It was back in 1999 that the American national Bernard DeKoven coined the term "coworking". Today, 25 years later, more and more coworking spaces can be found in big cities and beyond. Electricity, a coffee machine and a fast internet connection – those are the basics they provide. However, what DeKoven actually described in 1999 was at that time not a physical space in which to work, but a way of working. Community, collaboration, sustainability, openness and accessibility – these are the five core values of coworking, these are what were important to him.
It is certainly just a coincidence, but 1999 was also the year in which this impressive and ultra-modern complex was opened as the home of the Nordic Embassies here in Berlin. Five diplomatic missions sharing premises – that was something totally new. Since that time, the Embassies of your countries, that is the Embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have worked together in Berlin even more closely than elsewhere, holding joint meetings with relevant stakeholders, organising events, discussing the issues – with each other, and with us Germans. The Embassies share resources – including the coffee bar for fika every now and then. Here you learn from each other, here you work in a spirit of solidarity. Within these walls you speak Norwegian, Danish, German, whatever language suits the group that has currently assembled. Furthermore, and this makes these premises particularly unusual, every day the canteen in the Felleshus – one of the best in Berlin – opens its doors to visitors from outside. Joint exhibitions are another regular feature. I really can’t think of any other Embassy that is more open or maintains closer contacts with the local population.
However, it is so much more than a marriage of convenience. Here you embody your countries’ friendship – and make good use of it. The aim isn’t to do everything together. Various subsets of the Nordic countries are members of the EU, the eurozone and NATO. In light of the Russian war against Ukraine and the threat along our entire eastern flank, we Europeans have become even closer. We are pleased that, following the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO, we are now strengthening the European pillar of our defence together with all Nordic countries. The aim is to pool interests and resources. And together to achieve more – a supremely European ideal that the Nordic Embassies have long since honed to perfection.
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are close, both geographically and in terms of the people’s habits. But the opportunity to become even closer, sharing premises for your Embassies, was only available here, in Berlin, and only at the very time when Germany too was growing together. It was only with the Fall of the Berlin Wall, 35 years ago, that we were able to overcome the division of Europe. And it was only when Germany’s federal capital moved to this city on the Spree that the foundations for this singular project were laid.
Each autonomous, and yet together
is the motto formulated by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark for the Nordic Embassies at the inauguration of the building. Each autonomous, and yet together
: in this way, the Nordic Embassies in Berlin have breathed life into the values of community, collaboration, sustainability, openness and accessibility for the past 25 years. You could say that they were already a coworking space long before the concept had been invented. As in so many things, the Scandinavians have been pioneers, early adopters, ahead of their time.
We are proud that Germany has been the host of such a great innovation, and that our shared history unites us in this way, too! It’s a pleasure to have you all here today. Welcome to Berlin!
