JEAN ASSELBORN - THE TOUR OF HIS LIFE

Helfried Carl in conversation with Jean Asselborn, Margaretha Kopeinig and Michael Merten

JEAN ASSELBORN - THE TOUR OF HIS LIFE

Biography and road story at the same time: Michael Merten accompanied the passionate cyclist Jean Asselborn for eleven days through France and traces his rise from working-class child to the longest-serving EU foreign minister.

 Jean Asselborn epitomises the steadfastness of small states in European politics like few others - with an unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights and a Europe based on solidarity. His clear, often uncomfortable voice has made him a moral compass in times of growing division and populist tendencies.
Political journalist Michael Merten traces the eventful life of a man who has shaped European politics as chief diplomat for almost two decades and has fought passionately for an EU that does not forget its humanitarian roots. The special thing about it: Michael Merten accompanied Jean Asselborn, the long-serving Luxembourg Foreign Minister and passionate cyclist, 1,000 kilometres across France.

Introductory words:
Heinz Fischer, Former Federal President, long-time personal friend of Jean Asselborn

Conversation:
Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg lawyer and politician; Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and for Immigration and Asylum 2013-2023; previously Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister from 2004; Member of Parliament 1984-2004; leader of the LSAP parliamentary group 1989-1997; party chairman 1997-2004
Margaretha Kopeinig, Journalist, author of numerous books on Austrian domestic and foreign policy and Europe as well as biographies on Jean-Claude Juncker, Martin Schulz, Jean Asselborn and Franz Vranitzky, among others. She has won several journalism awards.
Michael Merten, born in 1983, worked as a journalist while studying history and political science. Since 2019, he has been an editor at „Luxemburger Wort“, where he experienced the last years of the Asselborn era up close. He specialises in international politics as well as reportage and portraits.
Moderation Helfried Carl, former Head of Office of the President of the National Council and former Austrian Ambassador to Slovakia, partner of the Innovation in Politics Institute in Vienna, which he co-founded in 2019, and founder of the European Capital of Democracy initiative.

Michael Merten
Jean Asselborn. The tour of his life. The biography
Publisher Berg & Feierabend, Berlin, September 2025, EUR 24,-