POLAND - UNIVERSITY OF WROCLAW - Robert EVANS
2016-04-18 - 2016-04-21
The University set up a conference about:“Protection of fundamental Rights – new challenges for the EU” for Master and PhD students.
“As a former MEP I was invited to speak to several different groups of students around a general theme […]. At the time of my visit and as I write this report, the United Kingdom is absorbed in the Referendum campaign […]Despite my best efforts to keep to the topic on the agenda, the students always and without exception, brought discussions back to the British question. […]I met with students studying EU competition law, Diplomatic and consular law, the Institutions of the EU and PHD students, from all of whom I had a warm and friendly welcome. Professor Dagmara Kornobis- Romanowska from the John Monnet Team was my host and I am most grateful for her hospitality and friendship and for all the organisation.”
Robert EVANS, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: WROCŁAW A CITY WITH A TURBULENT PAST
It is said there are over one hundred bridges that span the River Oder in Wrocław. The city has had such a turbulent past that each bridge could easily represent one major change. Today Wroclaw’s a city of some six hundred thousand people with the largest university in the region, teaching over 40,000 students and around 1300 doctoral students in 10 different Faculties. 9000 students graduate from the University of Wroclaw every year. In the past, Wrocław has been occupied by Poles, Czechs, Austrians, Hungarians and Germans. Over the years, settlers here have included Walloons, Jews, Italians and Ruthenians. This mixture of different religions and cultures, whilst problematic at times, has also helped shape the Wroclaw of 2016. When the Nazis seized power in 1933 the remaining Polish people were driven out and Breslau as it was now called became Hitler’s last stronghold. After a fourteen week siege the city finally surrendered to the Soviets, on May 6th 1945. At Potsdam, after the war, Poland regained Wroclaw as the new frontiers of Poland moved the country westwards. The remaining German residents were expelled and the city was re-populated by Poles from Lwow (now the Ukranian town of Lviv), which became part of the Soviet Union, Wilno (now the Lithuanian town of Vilnius) as well as many new arrivals from Warsaw and Poznan. The ‘pioneers’ resettled a foreign city that was almost threequarters destroyed.
Thanks to some Polish professors from Lvov, teaching and research activities at the University of Wroclaw also restarted and today the university is well funded and thriving with an emphasis on scientific research. True to the city’s history there are students from hundreds of different backgrounds and probably one hundred different countries. As a former MEP I was invited to speak to several different groups of students around a general theme of ‘Protection of Fundamental Rights – new challenges for the European Union’. At the time of my visit and as I write this report, the United Kingdom is absorbed in the Referendum campaign as to whether or not the UK should stay a member of the European Union. Despite my best efforts to keep to the topic on the agenda, the students always and without exception, brought discussions back to the British question.
The UK joined the then EEC in 1973 and has been a full and important member ever since. Of course, the UK has never signed up to the Euro or the Schengen Agreement and as such has often seemed a semidetached member of the European Union. Quite apart from our position as a key trading nation, from the English language to the whole historical and cultural aspects, the EU is stronger with the UK as a member and the UK similar is stronger in. I met with students studying EU competition law, Diplomatic and consular law, the Institutions of the EU and PHD students, from all of whom I had a warm and friendly welcome. Professor Dagmara Kornobis- Romanowska from the John Monnet Team was my host and I am most grateful for her hospitality and friendship and for all the organisation. I hope the next one hundred years in the history of Wroclaw and itsuniversity is somewhat less turbulent!

ITALY - EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE:"The State of the Union: Women in Europe and the World" - Enrique BARÓN CRESPO and Monica BALDI
2016-05-04 - 2016-05-06
The State of the Union conference, organised by the European University Institute (EUI), is an annual event for high-level reflection on the European Union and is a reference point in the EU agenda. Over the last five years we have seen the participation of the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament, Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers.
The conference’s sixth edition took place in Florence from 5 to 7 May 2016. President Barón Crespo has participated in the conference about Populism in Europe.
Enrique BARÓN CRESPO, FMA President and Monica BALDI, FMA Board Member, participated in these events.

UNITED STATES - JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY - Enrique BARÓN CRESPO
2016-07-15 - 2016-07-16
During his visit in Washington to meet the Association of Former Members of U.S Congress, the President Barón Crespo took the opportunity to participate in a lecture at the SAIS Johns Hopkins University.
This conference entitled ‘Europe: Resilient or Doomed’, was organised in cooperation with the European Parliament Liaison Office with U.S Congress.
Enrique BARÓN CRESPO, FMA President, participated in this event.

FRANCE - ESSEC CERGY - Zofija MAZEJ KUKOVIC
2016-07-22 - 2016-07-24
The University of Cergy-Pontoise, France invited a former Member to participate in a conference on ESSEC Summer School about “The Global Manager in Europe” highly specialized in EU trade and economic affairs.
Zofija MAZEJ KUKOVIC, FMA Member, participated in this event.

FRANCE - ESPE CLERMONT FERRAND (UBP) - Birgit DAIBER
2016-10-16 - 2016-10-19
The Blaise Pascal University organised a conference about:“Europe and Sustainable Developpement”.
Birgit DAIBER FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: JEAN-MONNET-SEMINAR IN CLERMONT-FERRAND
Blaise-Pascal-University in Clermont- Ferrand organized from 19-21 October 2016 a high-level Seminar to discuss the outcomes of the ‘Adapt- Econ II’ research-project (funded by EU-FP8) with experts from various European universities (from Iceland to Romania) and Jean-Monnet-Students working as young researchers in the project, preparing their PhD. Besides the very impressive research-findings the participants were interested to discuss the role of the European Parliament in decision-making on sustainable development and degrowth – especially decarbonisation and resourcemanagement – and by this reason my colleague Eva Quistorp and I were invited to give an insight related to our specific experience: Already in the 1980’s debates on sustainability started in the European Parliament, the concept of ‘sustainable development’ was included for the first time into the Maastricht-Treaty 1991 and became one of the prior goals of the Union in 1999 with the Amsterdam-Treaty. Since 2001 the EU-Commission has been presenting strategies to reach this goal – not to forget that the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) wasfounded in 1974 – so one may conclude the record of the European Union in sustainable development strategies is not so bad– at least compared with strategies on national levels.
In nine thematic sessions and twodebates with politicians the experts and young researchers discussed issues as macroeconomics, inclusive wealth indices, climate change, propositions for decarbonisation and environmental efficiency of industrial ecology. They presented their ‘world 6’ dynamic model on metal resources, showing scenarios on the finite nature of metals (especially copper and iron). In a public debate Former MEPs and French politicians pointed out the difference between the good purposes of European sustainable development initiatives, circle economy and decarbonisation and the still very limited practice. What the young researchers wanted to know especially from the Former MEPs was ‘how can we develop paths to communicate our findings with the European Parliament – and how could a Forum for such an exchange be initiated?’ Unfortunately, we as former MEPs couldn’t give an answer to this demand. But wouldn’t this be an idea to follow – for example as Forum or a ‘Structured Dialogue’ (well experienced by the EU-Commission in various fields of activities) between the parliamentary Committee for Research and young European researchers?

