BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Connexion - login - ECPv6.15.8//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Connexion - login
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.formermembers.eu
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Connexion - login
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Europe/Brussels
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20160327T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20161030T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20170326T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20171029T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20180325T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20181028T010000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:+0100
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:CEST
DTSTART:20190331T010000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0100
TZNAME:CET
DTSTART:20191027T010000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20180509T230000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20180511T230000
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200401T140643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200707T084452Z
UID:6993-1525906800-1526079600@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:The State of the Union 2018
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2018 edition of The State of the Union took place from 10 to 12 May and had a special emphasis on Solidarity in Europe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”middle”][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/0dcKX-3blK8″ el_width=”60″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”2018 STATE OF THE UNION CONFERENCE” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23020089″ google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]On 10-12 May the eighth State of the Union conference took place at the EUI. The State of the Union is a high-level conference for reflection on the European Union. This year the main topic was “Solidarity in Europe”\, a topic of crucial importance to face the future of the EU. \nThree heads of state were present: Sergio Mattarella\, President of the Italian Republic; Michael D. Higgins\, President of Ireland; and Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa\, President of the Portuguese Republic\, as well as distinguished academics\, practitioners\, and members of civil society. Jean-Claude Juncker\, Mario Draghi\, Antonio Tajani and Federica Mogherini gave their view on the importance of ‘Solidarity in Europe’. As President Tajani said\, the last ten years of crisis have slowed down the virtuous solidarity process and the same pro-European momentum. The spirit of solidarity between countries that has been the real driver of the integration process is failing. \nDistracted politics feeds anger and sellers of illusions. According to President Tajani\, the only answer to reconnect the Institutions to their citizens is a different Europe\, more political\, more democratic\, more solidary. A Europe which is incapable of supporting solidarity is in danger of losing its own souls and its own values. He concluded his speech by saying that Europe’s respect for culture and diversity should be at the heart of its public discourse. As President Higgins said “Solidarity in Europe must be the foundation on which our Union’s action is built. It must be the star which guides our action at home and in the wider world.” \nThe need for a more unified and solid Union has been exposed through a series of panels that followed the opening\, ranging from EMU\, development and humanitarian aid strategies\, energy and climate change\, social investment\, immigration and EU foreign\, security and defence policies. The FMA was represented by Former President Enrique Barón Crespo and Monica Baldi\, FMA Board member responsible for relations with the European University Institute.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8081″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] \nEnrique Barón Crespo at the 2018 State of Union in Florence \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”8083″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text] \nFrom left to right: Enrique Barón Crespo\, Renaud Dehousse- President of the European University Institute\, Monica Baldi and Vincenzo Grassi – Secretary General of the European University Institute \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/the-state-of-the-union-2018/
LOCATION:EUI Florence\, via dei Roccettini\, 9\, San Domenico di Fiesole\, Florence\, 50014\, Italy
CATEGORIES:The State of the Union
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/state_of_union_banner.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180507
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180510
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180501T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T223512Z
UID:5590-1525734000-1525906799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:TURKEY - IZMIR UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS - Gyula HEGYI
