Frankfurt (Oder): City festival and exciting lectures are waiting for you!

Frankfurt (Oder): City festival and exciting lectures are waiting for you!

The European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) is at the center of current developments on the German-Polish border. On July 10, 2025, the university responded to a message from university president Eduard Mühle promising students relief with regard to border controls. In this email, Mühle announces that students at Viadrina or the University of Poznań will be exempt from complex checks at the border upon presentation of their student ID card. Despite this agreement, students must still carry an identity card or passport and, if necessary, a residence permit or visa. The student ID card can speed up the controls, but it is not enough just to cross the border.

These developments are particularly relevant as the Federal Ministry has introduced temporary border controls on the German-Polish border since mid-October 2023. These controls were extended in December until March 15, 2024, and a further extension is not ruled out. In his statement, Mühle expressed concern about the “sometimes significant restrictions” that the controls entail for students. Many of them attend courses on both sides of the Oder and are therefore severely affected by the new regulations. The full article on europa-uni.de provides further insight into this topic.

Events at the Viadrina

In parallel to these sensitive political developments, the Viadrina has numerous events on the program that enrich cultural life at the university. The HE(A)RING festival will be held in the garden of the Kleist Museum on July 12th and 13th, 2025. With free entry, various activities such as music, hula hoop and live poetry writing are offered. The event takes place on Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

In addition, the closing event of the Ukraine Lecture Series will take place on July 14th, focusing on French and German perspectives on European cooperation. The panel guests, including Marek Prawda and Dr. Roderich Kiesewetter, will discuss possibilities for Ukrainian-European cooperation in the Gräfin Dönhoff building from 6:15 p.m.

Another significant event on July 17 will address the legal, humanitarian and political perspectives on border controls. This panel discussion is particularly explosive because it addresses current debates about the situation at the border. The panel guests include experts such as Dr. Marcus Engler and Prof. Dr. Claudia M. Hofmann. The program is rounded off with a screening of the silent film “The Oyster Princess” followed by a discussion.

Exhibitions and cultural highlights

In addition to these events, Viadrina is currently offering several exhibitions that deal with various social issues. The exhibition “Mod-Block-DDR” addresses modernization blockades in the economy and science of the GDR and will be on view until the end of August 2025. In addition, the exhibition “Where is this East Germany actually located?” present various artistic perspectives until August 2nd. Particularly noteworthy is the exhibition “Some Were Neighbors,” which deals with the Holocaust and the role of ordinary people and will remain open until the end of the year, with free admission included.

In summary, it can be said that the European University Viadrina is not only present as an academic institution in the current political discussion about border controls on the German-Polish border, but also stimulates cultural debate through a diverse range of events and exhibitions. The context of these developments is also highlighted by reporting on the demands of the police union (GdP) for closer coordination between the authorities and the temporary controls of the federal police. This adds to the complex situation at the border and highlights the challenges faced by both students and authorities. Further information can be found at rbb24.de and deutschlandfunk.de.