FRANCE - ESPE CLERMONT FERRAND (UBP) - Eva QUISTORP
2016-10-16 - 2016-10-19
The Blaise Pascal University organised a conference about:“Europe and Sustainable Developpement”.
Eva QUISTORP, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
It was a very good experience to participate in the university event in Clermond Ferrand, which was very well prepared by Professor Diemer, who is an expert in sustainable studies and has built a cooperation with Professor Vala Ragnarsdottir from Island, who is an expert in resource studies. The city is a nice provincial place, which integrates old and modern architecture in a human way, with good public transport near to an interesting historical volcano area and an impressive historical center with places friendly for pedestrians and families, a world wide known jazz and short film festival, as well as Michelin industry. The event was supported by the young green vicemayor of the city. With wonderful meals we became part of the city life with many students in social work and from French speaking Africa.
The lunch talk gave us some hard questions from students from all around Europe, from Turkey and Libanon. The knowledge about the EU, the succes of the EP in the field of environmental politics, was not the same. Female students from Kirgistan and Ukraine impressed me by their interest to learn for sustainable politics for their countries in the field of energy and water. The debate with French politicians was lively and included critics to the EU neoliberal and global trade politics and the lack of a common social policy. For me as a co-founder of the German Greens it was impressive to see that the environmental debate in France has really improved in the follow-up of the Rio-Conference for cities, agriculture and cooperation with African countries. We found a common language in the debate about indicators about energy and ressource efficiency and alternatives for a neo- colonial extract policy with oil and Coltan and other important minerals for the digitalisation with the global IT companies. How migrants can be better integrated in environmental consciousness and sustainable politics was an interesting lecture from a student from Australia. A Swedish lecturer described the tragic situation of Syrian refugees on Greek islands and the reasons of great hospitality of the Greek islanders. I learned how the Erasmus programmes support forms of cooperation of young scientists, who hopefully get an active part in European democracy buildung. But many students are only interested in their project and not many get involved in debates how to overcome the crisis. The EU and the EP play an important part in the global debate on sustainable development goals for 2030 decided by the UN, which should be better known by many students. The 17 sustainable development goals of the UN have some link with the equality for women and girls, women as leaders for change.
This was not enough included in the debate. Furthermore I was asking for a better control of the financial global oligarchies, which are part of the financial and debt crisis. This has to be more in the center of the debate for sustainable development. The demands of the European Parliament related to Luxleaks and financial havens, taxing google and other multinationals should be better known at universities, too. The conference was a good learning process and I will try to keep friendship to the interesting Erasmus plus study project of Prof Diemer in Clermond Ferrand. I am thankful to the FMA to facilitate such meetings.

ROMANIA - BABES BOLYAI UNIVERSITY - Astrid THORS
2016-10-21 - 2016-10-23
The University of Babes Bolyai, in Romania, organized an event about the European construction, its history and future strategy.
Thus, it wished to involve a former MEP as a keynote speaker, with whom it also organized more informal meetings with students.
Astrid THORS FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: THE YOUTHFUL TOWN OF CLUJ NAPOCA
Certainly, if you want to see a vibrant town, the rule is – go to a university town. And Cluj Napoca, the second biggest town in Romania, is no exception with its many NGOs, art galleries, festivals, start ups and the demand for personnel in the IT sector. There is even a bit of anxiety that the recruitment, the much higher salaries than the average and the impact on the real estate market might be a bubble, so rapid has been the developments. About 300 000 persons are residents in the town and it is host to roughly 80 000 students in all the universities. Also taking into account the increasing costs for accommodation a proportion of students commute to the universities from a long distance. The Babes-Bolyai university itself has 42 000 students in 21 faculties, 118 masters and BA programmes.
Out of the students, 1000 are foreign students, and the university maintains a wide range of MoUs with universities in other countries, in total 1500 MoUs. In university rankings B-B has scored very well, often best in the country, and fields like mathematics, social science and psychology are areas were performance is especially strong. Also public private partnerships are important and the co-operation between Porsche and the University was mentioned as a source of pride. During past centuries the town has been part of many empires and also been the capital of Transylvania. But it has also had a high influence of Germans/Saxons and a vibrant Jewish community, which was severely hit by the Holocaust. There is also a Roma population but the real size of it is difficult to tell. Hungarians account for roughly 15 % and one deputy Mayor belongs to a Hungarian party -the Mayor being now Emil Boc, a PNL politician and Prime minister from 2008-2012.
At times the relations between the linguistic groups have been tense also in the University and the way the university is administered has popped up intense discussions. There are Hungarian lines of studies in 16 departments and some German lines as well; however there are difficulties in recruiting personnel to the latter. I was not really able to get an insight into the current state of play. The programme and the lectures I was giving were organised in the Faculty of History and Philosophy, by the Department of Political Science and International Relations. The university also has other entities were EU law is studied, as there are separate European studies conducted. I gave lectures about the EU’s current crisis and around questions of migration, drawing on my experience as a Minister of Migration and European affairs. I think it should be noted that several EU presidencie and programmes for the Justice and Home Affairs like the Stockholm programme tried to have a broad perspective on migration supporting the Global Approach – where both promoting legal forms of migration, circular migration and combatting illegal migration formed a package. Also efforts were made to have migration partnership, but as such partnerships were not developed with big countries of origin. In 2015 Babes-Bolyai was the youth capital of Europe and the hopes were high that it could be one of the cultural capitals in 2021 – but lost after a very close vote. Still I hope that the new ideas developed for that project will prosper in the town in one way or another.

UNITED KINGDOM - De MONTFORT UNIVERSITY IN LEICESTER - José María GIL ROBLES
2016-10-24 - 2016-10-27
De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom held a conference event with high school class on “European integration”, lunch and network meetings, classes with law, politics and economic students and evening “European Question Time debate” attended by members of the public, University staff and students. The topics of interest were trade, human rights, foreign policy, monetary union and austerity.The attendees were high school students, BA and MA students, but also PhD students, academics and journalists.
José María GIL ROBLES participated in this event.

