On Monday 15 October The Australian National University hosted a delegation led by President of the Bundesrat (Federal Council), Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Higher Education, Michael Müller. This visit of 37 German delegates was part of the activities of the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet network, Policy, Politics, Culture: Migration and Integration (PPCEUMI), and included politicians from the Federal Council, the Berlin House of Representatives and the Senate of the Federal State of Berlin, as well as representatives from academia, industry, think tanks and the media.

German Ambassador Her Excellency Dr Anna Prinz was in attendance, along with Deputy Head of Mission Gerda Winkler, Head of Press and Culture Susanne Körber, and Head of Science and Communication Dr Judith Reinhard.

ANU delegates were Provost Professor Mike Calford, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Michael Cardew-Hall, Associate Dean (International), College of Arts and Social Sciences and Executive Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies Professor Jaqueline Lo, Associate Director of the ANU Centre for European Studies Dr Annmarie Elijah, Director of Australian National Internships Program (ANIP) Associate Prof Laurence Brown, Senior Lecturer, College of Law Anne McNaughton, Daniel Brown Manager of International Partnerships Development, and Amy Holland International Projects Coordinator.

The discussion focused on some of the research findings of the PPCEUMI project including the impact of Australia's skilled migration policy, and specifically the 457 Visa on labour supply, as well as a best practice case study of regional resettlement.

The President of the Bundesrat is the chairperson or speaker of the Bundesrat (Federal Council). He or she is elected by the Bundesrat for a term of one year. Traditionally, the Presidency of the Bundesrat rotates among the leaders of the 16 state governments. Michael Müller's one-year term as President of the Bundesrat started on 1 November 2017 and will end in October 2018. He has been Governing Mayor of Berlin since December 2014, and in 2016, Mr. Müller took on responsibility for higher education and research policies.

“Australia is an important partner for Germany in the democratic world. Germany and Australia share the same values of freedom and democracy... I would like to stimulate a discussion across all levels of society that involves all those who care about our country’s future as a successful industrial economy, yet who also know that success is not defined only by short-term capital gains but by the question of whether we will remain a country that effectively translates knowledge and expertise into new jobs, a country that will remain outward-looking and attractive for bright, creative people from all over the world.” - Michael Müller, information brochure on the delegation visit of Bundesrat President Michael Müller to Australia, 9-17 October 2018