Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays: A Recap of the Discussions at the European Cosmic Ray Symposium 2014

This contribution summarizes the talks, posters, and discussions of the ECRS 2014, held in Kiel, Germany - related to the research field of ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECR). Here, the definition of UHECR is cosmic rays with an energy above approximately 0.1 EeV, i.e. 10(17) eV, and the corresponding sessions were named HECR-II. Recent experimental results, like the identified heavy knee in the cosmic ray energy spectrum or the hotspot in the arrival direction of cosmic rays with highest energy, will be shown and discussed in relation to the need and requirements of future experimental efforts.