United Kingdom - UNIVERSITY OF De MONTFORT - LEICESTER - Gay MITCHELL
2016-10-24 - 2016-10-27
De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom held a conference event with high school class on “European integration”, lunch and network meetings, classes with law, politics and economic students and evening “European Question Time debate” attended by members of the public, University staff and students. The topics of interest were trade, human rights, foreign policy, monetary union and austerity.The attendees were high school students, BA and MA students, but also PhD students, academics and journalists.
Gay MITCHELL, FMA Member, participated in this event. Leicester is a market town of about 300,000 people located in the South Midlands of England. A one hour fast train journey from London but much nearer to Birmingham. It is the resting place of the recovered remains of King Richard lll.
It has two centre-city located universities. De Montfort, named after Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester, is a public research and teaching University.
It might be noted that Leicester voted Yes to Remain in the EU referendum. This issue continually arose during our visit and especially in Question and Answer sessions.
Our delegation of former members was: José María Gil-Roberts Gil-Delgado, (EPP Spain) former President of Parliament, and of the FMA; Barbara Weiler, former SD Member for Germany; and Gay Mitchell former Minister for Europe and MEP for Ireland.
As well as attending a variety of University classes where Questions and Answer sessions were usually the norm, we also met 44 local children, aged 14 – 16, with their teachers and had lively and José María Gil – Robles, Barbara Weiler and Gay Mitchell during their visit at De Montfort University interesting exchanges with them. The visit was organised by Professor of International Relations and Head of the Department of Politics and Public Policy, Alasdair Blair.
The issue of referenda as an instrument of public policy was raised and the pros and cons discussed. Other questions raised included:
• Travel, work and settlement arrangements within the EU after Brexit.
• Is Brexit the beginning of the disintegration of the European Union or is it bringing other members closer together?
• Would it make sense now to create a formal ‘two-tier’ European Union?
• Other than Brexit, what do you see as being the biggest challenges now for the EU and its Institutions and agencies?
• How can the EU improve economic growth, living standards and employment so as to retain popular support and avoid other EU nations following the Brexit route?
• Could immigration and customs controls function successfully in the island of Ireland without a ‘border’ – and would other EU nations, such as Spain, accept an independent Scotland as an EU member?
Post-graduate diplomacy and world order students, and politics students were interested in: Competition Policy, Communicating Europe, implications of Brexit for stability in Europe, how the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and European External Action Service works, how national and EU ambassadors cooperate abroad and how embassies to the EU network. The different forms of diplomacy – national, intranational were raised. While Business post-grad students raised Foreign Trade and relocation of business. Some of these questions arose in exchanges with students, but some of the most interesting and lively exchanges took place on Wednesday evening when students and staff were joined by invited members of the public. The attitude of most was one of sorrow for the Brexit decision and hope that a solution could be found as quickly as possible, and certainly before the two-year negotiating period allowed when Article 50 is triggered this March.
The three person delegation was broadly in agreement in our responses, though with different emphasis on some of the issues. Overall we came away with the view that those we met are not, in the main, happy with the Brexit referendum outcome and, at the very least, want continued strong relations with the EU and an end to uncertainty. The future involvement in the Erasmus programme for the Britain and its students was also raised. In discussions we had with academics over lunch and dinner similar concerns were discussed. This was a very useful visit, both an opportunity to inform people of how the EU, warts and all, actually works, and to hear their very reasonable questions and concerns.

United Kingdom - UNIVERSITY DE MONTFORT - LEICESTER - Bárbara WEILER
2016-10-24 - 2016-10-27
De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom held a conference event with high school class on “European integration”, lunch and network meetings, classes with law, politics and economic students and evening “European Question Time debate” attended by members of the public, University staff and students. The topics of interest were trade, human rights, foreign policy, monetary union and austerity.The attendees were high school students, BA and MA students, but also PhD students, academics and journalists.
Bárbara WEILER, FMA Member, participated in this event.

GERMANY - UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN - Michael HINDLEY
2016-11-07 - 2016-11-11
The University Gottingen organized a lecture followed by discussions and debates about the EU integration and about the role of the institutions in the EU and their power.
Michael HINDLEY FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: VISIT TO GÖTTINGEN UNIVERSITY
When the Euroculture Centre at the University of Göttingen in Germany invited me to give seminars on the post-EU referendum situation I was asked for a title. I suggested ‘Can the EU survive Brexit?’ Not simply an example of English ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humour, but a warning that Brexit is not only an existential question for the UK, but also one for the EU. The fact that the largest continuous democracy in Europe should choose to leave should provoke some radical self-examination in the EU itself. The stark fact is that 52% of participants in the UK Referendum did not feel that the EU can be reformed and that Britain’s future should be outside the EU. Very few – if indeed any – advocates of ‘remain’ campaigned endorsing the EU as it is. Many like myself campaigned to stay in and to reform the EU. It is the failure of the EU itself to reform, which has contributed significantly to this crisis.
Certainly the mood among the Masters Students in the three seminars I participated in was puzzlement and sadness about the UK leaving. There was none of the exasperation and vindictiveness that some continental public figures express. On the morning of my second day the news came through that Donald Trump had won the Presidential race in the USA. The news was met by thesame sadness and puzzlement as the Brexit decision. The complacency of the ruling elites has blinded them to the rising tide of resentment amongst the so-called ‘left-behind’ who trust appeals to nationalism more than appeals to international solidarity. Clearly, the ground is shifting under the feet of the political elites who had haughtily assumed they were acting in the best interests of the people in the name of ‘Europe’. But the ‘Europe’ the EU was designed for, no longer exists.
Continental Western Europe emerged from the cataclysm of the Second World War with a simplistic slogan of ‘national bad, European good’ and far too long this sense that expressions of national sentiments are inevitably anti-international, even dangerous, has prevailed. It has certainly left the field open for the extreme right to present itself as representatives of ‘the people’. For Germany particularly this is a challenging time. Germany has successfully achieved rehabilitation through Europe, aka EU. It has foregone over national interest for the ‘greater good’.
Brexit will clearly mean that France will bind itself ever more closely to Germany. Much of the initial impetus for creation of western European cooperation leading to the Treaty of Rome came from the French political elite deciding to pursue French interests through Europe. A very brave decision at the time, but no longer an idea shared by large numbers of French voters. And a growing Franco-German axis is bound to cause a rising resentment in the East, particularly the Visegrads, who already feel somewhat undervalued. ‘Europe’ is widely seen as the problem for nation states, not the solution to national problems – a point the ‘More Europe’ advocates from Brussels fail to grasp. The young students at Gottingen have the intelligence, perception and energy to cope – but they are more realistic and more truly international and beyond the clichés of Europe first – at least ‘Europe a la Berlaymont’.

