WVPU Represented at Transatlantic Energy Conference in Berlin

Webster Vienna Private University Associate Director Dr. Samuel R. Schubert represented the University earlier this spring at the Transatlantic Energy Conference at the Deutsche Parlamentarische Gesellschaft in Berlin’s Reichstag.

Organized by Becker Büttner Held, the Association of European Energy and Climate Lawyers, in partnership with the Clean Energy Forum and IKEM, the event came at a pivotal moment in global politics and energy policy.

Under the triple impact of a new policy cycle in Europe, President Trump’s election in the United States and the fall of the German government, the geopolitical landscape has shifted significantly and could affect transatlantic relations as much as energy and climate policies.

Schubert contributed valuable insights throughout the conference. During the presentation of a study by the Centre of European Policy Network, the associate director explored Europe’s evolving geopolitical landscape and its influence on energy and climate policies.

In a second session titled “Rebooting the Transatlantic Energy and Climate Agenda,” Schubert addressed the future of diplomacy in Germany and within the broader transatlantic context. His perspectives sparked important conversations on how global cooperation must evolve to meet emerging energy challenges.

Samuel R. Schubert with Richard L. Morningstar

The conference brought together leading experts and thought leaders to chart the course for a more secure energy future. One of the event’s highlights was the presentation of the Richard Morningstar Award for Energy Security, presented to the statesman himself whose career has defined leadership at the nexus of diplomacy, energy and transatlantic security.

Morningstar is the founding chairman of the Global Energy Center and a board director at the Atlantic Council. He served as the U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan from July 2012 to August 2014.

Daniel Mercer, Managing Director of Storengy Deutschland GmbH, shared in a LinkedIn post, “European-American relations are complex. Our friends from the USA recommend close exchange with the private sector, academia and states — regardless of the political noise in Washington.” (translated from the original German).

His statement echoed the overall theme of the conference: fostering meaningful cooperation across borders and sectors, even in uncertain political times. In addition to Schubert’s panel discussions, the event featured engaging panels and insightful contributions from Ambassador Morningstar, Philipp Steinberg, Olga Khakova, Judith Schäfer-Gendrisch, Dr. Timm Kehler, Michael Lewis, Kirsten Westphal, Marco Alverà, Arno Büx, Tom Hautekiet and other thought leaders.