Armin Laschet succeeds Werner Hoyer, who did not stand for re-election after many years in office. The IEP Board of Trustees elected Armin Laschet President of the Institute for the 2026–2030 term of office. The Executive Board was completed with the election of Siemtje Möller, Deputy Chair of the SPD parliamentary group in the German Bundestag, Omid Nouripour, Vice-President of the German Bundestag, and Prof. Dr Andreas Pinkwart, former Deputy Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and Executive Board member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, as Vice-Presidents.
With his election, Laschet assumes the presidency of the IEP at a time of far-reaching European and international change. For more than six decades, the Institute has brought together stakeholders from academia, politics and civil society and supported the European integration process through research and political dialogue.
The many current crises and global challenges remind us every day that we can preserve and strengthen prosperity, security and freedom only in a united Europe. More than ever, we now need Europe’s independence and sovereignty. The Institut für Europäische Politik can guarantee an exchange between academia, research and political decision-makers in the search for the best ideas. Europe has always been a cause close to my heart throughout my political career. I therefore want to devote all my energy to working with the IEP to develop ideas that bring about concrete change,” Laschet said on the occasion of his election.
Laschet succeeds Werner Hoyer, who did not stand for re-election after many years in office. Hoyer had proposed Laschet as his successor:
In Mr Laschet, the IEP gains a committed European and an experienced political manager to lead the Institute.
He said he was convinced that Laschet’s expertise and commitment to Europe would continue to advance the Institute, enabling the IEP to fulfil its important role at the interface of academia, politics and civil society and to help shape the debate on Europe’s future.
About Armin Laschet
Armin Laschet has been a Member of the German Bundestag since 2021 and Chair of its Committee on Foreign Affairs since 2025. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and from 2021 to 2022 as Federal Chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He previously served as a Member of the German Bundestag from 1994 to 1998 and as a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2005. From 2005 to 2010, Laschet was Minister for Generations, Family, Women and Integration of North Rhine-Westphalia, additionally assuming responsibility for Federal Affairs, Europe and the Media in 2010. He is also President of the German Parliamentary Society and Chair of the Board of Directors responsible for awarding the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.
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