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe event had as its main theme ‘The EU’s Environmental/Energy Policy: Achievements\, Challenges and Implications for EU-Turkey-Relations’. Gyula HEGYI\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: MEETING YOUNG AND PROGRESSIVE TURKS IN IZMIR \nIzmir is a beautiful city situated along the Aegean Sea\, with 4 million inhabitants. This progressive-minded city has six universities\, and I was invited to the Izmir University of Economics (IUE). IUE is a private university with around 7500 students. My host was Assist. Prof. Dr. Alexander Bürgin\, Head of EURAC\, who has been awarded a Jean Monnet Chair by the European Commission in August 2015. (A Jean Monnet Chair is a title assigned to university professors with a specialization in European Union studies\, including financial support for three years.) \nI participated three different panels with 20-20 minute’s introductions\, and I also tried to answer the many questions of the smart and well informed students. The first topic was The Promotion of Environmental Standards in the EU external relations. I mentioned that EU has some of the world’s highest environmental standards. The EU’s goal is to promote these standards and global sustainable development to their trade partners. The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change is especially crucial for us\, and the EU is driving force of its implementation. \nHowever I also mentioned that in practice there are some contradictions as well\, and in some cases the Third Countries have higher environmental standards. A student immediately mentioned the example of the natural heritage on which the Turkish regulations are tougher than ours. \nThe second topic was Making Cities Sustainable: Achievments and the Changes in the EU and Turkey. In Turkey cities accommodate over 75% of the country’s population\, and the sustainable urban development is crucial for the fast-growing urban population. I spoke about the importance of public transport\, clean air\, renewable energies\, green public procurement\, heat waves and other issues. I also mentioned my own EP report on the thematic strategy on the urban environment. Following my interventions the other panelist\, Mr Ümit Sahin from the Sabunci University Istanbul mentioned that the GDP growths in Turkey is mostly based on construction\, and it is far from being an environmentally sustainable activity. He\, as a green activist\, gave a detailed picture on the environmental problems of Turkey\, harshly opposing a project of a Russian-built nuclear power station. As it normally happens\, some students were against the nuclear energy\, others had more tolerant approach to it. It was interesting to hear that one student even traveled to Chernobyl as a tourist to see the spot. \nThe third topic was The Rise of Nationalism and Populism in the EU. Due to the political situation I refrained from criticizing the Turkish government but I spoke a lot about the nationalist and illiberal tendencies in Hungary and Poland. The students were rather well informed on the problems of these two countries. But I also underlined that to criticize the “Brussels” doesn’t mean automatically euroscepticism\, and the integration to the Common Europe shouldn’t endanger our own national cultures. We had a lively debate on the Hungarian-Turkish relations and the exact meaning of the “nationalism”. Some students came from the EU countries\, which also show the good reputation of the IUE. Professor Bürgin closed all the three sessions with useful conclusions. His whole course on European studies goes in English and we have to keep contact with this progressive university. \nIt has been really heart-warming to meet these talented\, skilled young students\, who share our values in Turkey. Let’s hope that they overcome the troubles of their rich and brave country![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9821″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/turkey-izmir-university-of-economics-8-9-may-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Izmir-University-of-Economics-IUE-logo-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180506
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180511
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180501T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T224452Z
UID:5586-1525647600-1525993199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:SLOVENIA - UNIVERSITY OF LJUBLJANA - Per GAHRTON
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University of Ljubljana organised a lecture for BA students in the introduction to policy analysis led by prof Damjan Lajh\, meetings with student associations and participation in the Europe Week round table on EU’s environmental policy. \nPer GAHRTON\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: SLOVENIA – DRIFTING TOWARDS POPULISM? \nIn mid-May I visited Ljubljana on assignment for the European Parliament’s former Members’ Association. The idyllic calm of the cafés along the Ljubljanica river was overwhelming – but perhaps deceptive. My visit coincided with the run-up to a snap election on 3 June: the third since 2011 and the ninth general election since the break-up of Yugoslavia. There have also been 20 referendums on everything from EU and NATO membership to the legislation on archiving\, same-sex marriage and railway building. Was it wishful thinking\, then\, when a major Swedish newspaper referred to the country as “Friendly little Slovenia” (Svenska Dagbladet\, 15 July 2011)? When I took part in a panel debate on EU environmental policy at the Faculty of Social Sciences\, I came across an opinion that is often heard in Scandinavia: the EU is needed in order to tackle cross-border environmental issues\, but the action it takes is too weak. I cited Wikipedia\, which commends the EU for the Paris Agreement\, but Panel of Speakers at the event of the University of Ljubljana notes that the EU’s leadership role in the area of environmental policy has been weakened. A briefing note drafted by the European Parliament’s research service lists the social dimension\, migration\, security and defence as issues that are being discussed with an eye to the future of the EU post-Brexit\, but the environment is not mentioned (The Future of Europe – Contours of the current debate\, European Parliamentary