CROATIA - UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB - Toine MANDERS
2016-11-16 - 2016-11-18
The University of Zagreb organized in November a conference for domestic market law students and European corporate law students. This conference focused on the domestic market, ‘The Four Freedoms’, the European Institutions and European corporate law. That is why the University wished to invite a specialist on these issues, Mr.Toine MANDERS, former MEP and FMA member.
Mission report: THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE
By train to Amsterdam and by plain to Zagreb. Professor Kosjenka Dumancic emailed me that due to the arrival of Joe Biden, traffic and security would be very intensive and I arrived with some delay but save at the University. With Kosjenka and professor Dr Hana Horak, we discussed my programme. On Thursday the professors were presenting their book ‘European market law’ and I was asked to give some comments. A better knowledge will create an advantage in futural negotiations and procedures so it is for their own sake. On Friday I had my lecture about: ‘Will Europe be a global player or to be compared with the Titanic? We are at a crosspoint of history now ‘
The EU organization structure was fitted for 6 member states and not for 28. At the beginning Europe was all about agriculture and economy and not about the real politics. The ECJ is often deciding on political issues via case law, because our political leaders always are sliding the “hot potato”. This is a weakness of Europe and therefore we need change. Thanks to Mr Wisse Dekker (ceo Philips 1986) representing the European Industries in Brussels, who demanded a single market and a single currency, the single market and the euro was created in 1992. It worked quit well until the Euro crisis and now Europe is facing even bigger problems, like terror and refugees. Nowadays, in most member states, Europe is bashed by people who are afraid for the future. National politicians are confused, because they have to face the upcoming nationalistic parties to compete with them in the elections. Their dilemma is: To win the elections or to save Europe. The UK is the fi rst member state to organize a referendum. Will there be a Brexit? Who will follow? At least we will know the impact of stepping out. It is too easy to bash Europe, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. I believe very strongly that there will be another outcome for Europe.
With the war on terror and a non-ending stream of refugees we need clear decisions of our leaders. What will be our future? We discussed some possibilities. There is a need for a strong organisation structure which is fitted for 28 member states and ready for the future. Instead of working on economic legislation, like labels for textile products or curved cucumbers, or agricultural policy, the EU should focus on more political issues. Our conclusion was that the EU could function better as the United States of Europe with a federal government and 28 member states.
The core business should be:
1. Economic and monetarian affairs.
2. Common defense and foreign affairs, including border control and immigration.
3. Environment
The member states are sovereign for all other issues. When there is a cross border friction, the ECJ will decide. This might help the EU to be a global player in the future too and to continue the thoughts of Wisse Dekker. Afterwards the two professors invited me for a nice dinner in the best Italian restaurant of Zagreb. The whole event was so intense that we promised to meet again.

CZECH REPUBLIC - MENDEL UNIVERSITY - Mariela BAEVA
2016-11-19 - 2016-11-27
Mendel University in Brno organized conferences and seminars for students during the International Teaching Week and invited a former member to participate.
Mariela BAEVA , FMA member, participated in this event.
Mission report THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE EU
When the students of the Faculty of Business and Economics at the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic, were approached to comment on the learning environment and their prospects after graduation, they rated them high. heir experience at the University seems to be a success story. The students I could meet of Bachelors and Masters’ degree levels represented different continents – Europe, East Asia, West Africa… They were united in their quest for knowledge and search for answers to complex issues. Our discussions and exchange of views, running round topics like the Internal Market; ‘fl aws in EMU design’; global crisis and EU responses; role of EU in international institutions and economic fora started with paying tribute to the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris. The Great Recession and the sovereign debt crisis grabbed our attention. We referred to certain weaknesses of the Internal Market and the urgency for a push to complete it.
Is a political and economic convergence process possible as proposed in the Five Presidents’ Report? Legitimacy and accountability – core criteria for a political union? Many questions, complex answers. We also brought to the spotlight an issue, when discussing the EU role globally – parliamentarians from the EP and national parliaments worldwide are embraced in a joint initiative envisioning the scrutiny of world trade talks, based on ethical criteria like transparency. The Airbus/ Boeing WTO disputes case also held the attention of the audience. I could submit a SWOT analysis, too – covering the EU participation in the G-20 forum – to the students’ consideration.
We also discussed OECD and EU joint efforts to build upon analyses of education, skills development and youth-related employment policies to respond with concrete measures to the youth unemployment crisis and long-term youth employment prospects. We referred to the role of the EP in the EU legislative process and the main forces that drove the expansion of the EP’s rights in legislation from consultation to co-decision. The different phases like the Crocodile Club, European Assizes, Refl ection Group, or the formal participation of the EP in the Convention on the future of Europe, as well as the latest treaty, fell into the scope of references that contributed to legitimizing the EP’s infl uence in the legislative process to the extent that for the fi rst time the EP also obtained the right of co-decision in economic and fi nancial governance as well as external relations.
I proposed to the students an exploratory mission in the different MSs that joined the EU after 2004. We used the Prosperity Index as the only global measurement of prosperity based on both economic criteria and wellbeing. I could bring to the students’ attention the fact that research into wellbeing revealed that people in CEE countries reported low levels of life satisfaction. Some authors suggest that ‘the end of the previous era for those countries s the collapse of not just a system, but of a belief system. This challenge coupled with economic dislocation and a decline in national wealth demonstrates that many people, for ex., in Bulgaria and Romania, report some of the lowest levels of subjective wellbeing.’ Our session was concIuded with a cardinal question – is there ‘an Iron Curtain of wellbeing that divides Europe in 2015’?

HUNGARY - UNIVERSITY OF SZEGED - Teresa DOMINGO
2016-11-27 - 2016-12-02
The University of Szeged organised a conference on “Gender Issues”, actual topic in Hungary. Ms Teresa Domingo, former MEP, delivered a keynote on “Gender (in)equality in Europe”, to students in international relations, economy and law, as well as professors and public interested in those questions.
Teresa DOMINGO, FMA Member, participated in this event.

