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International Munich Federalism Days
HSF International Conference Initiates Discussions and Exchanges on Federalism

As a concept, Federalism may be adapted for different situations to serve as a form of check and balance and help ensure the quality and inclusiveness of decisions made. This was amongst the conclusions arrived at during the International Munich Federalism Days 2017 held from 15 to 18 May 2017 in Munich, Germany to share and exchange ideas and experiences on “Federalism and Conflict Management.“

Participants of the conference.

Participants of the conference.

©Bildarchiv Bayer. Landtag | Rolf Poss; https://goo.gl/o14No9

Organised by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) in cooperation with the Eurac Research, a private research centre, the four-day international conference gathered more than 75 experts and participants from 23 countries to seek answers to pressing questions that help provide insights to how conflicts have been managed and resolved in countries with federal and federal-like systems. The activity enabled representatives from different parts of Asia and Africa to meet and discuss unique issues and cross-cutting concerns. This led to a deeper understanding of the particular situation of each and promoted mutual sharing with and learning from one another.

Dr. Peter Witterauf, HSF Chief Executive Officer, officially opened the activity with a workshop discussion keynoted by Prof. Francesco Palermo, Director of the Institute for Comparative Federalism in Eurac Research. Highlighting the activity was a public forum opened by Prof. Ursula Maennle, HSF’s Chairwoman with a keynote address by the Free State of Bavaria’s State Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann. The activity included an informative visit to the Parliament of the Free State of Bavaria, with an open forum with its Director General, Mr. Peter Worm and State Minister for Federal Affairs and Special Tasks, Member of Parliament Dr. Marcel Huber.

HSF and Members of the Parliament of the Free State of Bavaria

HSF and Members of the Parliament of the Free State of Bavaria share the Bavarian perspective on federalism in a discussion participated in by delegates from 23 countries, including the Philippines.

HSF

Since the first one held in 2012, the International Munich Federalism Days (IMFD) organized by the HSF has sought to bring together key representatives from various federal and federal-like governments, and those aspiring to shift to such a system, as well as federalism and decentralization experts, to inclusive and interactive information activities on federalism. The idea is to examine current issues by initiating focused dialogue and exchanges while allowing space for divergent discussions, and to build, nurture and promote linkages.

IMFD 2017 is a co-operation between the HSF and Eurac Research, a private research centre located in Italy and conducting research in the areas of, among others, Language and Law, Minorities and Autonomous Regions and the Alpine Environment.

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