The IEG and Landeszentrale für politische Bildung Rheinland-Pfalz (LpB) invite you to a public panel discussion: »Reden wir über Europa!« – Helsinki 1975 / 2025. 50 Jahre KSZE-Schlussakte: Menschenrechte und Sicherheit. The panel discussion will feature Dr. Sandra Dahlke, Director of the Max Weber Network Eastern Europe, Dr. Kai Hebel, Assistant Professor at Leiden University, and Prof. Dr. Katharina Kunter, University of Helsinki. Prof. Dr. Johannes Paulmann, Director of the IEG, will moderate the discussion. Registration at info@ieg-mainz.de Location: Leibniz Institute for European History (IEG), Alte Universitätsstraße 19, 55116 Mainz (Höfchen stop) Please register at info@ieg-mainz.de. The event will be broadcast live on the Institute's YouTube channel. On August 1, 1975, the heads of state and government of 33 European countries, as well as the US and Canada, signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in Helsinki. The text marked a milestone in international regulatory policy: respect for the sovereignty of states, human rights, and fundamental freedoms, as well as a commitment to peaceful conflict resolution, were to shape East-West relations on a permanent basis. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing, the IEG invites you to a panel discussion as part of the event series “Let's Talk About Europe!” that critically reflects on the history, impact, and current relevance of the CSCE Final Act. Against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and increasing geopolitical tensions, the question arises as to the viability of the principles formulated in 1975: What remains of the “spirit of Helsinki” – and to what extent can it provide guidance for Europe's present and future? Discussing on the podium: · Prof. Dr. Katharina Kunter, Professor of Church History at the University of Helsinki, examines the role of Christian actors in political transformation processes. In her dissertation, she analyzed the influence of churches during the détente policy of the 1970s. Her current research focuses on Christian opposition in communist states, the relationship between Christianity and human rights, and the role of religious actors in the context of Russia's war of aggression. Dr. Sandra Dahlke, Director of the Max Weber Foundation's Network Eastern Europe, is an expert on the history of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the relationship between ideology, religion, and power. As former Director of the German Historical Institute in Moscow—until its closure by the Russian government—she contributes both in-depth historical knowledge and current experience with Russian governance. · Dr. Kai Hebel, Assistant Professor of International Relations at Leiden University, conducts research on international security, diplomacy, transatlantic relations, and theories of international relations. He examines the long-term effects of the CSCE Final Act on security architectures and foreign policy actions in Europe. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Johannes Paulmann, Director of the Leibniz Institute for European History. The central questions of the event are: · What historical impact did the Helsinki Final Act have on politics and security? · What role did civil society actors play? · What does the “spirit of Helsinki” mean today? What options for action do civil society and diplomacy have in 2025?