ESTONIA - TALLINN UNIVERSITY - Gary TITLEY
2016-12-06 - 2016-12-08
The Tallinn University organized a lecture and discussions between a former MEP and students on a current issue : The Brexit and the European Union.
Gary TITLEY, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: VISIT TO ESTONIA
On behalf of the FMA I lectured at the Tallinn University of Technology on 7th and 8th of December 2016. This was a welcome opportunity to reacquaint myself with Estonia. I was first there as part of a special EP delegation to the Baltic States in 1991 immediately after independence. That was a strange time. Barricades were still around the Parliaments, Russian troops still roamed the streets trying to sell off bits of their equipment and the rouble remained the currency. Infrastructure was basic, particularly in telecommunications. Crucially both Sweden and Finland provided mobile phones as part of their initial aid mainly to Latvia and Estonia which greatly aided their transition. Estonia has embraced new technology with enthusiasm. It has the world’s fastest broadband and free wifi is widely available. The Government and Parliament are digital by default. In contrast to 1991, I felt that I was in a very
modern and dynamic country. Public transport in Tallinn is free to all residents with new trams acquired from Spain in a deal which enabled the Spanish to offset some of their carbon emissions. Cheap pre-school education is widespread and there is a good health system. Government support seems to go to young families to ensure a healthy birthrate, but pensioners suffer from low incomes. There are still some issues with Russian minorities, especially the older population who have not been able or not been willing to integrate, or who lack the skills the modern economy demands.
My prime purpose was to lecture on Brexit on the 7th. The following day I led two seminars, one on the EU in general and the other on Security policy. I had assumedthat I would be addressing mainly Estonian students, but I was wrong. The audience was multinational, although dominated by Finns. Apparently, it is a lot cheaper to study at an Estonian university than many other places. Courses are taught in English, so attracting students from all over the world. My lecture on Brexit was at 8.15 in the morning! Despite this, I had an audience of over 100. Brexit was not an easy subject for me, given that it represents the shattering of my lifetime dreams and hopes. I highlighted opinion polling on values, which showed that the more people held what we might call “traditional” values, such as believing in strong discipline in schools, anti multiculturalism, anti feminism, anti gay rights, the more likely they were to vote for Brexit. This is also a phenomenon witnessed in the Trump election in the USA. This backlash against the modern world is probably the greatest challenge facing us all. I outlined many possible scenarios for the UK’s future, all of which are complicated and none of which, in my view will make the UK better off. I remain to be convinced that the British government really knows what it is doing or knows what it wants. Elsewhere, I was struck by how focussed students were on the balance between ensuring democratic legitimacy and accountability in the EU on the one hand, and the need for effective EU action to confront the challenges it faces on the other. The future of the EU lies in getting that balance right.

ITALY - EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE - Enrique BARÓN CRESPO and Monica BALDI
2017-01-25 - 2017-01-27
The European University Institute organized a Workshop with the title ‘How National Referendums are Challenging the EU’. The Roundtable Workshop explored what we know and what we need to know about the way in which the recent round of national referendums from Greece and Switzerland to the UK are beginning to challenge the institutions and policies of the European Union.
Enrique BARÓN CRESPO, Former FMA President & Monica BALDI, FMA Board Member and responsible for relations with the EUI participated in this event.

CROATIA - UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB - Alessandro BATTILOCCHIO
2017-03-28 - 2017-03-30
The University of Zagreb organized in March an event which consisted on lectures for undergraduate students attending course Commercial Law within the BDIB (Bachelor Degree in Business) Programme in English and Commercial Law and Law of International Trade in Croatian.
Alessandro BATTILOCCHIO, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
They are citizens of the last country, in chronological order, to join the great family of the European Union. And yet the interest, enthusiasm and preparation I found in the days of meetings with students and lecturers at the oldest, most prestigious university of Croatia, are a sign that integration is already a reality. The world-renowned University of Zagreb, with its 28 faculties and an impressive range of courses, has always been very active in promoting synergies and activities with international universities and institutions. Against this particularly positive and dynamic background came my visit as part of the ‘EP to Campus’ programme which, moreover, took place within a few days of the celebrations in Rome for the 60th anniversary of the EU Founding Treaties. This was an important time for the leaders of the 27 EU states to take stock and, working together, to take on some new joint challenges.
The meeting with the students, in a packed chamber, was truly stimulating; together with the lecturers Zvonimir Šafranko and Kosjenka Dumančić, we spoke about the role of the European Union as an autonomous entity in the international arena, in a debate which was obviously influenced by current EU political events that are changing and redefining some aspects. We discussed, with students of the Faculty of Law, the legal framework for the European Union’s action as an autonomous entity and the difficult balance between the foreign policy requirements of each Member State and common requirements. At another meeting, at the Faculty’s ‘Europe Point’, we addressed issues that were more closely related to the events of recent months, in particular the challenges we face in relation to the new international situation: Trump, Brexit, populism and immigration were some of the issues touched upon in a debate in which the students interacted and participated. We also had an interesting chat with the editorial staff of the Faculty newspaper: we discussed the function of the European Parliament in the light of recent regulatory innovations and, more generally, the role and daily activities of a Member of the European Parliament during his or her term of office in Brussels and Strasbourg.
It was really a wonderful experience for me, in a Zagreb that is particularly beautiful in this season. My hope, also in view of the atmosphere I found among the students in Zagreb, is that on this basis of sharing and participation there may be a new spring for our European Union. 60 years ago it was an ambitious and far-sighted dream of the founding fathers; today it is a tangible reality that needs to be strengthened and improved, but which has ensured decades of peace, prosperity and development.

MOROCCO - MOHAMMED VI POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY - Alexandra THEIN
2017-03-28 - 2017-03-31
The University invited Alexandra THEIN , FMA Member, to the University to participate in a “Round Table”, and the title of the event was “Geopolitics of the Mediterranean” and the subject will be “Violence and conflicts in the Middle-East, external relations of the Union and security policy of the European Union”.

BULGARIA - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BULGARIA - Jan DHAENE
2017-03-30 - 2017-04-07
Jan DHAENE was invited to participate in a conference on circular economy at the American University of Bulgaria.
Mission report: PE TO CAMPUS IN BULGARIA
I saw the invitation of the American University in Bulgaria and I was interested in the subject: The circular economy. As former green politician but also as civil servant working on sustainable development, my attention was drawn. I was also intrigued by the fact that an American university was working in Europe, and the fact that I never visited Bulgaria before. I got the selection by the university only two weeks before the event and I had by coincidence my first week ever in the United States the week before. So I arrived in an American mood.
First I had to look up where the city of Blagoevgrad was situated. I never heard of the place before. The contact person was professor Jean Crombois and it turned out that he was also a Belgian citizen. So in the middle of the night a driver picked me up at Sofia-airport and brought me to the hotel where I arrived at 3 a.m. The first day in the afternoon we met the rector of the University and the provost. In the evening the opening ceremony of the Model European Union (MEU) was held, and I was keynote speaker on the subject : Circular Economy. The idea was that the students would play a simulation of the EP, the Commission and the Council, and discuss theCircular Economy Package (amended Directives launched by the real Commission in 2016 on waste, reuse and landfill etc.). The next they discussed the text in several Committees and I preceded the ENVI Committee.
The students played the role of MEPs of all the political groups; there where lobbyists in the building and the media was all around. It all ended in a triologue with Commission and Council and a final vote. In the debate the Brexit lead to heavy discussions. The students played their role very well and got emotionally and intellectually involved. You can find all this on facebook : Model European Union Blagoevgrad and on mine. It was the third time the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) organized this model event, with the support of the Jean Monnet Fund. This is a model for all universities in Europe. On Sunday the professor took me to the Rila Monastery (UNESCO). The weather and food were excellent. I can highly recommend a visit to Bulgaria, the best kept secret of Europe.
Jan DHAENE during his intervention

AUB students

ESTONIA - UNIVERSITY OF TARTU - Henrik LAX
2017-04-06 - 2017-04-09
The University of Tartu organized a conference to which it invited Henrik LAX, former MEP. The keynote speech was entitled ‘The Future of Europe: Challenges & Perspectives’ within the framework of the 3rd Eastern Platform – Tartu Seminar ‘A divided continent in times of crisis: In search for a common language’; lecture about EU’s foreign affairs and global role in the framework of the course ‘Theories of European Integration’, taught in spring semester 2017.
Henrik LAX, FMA Member, participated in this event.

