In 2011 the European University Institute (EUI) launched Debating Europe, an initiative focused on debating the process of European integration and the major issues confronting contemporary European society. This programme is embedded in the Institute’s current research activities and projects. In public debate it brings together academics from within and outside the EUI, decision-makers and opinion leaders to exchange and discussion of ideas and experiences.
The aim of Debating Europe is to offer an opportunity for an intensive and informed debate in the open intellectual atmosphere of the EUI, so as to reflect on and impact the European policy debate. The events are opened by initial presentations by one or two external speakers, followed by reactions from panellists from within the EUI community. The floor then is open for a multi-dimensional, controversial, and lively debate.
Past events:
2013
On 22 February 2013, we welcomed Sir Richard J. Evans, University of Cambridge, as guest speaker for the debate on “Germany's place in Europe, from Bismarck to Merkel".
Read Europe's collective memory shapes euro zone crisis, a report by Rosie Scammell
2012
On 28 November from 11:00 to 13:00 in the Sala del Capitolo (Badia Fiesolana), David O’Sullivan (Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service) gave a lecture on “Setting up the European External Action Service (EEAS): Experiences and Perspectives”. Panellists: M. Cremona, U. Krotz, P. Ferrara, F. Bicchi.
On 31 October Ulrich Beck (Munich University / London School of Economics) gave a lecture on "Europe at Risk: The Cosmopolitan Turn". Location: Sala del Capitolo, at 15:00. Pannelists: Laura Downs, Diego Gambetta, Friedrich V. Kratochwil, and Dennis Patterson.
On Monday 24 September (5.00pm in the refectory, Badia Fiesolana) Martin Wolf (Chief economics commentator of the Financial Times) talked on ‘Euro crisis: Symptoms, sources and solutions’. Panellists: David Levine, Massimiliano Marcellino, Pepper Culpepper and Richard Rose.
On 21 June, Vaira Vike-Freiberga (President of the Republic of Latvia 1999-2007) talked on “The Scorecard on EU Foreign Policy in a Globalised World”; discussant: Miguel Poiares Maduro. The lecture was co-organised with the Global Governance Programme in the framework of its executive training seminar “Political Participation in a Globalised World“ (20-22 June). The seminar debated emerging forms of social innovation and their possible impact and more democratic and accountable modes of global governance.
On 2 May Jean Quatremer (Brussels correspondent of Libération) and Etienne Davignon (former vice-president of the European Commission) gave a lecture on "Effets de la crise de la zone euro sur le processus d'integration"; the lecture took place at 15:00 in the Theatre, Badia Fiesolana; discussant: Stefano Bartolini.
On 11 April Jean-Claude Piris (Legal Counsel of the European Council and EU Council of Ministers (1988-2010)), gave a lecture on "The Future of Europe: Towards a Two-Speed EU?"; discussant: Philippe C. Schmitter.
On 28 March a lecture entitled "The Open Society and its Immigrants. Avoidance, Conflict and Accommodation in Europe" was delivered by Paul Scheffer (Tilburg University); discussant: Rainer Bauboeck.
On 7 March Wolfgang Schäuble, German Minister of Finance, gave a lecture on "Europe - Economic and Institutional Perspectives"; discussant: Elena Carletti.
The 22 February lecture "The EU Sovereign Debt Crisis: Constitutional Perspectives" was delivered by Allan Rosas, Judge at the Court of Justice of the European Communities, discussant Miguel Maduro.
2011
6 October 2011, inaugural Debating Europe event by the Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and President of the European Parliament ret. Hans-Gert Pöttering, MEP.
12 October 2011, public lecture by His Excellency the President of the Portuguese Republic, Aníbal António Cavaco Silva.
11 November 2011, lecture on the occasion of the Official Opening of the 2011-2012 Academic Year by Herman van Rompuy, President of the European Council.
6 December 2011, public lecture on "the Future of Europe and the EU Neighborhood" by Aleksander Kwasniewski, current President of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconcialiation