This year, the Federal Foreign Office will support the Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke with 600,000 euros and the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) with 500,000 euros. Now that the Bundestag and Bundesrat have passed the 2024 budget after lengthy negotiations, these institutional funds can now be granted.
“The funding from the Federal Foreign Office – despite the tight budget situation – is a visible recognition of the outstanding work that both partner organisations have been doing for more than ten years,” explains Wolfgang Rohe, Chairman of the Management Board of Stiftung Mercator GmbH. The non-profit foundation established MERICS in Berlin in 2013. The Jugendbrücke, based in Düsseldorf, began its work in 2014. “The funding is a clear signal that the German government wants to secure the long-term future of Jugendbrücke and MERICS,” adds Magdalena Kirchner. She heads the Europe in the World division at Stiftung Mercator, which is responsible for both organisations.
The Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke is the most important supporter of German-Turkish youth exchanges. Its aims are to promote encounters, empowerment and social participation among young people from both countries. It supports projects organised by clubs, schools and local authorities, in which over 20,000 people have taken part since it began its work. “The institutional funding gives youth exchange with Turkey a perspective that is appropriate to the political and social importance of bilateral relations,” says Daniel Grütjen, Managing Director of the Deutsch-Türkische Jugendbrücke. “We are very grateful that the funding will continue at the same level in 2024.”
The independent research institute MERICS is the largest European think tank dedicated exclusively to analysing contemporary China and its relations with Europe and the world. “High-quality, practical and independent China research needs a solid financial basis, especially in these times of global instability,” say MERICS Director Mikko Huotari and CFO Bettina Bubnys. “We are delighted to receive institutional support from the German government. For the MERICS team, it is both recognition and a mandate. We see it as a tailwind for our European course and our ambition to make a sustainable contribution to the development and expansion of China expertise in Germany.”
Press Contact Stiftung Mercator
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communication
T +49 20 12 45 22 36 | presse@stiftung-mercator.de
About Stiftung Mercator
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent non-profit foundation, whose work is driven by academic insights and practical project experience. Since its founding in 1996, it has been advocating for a society based on social solidarity and broad participation. To this end, it funds and develops projects that improve opportunities for the participation in and cohesion of societies, many of which are increasingly diverse. Stiftung Mercator is committed to an open-minded, democratic Europe, a digital transformation of state and society founded on fundamental rights, and socially equitable climate policies. Stiftung Mercator is active in Germany and other parts of Europe and the world. It has a special connection to Germany’s Ruhr region, home to its founding family and its headquarters.