HUNGARY - UNIVERSITY OF SZEGED - Robert GOEBBELS
2017-05-07 - 2017-05-11
The University invited Robert GOEBBELS , FMA Member, to the University to deliver a conference. The event consisted on lectures for undergraduate students attending course of international economics and international relations.
The area of specialisation was expertise in Schengen area and all the relevant topics.
The event offered the chance to discuss economic and political consequences of the current situation, and tried to find innovative answers concerning the refugee / migrant crisis. Restoring the Schengen area, without controls at internal borders, the system has in recent months been shaken to its core by the challenge of facing the largest refugee crisis since World War Two.

PORTUGAL - UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO - Gyula HEGYI
2017-05-21 - 2017-05-23
Gyula HEGYI, FMA Member, was invited to participate in a conference organized by the University of Aveiro.
Mission report: PROGRAMME
Aveiro is an ancient Portuguese city south of Porto. The University of Aveiro has been founded in 1973, and nowadays more than 13000 students and hundreds of professors study and teach there. My host, Professor Luis Mota keeps a semina on international studies in English. On the first day of my visit I was invited to participate an afternoon session of his seminar. Instead of the originally planned one hour it took two and half hours, as the students raised dozens of questions. All of them spoke good English, and one of them was an Erasmus student, coming from Lithuania.
They were rather well informed on the structure and problems of the European Union. We spoke among other subjects on the different role of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission, on the Brexit, on the importance of the Erasmus program and on the concept of the ‘multispeed EU’. They raised some ‘uncomfortable’ questions on the political situation of my homeland
Hungary as well, but I tried to answer them. I talked about the many possibilities to get a scholarship at the Parliament, at the Commission (where I also worked) and at the European HQs of the political parties. The next day I visited the ‘Europe Direct’ information centre, where I met some students who just dropped in, as the information centre has an active contact with the University. The relatively small but well equipped centre provides many facilities for those who are interested in EU affairs. And it seemed to me that there are many people in Aveiro who are really interested in…
In the afternoon I participated in the event which was the main program of my visit. The social and political department held a conference on ‘The reflection paper on the social dimension of Europe’, and generally on the social policy of the EU. The ‘Reflection Paper’ of the Commisson was released on 26th of April, so it was one of the first occasions to discuss it on a public event. My fellow panellists were Ms Sofia Colares Alves, Head of the EU representation in Portugal and Ms. Mafalda Guerreiro, Member of the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party. It seemed to be a well chosen trio. Ms Alves performed the official Commission line, with informative details. The Communist Ms Guerreiro strongly criticised the ‘Big Businessoriented’ EU policies, as her party is rather Euro sceptic. (Unlike the very pro-Europe Hungarian Left.) I tried to underline that one of the three options suggested by the Commission is rather a progressive idea. While the other two options, limiting the social dimension to free movement or let the Member States to choose certain elements of their social policies ‘a la carte’ are rather dangerous ideas. The lack of a strong common social policy destroys the public support of our common European project, and strengthens the extreme and populist movements. The audience was very active, and besides our different backgrounds the three of us agreed to improve the social commitments of the EU.
I must mention the important role of Gil Martins dos Reis organizing my and the forthcoming visits of other colleagues to Aveiro. As a student of the University and a trainee of the EP Former Members Association, Gil contacted his ‘Alma mater’ and our Association. As the University of Aveiro runs good and important courses on European studies, we should help them with our experiences.

ITALY - UNIVERSITY OF LUISS SUMMER SCHOOL - Enrique BARÓN CRESPO
2017-07-13 - 2017-07-14
The 2017 edition of the Summer School was devoted to Parliaments, democratic accountability and budgetary powers. The first week (10th-14th July) focused on national budgets and parliaments in relation to the EU and the new economic governance and the second week (17th-21st July) on the EU budget and the role of the European Parliament.
At the end of the first week of the course, on Friday 14 July, h. 15.00-16.30, the University organized a Roundtable on What has been implemented of the Five Presidents’ Report of 2015: the democratic commitments.
Enrique BARÓN CRESPO , Former FMA President, participated in this event.
Mission report: ROUND TABLE AT LUISS UNIVERSITY
In the framework of the programme, EP to Campus, the School of Government of the LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome organised, in co-operation with Sciences Po, a Closing Round Table on ‘Parliaments, Democratic accountability and Budgetary Powers’ discussing thePresidents’ Report on ‘Completing Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union in 2025’. The speakers were Roberto Gualtieri, current Chairman of the Economic and Monetary Committee of the European Parlement, Marcelo Messori, LUISS Director of the School and Enrique Barón Crespo, President of the EP Former Members Association. Roberto Gualtieri MEP made an in depth analysis of the ongoing work of the EP Committee as well as of the implementation and follow-up of the main targets of the Report. Marcelo Messori concentrated his remarks on the governance dimension and the economic recovery in Europe. Enrique Barón Crespo focused his speech on the main challenges for completing a genuine Economic and Monetary Union as a process of building Europe with stronger democratic participation and accountability at both national and European levels. The main challenges are: integrating the Eurogroup in the EU institutional framework with parliamentary accountability; the transformation of the current ESM in a European Monetary Fund with the creation of a European Treasury, and the implementation of risk sharing through systems like Eurobonds that would reinforce the Euro in a decisive way.

This process involves both the EP and national parliaments. Enrique Barón Crespo recalled and highlighted how the creation of the Monetary Union had received a definitive boost from the first Conference of the Parliaments of the EC that took place in the Camera dei Deputati in November 1990 in Rome. The result paved the way for preparation of the European Monitory Union (EMU) in the Maastricht Treaty with President Guido Carli as representative of the Italian Government. Now he felt was the moment to renew this task, giving a key role to both the European and national parliaments. The other major step in democratic accountability, not elaborated in the report, would be the implementation of the principle of “no taxation without political representation” at European level in a clear and transparent way to the EU citizens. Enrique Barón Crespo believes that there are matters directly related to the EU single market and the environment that would easily help the citizenship to establish a direct link with the EU. This happens already with the Euro and it would help reinforce the democratic legitimacy of the whole European project.

UNITED STATES - NEW YORK UNIVERSITY - Enrique BARÓN CRESPO
2017-10-01 - 2017-10-02
The New York University organized a conference on “The European Union: Cradle of Civilization or Super-Regulatory State?” for students and professors. It has been held by the Former President of the European Parliament, Enrique Barón Crespo.
Enrique BARÓN CRESPO , Former FMA President, participated in this event.

