"Who Will Pick Up the Pieces" – MSC Kick-off 2019 in Berlin

"Who will pick up the pieces of the disintegrating world order?" This is the overarching question of the Munich Security Report 2019, which Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), presented at this year’s MSC Kick-off event on 11 February at the Bavarian State Representation in Berlin with over 300 guests. On this occasion, Timothy Garton Ash, Professor for European Studies in Oxford, and Sabine Weyand, Deputy Chief Brexit Negotiator of the EU, discussed the possible consequences of an exit of the United Kingdom from the EU in the context of a disintegrating world order.

*See selected photo impressions of the event here*

As an impulse for the 55th Munich Security Conference, the Munich Security Report (MSR) 2019, titled "The Great Puzzle: Who Will Pick Up the Pieces?", provides an overview of some of the most pressing security topics and features insightful analyses, data, maps, and infographics. The MSR 2019 serves as background reading for conference participants, but is also aimed at the general public. At the Kick-off event at the Bavarian State Representation in Berlin, lead author Tobias Bunde presented the key themes of the Munich Security Report 2019. One important aspect is the growing confrontation between great powers and the seemingly disintegrating liberal world order. "We are witnessing an epochal shift, as one era is coming to an end, and for now only rough outlines of a new geopolitical age are visible," said Bunde. The connected question of whether certain other states are willing and able to maintain the liberal international order is also analysed in the MSR 2019.

After the presentation of the report, Timothy Garton Ash, Professor for European Studies at Oxford, and Sabine Weyand, Deputy Chief Brexit Negotiator of the EU, discussed Brexit and its consequences for the EU and the UK, as an example of the disintegrating world order. According to Garton Ash, we find ourselves in a time in which demand for common global action is greater than ever, yet the willingness to act is decreasing rapidly. Therefore, the position of Europe is crucial – it must show "Weltpolitikfähigkeit" (world-politics-ability). Brexit leading to a loss thereof must be avoided. A "Weltpolitikfähigkeitsverlustvermeidungsstrategie" (world-politics-ability-loss-avoiding-strategy) should therefore be a top priority for the EU, said Garton Ash. Sabine Weyand added to the discussion from her practical experience in the Brexit negotiations. Weyand explained that a strategic partnership between the EU and the UK is in the interest of all – provided that the Brexit process reaches an orderly conclusion. She further explained that Brexit would only have a small impact on security and defence policy considerations for Europe.

A live poll was taken during the event, asking the audience the guiding question of the Munich Security Report: "Who will pick up the pieces?" In the following panel discussion with questions from the audience, the result of the poll was discussed: 39% of the guests voted that the EU and like-minded states will be the ones to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating world order.

In the end, Ambassador Ischinger drew on the previous discussion and highlighted that this year’s Munich Security Conference will purposely be opened by the German and the British defence ministers, Ursula von der Leyen and Gavin Williamson, to initiate the debate on the United Kingdom’s future role in European foreign and security policy. "Because without Europe, everything is nothing," Ischinger concluded.

Click here for more info on the traditional MSC Kick-off event.