Research Service\, April 2018\, PE 620.202). \nI found Uroš Vajgl’s contribution particularly interesting. Mr Vajgl\, who has represented Slovenia in COREPER\, the EU’s ‘secret centre of power’\, maintained that the EU devotes less effort to environmental issues than it does to employment\, for example. At lunch with Mr Vajgl and others after the debate\, I was struck by their criticism of commercialism and general left-wing attitudes. Were these representative of the Slovenian people? According to The New York Times\, the election on 3 June ‘tilted another European country to the right’. And it’s true that a right-wing populist party won with 25% of the vote\, but a new centre-left group\, Marjan Šarec’s list\, came second\, and the social democrats came third. \nDespite the weak position that the Greens are in\, I was asked to give a lecture based on my book\, Green parties\, Green future (Plutobooks\, 2015). As a thank-you\, a member of the audience gave me a book entitled The Slovenian Greens: From early success to long-time failure (Danica Fink-Hafner\, Matej Knep and Meta Novak\, Faculty of Social Sciences\, 2015). Later on I showed the book to Igor Juriši ć\, leader of Slovenia’s Green Party (Stranka Mladih)\, and his response was: ‘I haven’t got round to reading it yet\, but unfortunately the title is spot on!’ In 1990\, Slovenia’s Greens garnered 8.8% of the vote\, 8 seats in Parliament and 5 ministers. In 2018\, however\, they didn’t manage to field any candidates under their own party name\, cooperating instead with Marjan Šarec’s list. Fink-Hafner\, Knep and Novak cite two main reasons for the Greens’ decline: first\, it had been a mistake to go into government with such a new\, weak party\, and second\, there had been too much sectarianism and factionalism\, and too many defections. Slovenia is a good reminder that it is important for small parties to be very careful in choosing the right time to have a go at being in government. It also shows that the curse of sectarianism must be kept in check. \nOur Slovenian hosts told us that it simply wasn’t done to visit Slovenia without going to Lake Bled\, so my wife and I duly went there. To prepare\, I read a French novel about a couple who visit the beauty spot. The blurb on the back promises ‘glimpses of a relationship which\, despite the lovers’ good intentions\, is doomed to fail’ (Clément Bénech\, L’été slovène\, 2013). I hope the novel isn’t predicting the downfall of ‘friendly little Slovenia’\, but shows\, rather\, that the country’s future is in the hands of decent democrats after all. \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9826″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/slovenia-university-of-ljubljana-from-7-to-10-may-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/logo-28-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20180502T143000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20180502T163000
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20201123T123042Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20201123T124657Z
UID:12959-1525271400-1525278600@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Political communication in the upcoming European elections
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On 2 May 2018 the FMA organised with the EPRS a seminar entitled “Political communication in the upcoming European elections“. \nThe Speakers were: \n\nEnrique BARÓN CRESPO – President of the EP Former Members’ Association\nAnthony TEASDALE – Director General for European Parliamentary Research Services\nDanuta HÜBNER\, Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs\nCliff STEARNS\, President of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress\nJaume DUCH GUILLOT\, EP Spokesperson and Director-General for Communication\n\nHere you can find the programme of the event and the profile of Speakers. \n[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”12964″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/political-communication-in-the-upcoming-european-elections/
CATEGORIES:Policy event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/index.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180505
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180501T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T232859Z
UID:5594-1525215600-1525474799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:HUNGARY - UNIVERSITY OF SZEGED - Herbert BOESCH
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe event is part of a series (Integration Club) organised by the University of Szeged in relation to European integration for students (undergraduate and graduate)\, university staff\, high school students\, young graduates\, press and interested public. \nYou can find a presentation of the project here. \nHerbert Bösch\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: SZEGED WAS WORTH A VISIT \nAdmittedly it isn’t easy to get to Szeged. If you go by plane\, you land in Budapest\, over 200km from Szeged\, and if you take the train\, the journey from Lake Constance can take some 15 hours. But it’s worth it: a beautiful city with a touch of Mediterranean flair and a neat and tidy centre with lots of space for walking and cycling and time to enjoy yourself. And students from across the globe. \nRight at the start there was an interview with two young ladies from northern Germany\, office apprentices who were spending a month in Szeged as exchange students. Asked why they had chosen that particular place\, their response was refreshingly simple: they wanted to see a part of the EU which was less well known in their own country. They said they were charmed by the city and the people. \nThere followed a discussion in the university’s ‘integration club’ with young people from across the whole of Europe\, with questions which were a million miles from the everyday trivia of the European institutions. Defending and improving human rights\, perspectives for EU enlargement\, and freedom to travel and settle abroad were among the issues raised. As expected\, the role of the Hungarian government in the EU was also discussed\, as was the increasing isolation from the 27 other Member States which the country might face as a result. Participants were unanimous in their view that the EU should place the common values set out in the Treaties above the selfish national interests of individual Member States in the forthcoming negotiations on the future financing of the EU. These values were also stressed in the context of migrants seeking in the EU a safe place from discrimination and persecution. \nThe following day we discussed the limits of European integration and the enlargement potential of the EU. The lecture took place in the Faculty of Law of the University of Szeged. Students from third countries – in particular from the Balkans – voiced their hopes that the EU would increase its efforts to ensure enlargement takes place. \nAt the moment it seems the EU is giving the impression of being overly concerned with itself and its internal conflicts. And we were reminded that the last major enlargement was in some ways still being digested and that there should be an internal consolidation of the EU before any further enlargement. An initiative such as the European Convention might give some impetus both to deepening the EU and to increasing its capacity for enlargement. Expectations in this regard fall on the European Parliament. I have a particular memory of two young women from Serbia and Kosovo who asked what they could do to help their countries join the EU… \nIt is to the credit of the ‘EP to Campus’ programme that events are also held away from national capitals. This is an important difference from most EU events organised by the in-country offices of Parliament and the Commission. It may be that the atmosphere in a university town at Hungary’s southern (EU) border is very different from that of the capital\, for cultural and geographical reasons. \nAnd it was clear that our young interlocutors really appreciated having a (former) Member of the EP to represent Europe rather than ‘Brussels bureaucracy’. \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/hungary-university-of-szeged-2-4-may-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/10053606_640x640.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180503
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200227T152954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200227T154631Z
UID:4867-1525215600-1525301999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:2018 Dinner Debate
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2018 Dinner Debate took place on Wednesday 2 May in the European Parliament\, Brussels. Mr. Roberto Gualtieri MEP\,  Chair of the EP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs \, was our Guest of Honour.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”4870\,4872\,4874\,4868″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]For more photographs of the Dinner Debate\, please click here[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/2018-dinner-debate/
CATEGORIES:Dinner Debate
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2018-dinner-debate-slide1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180501
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180503
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20190403T165052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20210111T153109Z
UID:5149-1525215600-1525301999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Memorial Service 2018
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-12 vc_col-md-12 vc_col-xs-12″][vc_column_text]The 2018 Memorial Service was held on Wednesday 2 May at 17:45 in the Space Yehudi Menuhin\, European Parliament\, Brussels.\n[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/XRTkSvw_3ls”][vc_column_text]Read the Final Oration by President Hans-Gert Pöttering and please find below the Brochure with the full list of deceased members  and obituaries written by their former colleagues.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_cta h2=”`{`3d-flip-book mode=“fullscreen“ urlparam=“fb3d-page“ pdf=“/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/brochure_en.pdf“`}`”][/vc_cta][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/memorial-service-2018/
CATEGORIES:Memorial Service
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/27014780627_da356c26b1_k.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180424
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180427
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180401T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T233934Z
UID:5598-1524610800-1524783599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:ROMANIA - BABES-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY - Robert EVANS