UKRAINE - UNIVERSITY OF UKRAINE - Per GAHRTON
2017-10-18 - 2017-10-21
The University of Ukraine organized a conference on “’Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding in Ukraine”. Mr. Per Gahrton; former MEP, delivered a keynote on “foreign and security conflict transformation and peacebuilding”, to University students, experts, academics and civil servants.
Per GAHRTON, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: CAN UKRAINE LEARN ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION?
On 20 and 21 October I spoke at the Ukrainian European Studies Association in Kharkiv on the EU’s tools for conflict resolution. Kharkiv was proposed as the capital of the separatists’ ‘New Russia’, but although Russian is the language spoken by residents of Kharkiv in their day-to-day lives, they did not approve of the secession.
In Kiev, too, Russian is the language you are most likely to hear on the streets. The students at Vernadsky University breathe a sigh of relief when their lecturers allow them to switch from Ukrainian to Russian. History professor Mikhail Stanchev is one person who has continued to lecture in Russian, in spite of the new language law, which stipulates that all teaching should be done in Ukrainian (on 12 October 2017, the Council of Europe criticised the new law as ‘an infringement of the rights of national minorities’). Professor Stanchev gave me a copy of his Russian-language book, World War Three – the Battle for Ukraine, in which he accuses Putin of being a carbon copy of Hitler. In a private conversation with me, Professor Stanchev acknowledged that Ukraine did bear some responsibility for the conflict, owing to its failure to establish democracy at local level. He also agreed that it is a problem that the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine forced Ukraine to leave the former Soviet republics’ free trade area.
Reports from Kiev suggest that the Baltic and Scandinavian countries are the hawks when it comes to the Ukraine/Russia situation, whereas a number of countries in southern Europe are calling the sanctions into question. They are supported in their view by the UN rapporteur Idriss Jazairy, who has pointed out that the sanctions are costing EU countries USD 3.2 billion per month, and are having more of an impact on innocent Russian citizens than they are on the country’s leaders.
The audience at the conference listened with interest as I spoke about the EU’s peacemaking tools, from association agreements to sanctions. And they nodded in recognition when I spoke about Nordic conflicts and the peaceful ways in which they had been resolved, such as in 1658 when Sweden took over Skåneland, which Denmark had held for 300 years. Some 150 years later, in 1809, Sweden accepted the loss of Finland to Russia, following the Swedish poet Esais Tegnér’s exhortation for ‘Finland to be won back from within Sweden’s borders’. Norway’s secession from the union in 1905 was also agreed to by Sweden, and Finland was allowed to retain Åland on the basis of an international decision taken in the 1920s, despite the population’s wish to stay with Sweden. In the 1990s, Boris Yeltsin offered Finland the chance to buy Karelia back, but President Koivisto declined. I pointed out that that list of instances of Nordic countries accepting the loss of parts of their territories could be used to illustrate the EU principle that, rather than be altered, borders should be made unimportant. At that point someone asked, rather indignantly: ‘Are you advising us to give up Crimea and the Donbass, then?’ I said I was not. Of course regions have a democratic right to go their own way: look at Scotland, Quebec and Catalonia, for example. But the democratic rules have to be followed. That has not been the case in Crimea and the Donbass.
And Ukraine is not without blame: the language law shows a level of insensitivity that could make Russian-speaking Ukrainians doubt their Ukrainian identity. If Finland – where around five percent of the population are Swedish speakers – can have Swedish as an official language alongside Finnish, why can’t Ukraine give Russian official status alongside Ukrainian?
At a demonstration in front of the parliament building in Kiev I was given a little booklet of poetry entitled ‘Our fears went up in smoke on the Maidan’, apparently written in Russian by a Moscow-born poet. The first poem, ‘Ode to Ukraine’ is the only one written in Ukrainian.
It features the refrain: ‘We shed our blood for our freedom, and it showed that we are of Cossack nationality’. That booklet is the Ukrainian identity dilemma in a nutshell.

GERMANY - UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN - Michael HINDLEY
2017-11-12 - 2017-11-16
The University of Göttingen organized a conference on “Law-making in the EU and the consequences of the Brexit on the EU and GB”. Mr. Michael Hindley, former MEP’s, delivered a keynote on the challenges to and of the EU and the EU as an International actor and the changing role of the EU post-Brexit, to Eurocultures students, international students of the University, scholars and staff members.
Michael HINDLEY , FMA Member, participated in these events.
Mission report: CAN THE EU SURVIVRE BREXIT?
I was extremely pleased to receive a second invitation to the Euroculture Centre at the University of Göttingen which I first visited in November 2016. I suggested an update on my last year’s title ‘Can the EU survive Brexit?’ Not simply an example of English ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humour, but a warning that Brexit is not only an existential question for the UK, but also one for the EU.
Certainly the mood among the Masters Students in the three seminars I participated in was puzzlement and sadness about the UK leaving. There was some anxiety among a couple of UK students about their future status and questions from other EU students about their potential status post Brexit.
My last year’s visit coincided with the news that Donald Trump had won the Presidential race in the USA. That news was met by the same sadness and puzzlement as the Brexit decision.
This year’s visit came in the wake of the German general election which saw a sharp decline in the popularity of the two major parties (CDU/ CSU and SPD) and the rise of the anti-EU nationalists, AfD. The fate
A group of students from the Georg-August-University of Chancellor Angela Merkel, widely seen as a stabilising force in the EU, has become an anxious question. We are entering an increasingly uncertain period. The eastern EU states are increasingly sceptical, even hostile to EU policy made in Brussels; witness the widening resentment against EU asylum policy. ‘Europe’ is increasingly seen as the problem for nation states, not the solution to national problems – a point the ‘More Europe’ advocates from Brussels fail to grasp.
The gap in perceptions of ‘Europe’ looms large. In my experience of young people, like the students I met in Göttingen and others I have met at home and on FMA guest lectureships don’t share this pessimism. So many of them have benefited from European wide programmes, they travel with ease and confidence. They are prepared to rise to the challenge of competition and opportunity offered by the EU.
However, doubts remain and indeed grow as to whether the EU is there for the benefit of all and not just for the quick, mobile, talented elite. Serious work ahead for the EU which demands less self-congratulatory propaganda and more applied reasoned persuasion.

