Reconnecting Europe I What are the Main Challenges Facing the European Union in 2017?

Date: Wednesday, 8 February 2017, 12:30 – 14:00, (light lunch 12:00-12:30)

Location: Hotel Leopold, Rue du Luxembourg 35, 1050 Brussels

Speakers:

• Prof. Dr Sven Biscop, Director, Europe in the World Programme, Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations and Professor, Ghent Institute for International Studies, Ghent University
• Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA)
• Dr Kirsty Hughes, Senior Fellow, Friends of Europe and visiting fellow, Constitutional Change Centre, University of Edinburgh

Moderator:

Klaus Linsenmeier, Director Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union

Main challenges as seen by the speakers:

• Sven Biscop: ‘In 2017, the EU, and the governments of its Member States, will have to reconnect with citizens by reconnecting with the heart of Europe, i.e. the welfare state; the EU will have to decide whether it can be the security guarantor of its friends in its own neighbourhood; and the EU will have to position itself in the evolving balance of power between the US, China, Russia – and ourselves.’
• Reinhard Bütikofer: ‘The main challenges for 2017 are: to implement a paradigm shift from austerity to innovation oriented investment; to strengthen the voice of parliaments and the voice of the people and to fight corporate privileges. Last but not least it is crucial to find a strategy to form a strong reformist alliance against the wave of authoritarianism.’
• Kirsty Hughes: 1) Solidarity and strategy within the EU: The EU is struggling to find a coherent, strategic sense of direction at a time of multiple challenges. With a lack of solidarity across Member States on different issues from refugees to democracy to youth unemployment. 2) Challenges across the EU’s neighbourhood: The EU has lost its confidence in its ability to positively influence its neighbourhood, from the Balkans, to dealing with Putin’s Russia (ever more difficult with the Trump presidency) to Turkey and the Middle East. 3) Brexit: The EU has to manage both the Brexit negotiations and the fall-out from Brexit, protecting the EU27’s interests while avoiding an acrimonious stand-off with the UK.’

No admittance without confirmed registration. E-Mail registration only. Please send the attached reply form to: marianne.ebertowski@eu.boell.org

The Chatham House Rule applies. Working language English.