Manfred-Wörner-Seminar (engl.)

The seminar

In times of far-reaching crises and global tensions, the transatlantic bond remains a crucial factor for peace, stability and security. Dialogue and close cooperation within the Euro-Atlantic community of values continue to play a significant role in jointly tackling current and future security challenges.
True to the motto “talking with one another rather than about one another – committed to dialogue”, the Manfred Wörner Seminar offers 30 young executives from Germany, the United States and other European countries the opportunity to exchange opinions, positions and perspectives to thus deepen and consolidate the dialogue between the European and transatlantic partners. In addition to visits to security policy institutions and expert meetings, the programme is focused on exchanging ideas and getting to know one another.
The Manfred Wörner Seminar was initiated as early as in 1982 as a seminar for German-American dialogue. Since 2010, a parallel seminar dubbed “European Seminar” has been held for participants from Germany and other European countries. From 2021 onwards, these two formats will be married and continued as the Manfred Wörner Seminar, allowing participants from the entire Euro-Atlantic alliance territory and area of common values to enter into mutual exchange and dialogue.

Topics and Aims

The aim of the Manfred Wörner Seminar is to create mutual understanding and agreement among the political cultures of the Euro-Atlantic alliance territory and area of common values, which are very similar in many ways, but also reveal quite different perspectives on problems shared.
The twelve-day seminar will extensively deal with various aspects of transatlantic security policy, new challenges to NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization as well as current political issues in the U.S and the European Union. Different venues in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, speakers from a variety of countries, and a wide range of key subjects will provide a host of opportunities for exchanging information and discussing varying topics.
This seminar also serves as a platform for developing and consolidating relations between the participants from both sides of the Atlantic. The opportunities to informally discuss certain issues with one another are of prime importance in the process. The ties established during the seminar are to prepare the ground for enduring mutual dialogue across the Atlantic, which will sharpen the understanding for each other’s political situation and interests, and thus contribute to building mutual confidence.

Who is Eligible to Participate in the Seminar?

The Manfred Wörner Seminar is addressed to young executives – between 25 and 35 years of age – from the science community, trade and industry, and the world of politics. Up to 30 participants from Germany, the U.S. and Europe will be given the opportunity of broadening their horizons and exchanging information. Interested persons should hold an academic degree and have gained first experience in executive or challenging positions. Given the international composition of the seminar, it will be held in English throughout. Proficiency in the English language is therefore a must.

Seminar Fees

The fee per person will be 500 € and cover accommodation, transport services and messing during the seminar. The disuse of e.g. hotel rooms, does not lead to a partial reimbursement of costs or a reduction in the fee.

Dates for 2025

There will be two separate iterations in 2025:

• June 21– July 02, 2025
• August 30 – September 10, 2025

How to Apply

To apply for one of the 30 seminar places, please send the following documents to SicherheitspolitikSeminare@Bundeswehr.org

• Your completed application form (please use normal capital and lower case letters),
• a letter of motivation (max. one page),
• a curriculum vitae,
• a brief description of your current professional activities,
• and a recent, seperately attached photograph in jpg format (not older than one year).

Please send us your documents no later than February 02, 2025 as individual PDF files, saved as “document name_last name, first name” (e.g. letter of motivation_Mustermann_Hans). Please indicate in the subject of your email which seminar period you are applying for.

After the application deadline, the Bundeswehr Centre for Public Affairs will compose the groups of 30 participants each from all applications received. The results of selection will be announced no later than three months after the closing date. The composition of the first group will be given priority.
The application form can be downloaded from the bottom of this website.