The GS-Foundation took part in the 8th Berlin Congress on “Wehrhafte Demokratie” in Berlin on 29 and 30 June 2026. The organisation was represented by CEO Michael Schemke, COO Stefan Schwarz and Project Manager Mirgeta Hajdari.
Under the chairmanship of Wolfgang Bosbach, the Berlin Congress on “Wehrhafte Demokratie” has developed in recent years into one of Germany’s most important platforms for dialogue on issues of internal security, defence capability and social cohesion. Representatives from politics, security agencies, the Bundeswehr, the judiciary, public administration, academia, the media, business and civil society come together here to analyse current developments in security policy, discuss potential solutions and promote dialogue between state and non-state actors.
Current topics in focus
This year’s congress programme addressed a wide range of highly topical security policy issues. Among the key topics were the state of Germany’s national security, the implications of the new US security strategy for Europe, the “Operationsplan Deutschland”, and the interaction between the Bundeswehr, the business sector and civil society.
In addition, there were in-depth discussions on the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence for a robust democracy, the fight against organised crime and modern money laundering via crypto-wallets and Hawala systems, as well as current developments in migration and home affairs policy.
Valuable dialogue with decision-makers and experts
The presentations, panel discussions and personal conversations with high-ranking representatives from politics, public administration and security agencies were particularly enriching. Speakers and panellists included, amongst others, former Federal Minister Peter Altmaier, Congress President Wolfgang Bosbach, Thorsten Frei, Hans-Georg Engelke, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Bernd Krösser, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Prof. Dr Naika Foroutan from the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM), former Ambassador Emily Haber, and Jochen Kopelke, Federal Chairman of the Police Union.
In addition, the congress offered numerous opportunities for dialogue with other representatives from ministries, security agencies, international organisations and the business sector. These discussions provided valuable impetus for the GS-Foundation’s future project work.
Significance for the GS-Foundation’s international work
As an internationally active consultancy in the field of security sector reform, the GS-Foundation supports the development of effective, rule-of-law-based and resilient security structures on behalf of the German Federal Government and international partners. Furthermore, the organisation implements projects within the framework of the European Union and the United Nations and supports reform processes in numerous partner countries.
The GS-Foundation’s work combines strategic advice with practical implementation. In doing so, former senior officials and specialists from the police, security agencies and public administration contribute their many years of experience to international projects. The ongoing dialogue with political decision-makers, security agencies and international partners is an essential component of this work, enabling the early identification of current developments, the exchange of experiences and the joint development of sustainable solutions to the security challenges of our time.
Important impetus for future projects
The “Wehrhafte Demokratie” congress in Berlin has once again highlighted that, today, security can only be sustainably shaped through close cooperation between the state, the business sector, academia and society. The GS-Foundation is taking away numerous professional insights and new contacts from Berlin and will incorporate the knowledge gained into its national and international project work.
The GS-Foundation would like to extend its sincere thanks to the organisers for an excellently organised congress, the high-calibre programme and the numerous inspiring discussions, and looks forward to further exchanges with the participating partners.