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe Babes-Bolyai University planned an event called: “The EU Foreign Policy and the Global Politics of Human Rights” which aimed at enhancing BA and MA students in International Relations a knowledge in EU’s involvement within the global politics of Human Rights. \nRobert EVANS\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: COUNT DRACULA AND THE EU FOREIGN POLICY \nA trip to Transylvania in the Spring might send waves of fear through followers of Bram Stoker\, but Cluj in Romania is a delightful place and Count Dracula nowhere to be seen\, although one of his saying could not be more appropriate; “We learn of great things by little experiences.” My “little experience” was to represent former MEPS at the University of Babes-Bolyai in Romania’s third city\, Cluj-Napoca. Cluj could not have been more delightful and my hosts\, Alin\, Mihela and Natalia could hardly have been more welcoming. \nAs an MEP\, I served on the joint parliamentary committee for relations between the European Parliament and the Romanian Parliament for many years. Accession to the EU came in 2007 and I was proud to welcome many friends and colleagues as new Romanian MEPs. Returning to Romania after a break of several years and the changes are stark; the improvements obvious. With many signs showing support from the EU’s Regio fund it’s clear that the country has moved into the twenty first century. \nCluj itself has a proud Hungarian and Romanian history – reflected in the university being named after a celebrated Romanian biologist and a Hungarian mathematician\, the two original universities having merged in 1959. Babes-Bolyai University has 40000 students and runs courses in several languages in addition to Romanian. \nThe subject of the two-day discussions for which I was the guest speaker was\, ‘The EU Foreign Policy and the Global Politics of Human Rights’. My opening contribution was to first year under graduates on the role of the European Parliament and facing up to the challenge of migration. How the EU addresses the migratory pressures on its borders is one of the most important issues today. \nLater my ‘key-note speech’ looked at the way the EUs international role has developed since the Treaty of Lisbon in 2009. Whilst the establishment of the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy may have given new focus\, far from a united response to international crises\, to many the EU has stood by. This seems as true for the Russian interventions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine to the desperate situation in Syria and Palestine; the EU has appeared impotent\, not knowing what to do or say. \nOn the positive side\, the Union has been a force of strength in promoting global democracy by its emphasis on election observation and equally attaching human rights clauses to new trade initiatives. “We are strong\, each in our purpose\, and we are all stronger together\,” to quote Count Dracula again. \nA workshop on possible career opportunities in the EU institutions was demanding yet thought provoking. The talented and enthusiastic students from Babes-Bolyai have much to offer to Romanian MEPs and their government. Many questions were asked about the UK’s current and future position within the EU\, post Brexit. Was the UK always destined to leave the EU or was the referendum campaign just a disaster? Will David Cameron go down as the most arrogant and incompetent British prime minister in history? \nWill the UK live to regret its decision very soon? \nAfter two very packed and eventful days it was time to say “la revedere” to all my new friends in Cluj. I’m sure I won’t be the last former MEP to visit Transylvania and I thoroughly recommend it![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9847″][vc_column_text] \nRobert Evans with students \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/romania-babes-bolyai-university-25-26-april-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/babes.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180417
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180420
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180401T124045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T235055Z
UID:5602-1524006000-1524178799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:SPAIN - UNIVERSITY OF DEUSTO - Monica FRASSONI
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University of Deusto organized some lectures on Economic\, legal and institutional legitimacy of the EU projects\, public integrity\, efficiency. The attendees were university students (Law\, International Relations\, Economics\, Labour Relations…)\, University lecturers\, researchers and civil society representatives. \nMonica FRASSONI\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: VISITING DEUSTO \nOn April 18/19 I was invited to a two days series of lessons and meetings at the university of Deusto in Bilbao. Already the setting of this very prestigious university\, founded by the Gesuite order in 1886 and located in front of the magnificent Guggenheim museum is an enough inspiring experience. But I was very positively impressed by the intense programme\, which allowed me to deal with different issues\, (environment and climate change\, the future of the EU\, its institutional balance and functioning\, the role of lobbies\, professional opportunities for young students and and young professionals …). Also the audience was quite diverse in age\, interests and nationalities\, as Erasmus students were involved in one of the lessons. They were obviously well prepared and the programme had been well thought through\, in order to match with both their interests and my competences. Among the most interested and informed were the youngest high school students\, eager to learn and well prepared on specific questions. \nI also had the chance to give an open conference in the newly built library on the future challenges facing the EU and I found this opportunity \nworthwhile as we should give our host the chance of “exploit”our presence to the maximum. I also had a great contact with the two main organisers of the visit\, professor Maria Luisa Sanchez-Barrueco and Professor Laura Gomez Urquijo. Prof. Barrueco coordinates the Jean Monnet programme SAPIA (Student Awareness of public integrity and Accountability in the EU) and she seeks through innovating teaching