Lothar Späth: Visionary of Europe and the World

18 March 2017 will mark the first anniversary of the death of the former Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Professor Lothar Späth. With his death, the country undoubtedly lost a very exceptional and well-respected man. Lothar Späth, who distinguished himself as an outstanding head of government and later as an entrepreneur, was a visionary in many respects: bold, down-to-earth and liberal-minded, always with an eye on future generations. Building a united and economically strong Europe was always one of his main ambitions. In his vision, a strong, united Europe stood for shared values as well as the principles of order and a common European identity. With these aims in mind, he dedicated himself to the founding of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim. The institute was founded on the basis of an initiative of the state government of Baden-Württemberg, then headed by Lothar Späth.

His ideas are now even more pertinent than ever. To honour his visionary contributions, the state government of Baden-Württemberg and ZEW will hold a memorial event on 21 March 2017. How can the state of Baden-Württemberg with its position in the heart of Europe use his ideas to build a strong and thriving economy? And how can we develop new approaches to ensure a prosperous future for the European Union, especially in times of great upheavals and challenges?