Europe in the 21st century: challenges and opportunities
18-05-2012 / 19-05-2012
L’Institut d’Etudes Européennes et Internationales du Luxembourg organise les 18 et 19 mai 2012, en association avec le New Policy Forum présidé par Mikhail Gorbatchev et en coopération avec la Représentation de la Commission européenne à Luxembourg et le Centre "Notre Europe" présidé par Jacques Delors, un colloque sur le thème "Europe in the 21st century: challenges and opportunities".
The end of the Cold War had opened up prospects for Europe to unite. It also gave a strong boost to a unique project of real integration of nations comprising it and to the development of its own democratic and social model. It opened to it a historic opportunity to evolve into a common home for millions of Europeans. Many of those ambitions were fulfilled since then, changing the European continent irreversibly, beyond recognition. However, today Europe is going through one of the most severe crises in its post-war political history.
Europe’s ability to stay true to its initial goals and values is being put to a test. Its economic stability is threatened by a severe global financial crisis; the social achievements of several generations of Europeans might fall victim to tough competition, and the progress achieved in uniting peoples and citizens based on the values of democracy could be undone by the revival of nationalism and populism.
Today Europe is going through one of the most severe crises in its post-war political history. Europe’s ability to stay true to its initial goals and values is being put to a test. Its economic stability is threatened by a severe global financial crisis; the social achievements of several generations of Europeans might fall victim to tough competition, and the progress achieved in uniting peoples and citizens based on the values of democracy could be undone by the revival of nationalism and populism.
The new Europe is still not a major political and strategic player in the international arena and does not fully use its potential to participate in the search of solutions for the global challenges of the 21st century through joint efforts with other partners. This could shake the commitment of Europe’s citizens and new generations of Europeans to the European ideal and discourage them from getting involved in the European project.
Provisional Programme
Friday, May 18
10.00 – 11.00 Opening session
Introductory remarks : Armand Clesse (Director of the LIEIS)
Opening addresses: Mikhail Gorbachev (President of the NPF), Jacques Delors (Founding President of Notre Europe), Viviane Reding (Vice President of the European Commission)
11.00 – 13.00 I. Plenary session: Challenges
Panel 1: Threats to the prevailing political and socio-economic consensus: fragility of the social model; rise of the extreme right; erosion of the middle-class; growing inequalities; decay of the political ethos
Panel 2: The eurozone crisis: Implosion or muddling through? Saving the euro – at what price? A multi-speed EU?
15.00 – 18.00 II. Plenary session: Opportunities and possible solutions
Panel 1: A new institutional framework for future Europe? Back to the sources or a great leap forward? Between super state and supermarket
Panel 2: A pan-European political and security community: A common environment and energy strategy; how to involve citizens, peoples and nations in a new European Social Contract
Saturday, May 19th
9.30- 12-30 III. Plenary session: Europe facing the world
Panel 1: EU and the wider Europe: reformed EU, OSCE; desirability and feasibility of regional cooperation
Panel 2: Europe’s New Frontier: going East and South? Russia and the CIS, Turkey and the Mediterranean. Reaching out to the Pacific?
Registration required:
Tel: +352 46 65 80 / e-mail: info@ieis.lu
Simultaneous translation into English, French and Russian will be provided.
