At this Young-Leaders-Seminar, the future capability of the global compact was debated. Aim of this seminar was the survey of this initiative as well as the exploration of its possible development perspectives. Ms. Hildebrandt of the GTZ, Ms. Gerteiser of Econsense - Forum Sustainable Development as well as Mr. Heger from the Department of Politics and external Relations of DaimlerChrysler AG were the experts present at the seminar. The question: “Global Compact: PR-Gag or guidepost of Global Governance?” was of special importance to the participants of this intensive working seminar. Central discussion point was the observable "Projektitis" of the Global Compact, i.e. the dominance position held by the individual project of companies. Reforms of the Global Compact, which, on the one hand, would not put into question the non- binding character of the Global Compact, but on the other hand, would promote collective actions of companies were discussed.

The Global Compact was an initiative of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in which globally active companies should become partners in the efforts to promote Human Rights, Labour and Social Norms as well as Environmental standards. The Global Compact is seen as an additional instrument to promote corporate responsibility. Participation in the Global Compact is voluntary and it is non binding. It is far more a joint learning forum based on broadly accepted principles in which the corporate social responsible behaviour of companies is illustrated and propagated. The Global Compact is a Network of UN-Organisations, Companies, NGOs, Science and regional Global Compact Forums.