Moderator: Achim Dercks

Dr Achim Dercks (born 1967) studied economics and social sciences at the University of Cologne and in Paris. After completing his doctorate at the University of Cologne in 1996, he initially worked as Head of the Labour Market and Social Security Department and then as Head of the Office for Presidential Affairs, Labour Market and Social Policy of the DIHK e. V. (German Chamber of Industry and Commerce). Since 2004, he has been Deputy Managing Director of the DIHK (formerly Deutscher Industrie- und Handelskammertag e. V.) and since 2005 also Managing Director of DIHK Service GmbH.

Mr Dercks also holds other positions, including Deputy Chairman of the Deutsche Welle Administrative Board, member of the Administrative Board of the RKW Competence Centre and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Senior Expert Service Foundation (SES). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the German Adult Education Association and the Advisory Council of the Hertie School.

As the umbrella organization of 79 German chambers of industry and commerce, the DIHK represents the interests of the German economy vis-à-vis federal politicians and European institutions.