Seminar 2

Europe Old and New?

August 17 to 23 from 9:00 am to 12:00 (except Sunday)

Location: Secondary School

Chairpersons:
Fraser Cameron, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre, Brussels
Wim van Meurs, Academic researcher, Center for Applied Policy Research, University of Munich
Gregor Woschnagg, Retired Ambassador, Republic of Austria, Vienna

Language: English 

Content:
This seminar will examine the state of the European Union on its 50th anniversary and in particular explore whether a Union of 27 or more member states can continue to function as an effective actor. After a brief review of the milestones of European integration, the seminar will consider some of the main policy areas (single market, economic and monetary union, agricultural policy, structural funds, justice and home affairs, foreign and security policy) and the manner in which the institutions – European Commission, Council and Parliament - work together. The common theme running through the seminar will be the impact of the 2004/2007 Big Bang enlargement and whether there really is any justification for the assertion that there is an "old Europe" versus a "new Europe".Each session begins with an introduction by one of the moderators taking stock of the achievements of the integration process over the past half of a century as well the current dilemmas from the perspective of the 2004/2007 enlargement and possible divergences between the former EU-15 and the new member states.

Fri 17/08 European Constitution
Sat 18/08 Single market, economic and monetary union, Euro-zone
Mon 20/08 Agricultural policy, structural funds
Tue 21/08 Justice and home affairs, Schengen
Wed 22/08 Further enlargement (Turkey, Balkans) and finalité; European Neighbourhood Policy
Thu 23/08 Common Foreign and Security Policy, crisis management, EU-Russia relations

References:
EPC - European Policy Centre
CEPS - The Centre for European Policy Studies
CER- Centre for European Reform
IFRI - French Institute of International Relations
SWP - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

Downloads:
50 Years European Integration; Fact Sheet