ALLEMAGNE - Université de Göttingen - 13 - 16 NOVEMBRE 2017
2017-11-12 - 2017-11-16
The University of Göttingen organized a conference on “Law-making in the EU and the consequences of the Brexit on the EU and GB”. Mr. Michael Hindley, former MEP’s, delivered a keynote on the challenges to and of the EU and the EU as an International actor and the changing role of the EU post-Brexit, to Eurocultures students, international students of the University, scholars and staff members.
> Michael HINDLEY , FMA Member

FRANCE - UNIVERSITY OF CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Ilona GRAENITZ
2017-11-28 - 2017-12-02
The University of Clermont Auvergne organized a conference on “Sustainable Cities and Industries (Michelin Network)”. Mrs. Ilona Graenitz and Mrs. Zofija Macej Kukovic, former MEP’s, delivered a keynote on sustainable development, sustainable cities, urbanization and demography, to Mayors of European cities, European researches, civil society and large institutions.
Ilona GRAENITZ , FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: EUROPE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Programme encompassed two components:
1) Lectures and discussions at the University
2) Participation in the first meeting of the international network of Michelin cities.
This was a clever combination of academic work and a big public event and the organiser Arnaund Diemer did a great work.
• The participants at the lectures at Clermont University were mostly students (often on Erasmus or other EU programmes and from various European countries) involved in projects or writing their thesis, thus providing an opportunity to present some of their work and discuss it with peers.
The fact that all presentations and discussions at the university were in English added to the international atmosphere of the seminar.
The issue of circular economy and which methods and tools could be used to develop a fair and encompassing system, providing for a growing world population without abusing resources and generating waste and pollution, was in the centre of the presentations. In particular interesting was the concept of ‘Circles of Sustainability’ presented by Professor Paul James from Sydney University. In this framework the sustainable development of cities is assessed in four domains: ecology, economics, politics and culture ; each domain being sub-dived into 7 fields, such as materials & energy, water & air; production & resourcing, labour& welfare; organisation & governance, communication & movement; engagement & identity, gender & generations. Assessment is made on a nine-step scale starting with critical sustainability to vibrant sustainability. Part of the seminar was dedicated to the future development of cities, showing scenarios of towers with vertical gardens and forest-like buildings, giving as well a chance to discuss the philosophical background of sustainble development of cities. My colleague Zofija Mazek Kukovič and I took part in the discussions and there were two special sessions dedicated to EU issues.
One was a presentation of ourselves and our work in the E.P. and one was an interview conducted by a retired scientist.
We were able to talk about programmes, budgets and in particular about legislation and how we see the future development.
As the participants came from different countries (Spain, Belgium, Ukraine) there was particular interest in questions of autonomy of regions and participation of regions in policies of the EU, and questions of accession and geopolitics; of course Brexit was an important issue.
I believe, that still after so many years it is important and necessary to explain the development and functioning of European legislation even to participants with very high levels of education.
• As part of the seminar was the first day of the 1st meeting of the international network of Michelin Cities ‘Sustainable City’, all participants and speakers were invited to the Polydome congress centre. Zofija Mazej Kukovič and I were taking part in the programme as experts. This gave the chance to speak about supportive European legislation and projects/programmes for sustainable cities and underline the importance of working together in Europe.
It has to be noted that there were representatives from all around the world, though I would suggest that the EP and the Former Members Association keep in touch as to encourage further co-operation.

FRANCE - UNIVERSITY OF CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Zofja MACEJ KUKOVIC
2017-11-28 - 2017-12-02
The University of Clermont Auvergne organized a conference on “Sustainable Cities and Industries (Michelin Network)”. Mrs. Ilona Graenitz and Mrs. Zofija Macej Kukovic, former MEP’s, delivered a keynote on sustainable development, sustainable cities, urbanization and demography, to Mayors of European cities, European researches, civil society and large institutions.
Zofja MACEJ KUKOVIC, FMA Member, participated in this event.
Mission report: DO WE CARE ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS?
It was with great pleasure that I took part in the University of Clermont-Ferrand Jean Monnet Programme and in the International Symposium ‘Michelin Network of sustainable cities’. There we looked at what steps would be needed to achieve a sustainable city, and a sustainable EU. Former MEP Ilona Graenitz from the European Parliament Former Members Association (FMA) also took part.
More than three years ago I wrote in my book ‘Start up Europe’: ‘Sustainable economic growth, where we use fewer resources and produce more products, is more realistically achievable in times of crisis than in times of plenty. History has taught us that times of plenty in themselves limit creativity.
The most important areas that will require major changes are mobility, food, health and housing.’
These points were still pertinent in the discussions that took place at the two events at Clermont-Ferrand, which focused on mobility and sustainable use of world resources. The conference with PhD students examined the issue of sustainability in cities. Given that there is no clear answer to the problem of population growth in cities, with some experts predicting that by 2040 some 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities, my talk focused on the need for further research into how to motivate people and create the conditions necessary for people to choose to stay in rural areas. A connection to the land and an intimate relationship with nature foster within us a sense of inner happiness.
Researchers and professors presented challenges for sustainable cities on issues ranging from culture and the environment to energy and impact on our economy and society. In two roundtables, we discussed European legislation pertaining to these matters and future trends. The students asked about this unique ‘sense of belonging to the EU’. For them, as students from all over the world, that was the most impressive fact about the EU. Their criticisms concerned issues such as Brexit and the migration crisis.
At the conference organised by the Michelin Network, I gave a presentation on mobility.
‘As a former health minister and a former member of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, my activities have focused on the health of people and of our planet.
The European Parliament’s work has also focused on the legislation needed as a basis for mobility, which is a key aspect for sustainable cities. Digital Europe, the internal digital market and big data also present new technological opportunities to connect people whose needs are met by advances in mobility.
We should be thinking not only about people’s needs, but also about people’s feelings. All of us would like to feel safe, while still having privacy. Mobility could improve people’s safety, especially in cases of accidents, natural catastrophes or health emergencies. Mobility and accessibility are important for sustainability and for business development.’ World-renowned photographer Yann Arthus Bertrand used photography and film to present the world’s nature and people to the participants. His new film ‘WOMAN’ shows the misery of women in poverty and calls for political action.
Cécile Coulon, a young and very successful writer, also presented her latest award-winning book ‘Trois saisons d’orage’. She spent her childhood in a village and today writes and encourages young people to live more in harmony with nature. As a participant in the FMA Campus programme, I must say that the organisation by the University of Clermont-Ferrand and Professor Arnaud Diemer was excellent. It was also clear that the students were really engaged and keen to participate in our discussion. I would therefore like to thank all participants.

CZECH REPUBLIC - MENDEL UNIVERSITY - Mariela BAEVA
2017-12-02 - 2017-12-10
The Mendel University in Brno organized conferences and seminars for students specializing in European Studies, activities of the Think Tank – “Mendel European Center” and round tables for the public.
A creative project was inspired by Ms. Baeva’s participation in a series of conferences and seminars organised by the University of Brno: a group of students from Syria, Ghana, Croatia, Ukraine, Czech Republic came together to create a song titled Race to Freedom, dedicated to 18 December, International Migrants Day and 20 June, World Refugee Day. You can listen to the song here.
Mariela BAEVA , FMA Member, participated in this event.