methods to make students aware of the importance of democratic control of EU institutions. Professor Urquijo heads the Jean Monnet module EUCLAP ( EU legal and economic integration for people) and she focuses on how positive economic and legal EU integration can enhance wellbeing and prosperity for EU citizens. I also met the Dean and the deputy dean of the University\, Mrs Gema Tomas and Marta Enciso. \nI was by the way quite amused and glad to note that all my interlocutors and hosts were female academics and that the Bilbao Chapter of the European Law student union took part to the definition of the program. Furthermore\, coming from a country\, Italy\, which is going through a real thunderstorm in terms of public perception of the role and \nimportance of the EU\, I found refreshing and uplifting the very positive attitude\, if not the real passion\, that some students and the host professors expressed for the EU project\, as well as for the need of an active involvement of young generations and academia in ensuring not only its survival in these difficult times\, but also its further development and the strengthening of its capacity to work together and deliver results for its citizens. Among the most frequently asked questions were the possibility of access to a “European”professional and study career\, which common policies could be implemented on jobs and climate change and how to ensure that member states and EU institutions are able to show more cohesion in delivering common economic\, migration and foreign policies. \nAll in all\, I enjoyed this experience very much: it is really fruitful both for us and for our interlocutors. \nI therefore thank the organisers for the invitation and encourage my colleagues to take part to these events.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9855″][vc_column_text] \nMonica FRASSONI during her intervention \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/spain-university-of-deusto-18-19-april-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/deusto.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180403
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180405
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200227T152954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200227T170438Z
UID:4957-1522796400-1522882799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:2018 Annual Lunch
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe 2018 Annual Lunch took place at the European Parliament in Brussels. \nClick here for more pictures[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/2018-annual-lunch/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/28013584468_266e7b5d38_k.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180329
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180402
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180301T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200607T235633Z
UID:5606-1522364400-1522623599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:BULGARIA - AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BULGARIA  - Ivailo KALFIN
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe American University of Bulgaria organized an event that had as its main theme a ‘Model EU Simulation on EU digital market issue’. The event provided the students guidance about the work of the European Parliament and the adoption of EU legislation on EU digital market issues/working of EU/future of EU. \nIvailo KALFIN\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/bulgaria-american-university-of-bulgaria-30-march-1-april-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/AUBG-logo-badge-FIN-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180326
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180328
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180301T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T001318Z
UID:5610-1522105200-1522191599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:ESTONIA - TALLINN TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY - Michael HINDLEY
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe Tallinn Technology University planned an open high-profile lecture for university students and scholars\, general public\, local NGOs and possibly media. \nMichael HINDLEY\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: COLD TALLINN \nA cold Tallinn offered a warm welcome from my hosts when I visited Estonia’s lovely capital in March. Through the good offices of FMA\, I was invited by the Tallinn University of Technology (TTU) to talk about EU foreign relations but also to discuss\, with students and faculty\, Brexit. My interlocutors clearly follow the debate on Brexit in the UK with attention; an attention tinged with concern about future relations between Estonia and UK under the auspices of EU Higher Educational Cooperation. Although the UK government has indicated a willingness to contribute financially to such programmes as a way of ensuring participation\, the negative is that as in other spheres\, UK will be “taking and not making rules”. The UK has been a major influence on the shaping of ERASMUS and research cooperation and its knowledge and experience would be missed. Students worry that study in UK could become more difficult and staff are concerned that recruitment from UK as well as their chances of posts in the UK could become problematic. \nI also gave a lecture on China’s ambitious “Belt and Road” programme to Masters students of International Relations. \nOstensibly\, this is a giant infrastructure plan\, initially based on the revival the old Silk Road\, from China\, through Central Asia and on into the Middle East and Europe. As such it conjures up romantic nostalgia for bygone days of