically small, confidential meetings under Chatham House Rule. Selected events will be open to the public. Several Digital Conversations will take place each month. Questions regarding these and other events can be sent to office@securityconference.de.