explorers and traders\, East to West\, and West to East. However\, it is also much to do with Sino/Russian rivalry for national energy resources in Central Asia. Additionally\, China is worried that though the Coastal strip of China is booming\, there is little evidence of a “trickle down” effect to the distant inland provinces. Lastly and not least\, China now has massive over-capacity in steel\, coal and cement; just the basic materials for a vast transport infrastructure programme envisaged in “Belt and Road.” \nMy hosts kindly arranged to visit some of Tallinn’s much lauded e-centres\, TTU own innovation \nEstonia has invested much energy\, resources in new technology and the results are truly impressive. I well remember taking a portable typewriter for my Strasbourg and Brussels offices in 1984\, only for the typewriters to become quickly redundant. Now you can get an entire communications system on your smart phone. When I expressed my own scepticism about cyber-security I was met with optimism. Estonia has suffered and still fears cyber-attack from Russia\, but the participants in the e-centres enthusiastically pointed out that research and development into cyber-security was in itself a motor for economic activity. \nMembership of the EU has been taken up with gusto in this small Baltic nation. It was refreshing to see such optimism in Estonia.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/estonia-tallinn-technology-university-27-march-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/taltech.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180324
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180329
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180301T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T093535Z
UID:5614-1521932400-1522277999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:UKRAINE - UKRAINIAN ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION - Birgit DAIBER
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe Ukrainian Association of Professors and Researchers of European Integration together with the National University of Kiev Taraz Schevchenko organised a conference entitled “European Integration Processes in the 21st Century: Key Trends\, Main Challenges and New Perspectives”. \n Birgit DAIBER\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: TARAS SHEVHENKO NATIONAL ACADEMY \nThe Kiev based Taras-SevchenkoUniversity in co-operation with Erasmus and their common Jean Monnet-Project organised a two days’ International conference on “European Integration Processes in 21st Century – Key Trends\, main Challenges and new Perspectives” on 26/27 March. Speakers from universities of United Kingdom\, Portugal\, Canada\, Poland and Italy have been invited. I have been invited on behalf of FMA. About 70 students\, mainly involved in European Studies\, took part in the first afternoon debate on March 26th. I was asked to give an introduction into history and relevance to the current situation of European integration. My first challenge was to find some examples avoiding the danger to be too shallow. I choose the following two: “EU’s international trade policy” was the first\, followed by “the rule of European law and common values in democracy”. Since the students have been very aware of EU’s problems with Ukraine’s direct neighbour Poland\, they asked many questions on the rule of European law\, decision making processes and European understanding of democracy. I explained that one of the basic experiences in European Policy is to accept the necessity to compromise (even in one’s own political family). Here the students ask the grave question\, hanging like a black cloud above all debates in Ukraine: How to find solutions for the war in East-Ukraine and for Crimea. \nI couldn’t give an answer to this 1-Million-Euro question\, but at least there has been no negative reaction when I mentioned that in the end there would be the need to find compromises. Another issue raised by the students was nationalism. Since EU-law rules above national law\, the students felt inclined to ask if there is not the danger that citizens may loose their national identity? This led to discuss the principle of subsidiarity and the chance to develop a genuine European identity – not dominating national identity but changing it and adding a new dimension of common values and goals. The difference between national identity and aggressive or even violent nationalism was underlined. All in all the more than three hours discussion showed the deep desire of the students to become part of the European Union. At the international conference on 27th participated a lower number of Ukrainian students and more CEOs from EU related organisations and professors from universities. \nThe conference concentrated on different fields of European Politics\, especially Environmental Policy\, Law-making processes and questioning the Competence of Europe in actual conflicts. A specific part of the session was dedicated to the presentation of results of an inquiry in UK on letters in shaping the mass media before the referendum on Brexit. The inquiry shows 97% yes to Brexit in populist media while only 46% could be found in more neutral papers. Unfortunately this inquiry was carried only after the referendum. Two young researchers from the Ukrainian “Content Analysis Centre” gave a lecture on “the role of EU in the events highlighted by the major Ukrainian press”. My role in this part of the conference was to talk about the heavy storms which are threatening the Union since the outbreak of the Financial crisis in 2008. I referred to the refugee crisis\, the deep internal conflicts with some member-countries not willing to accept European rule of law and the upcoming international trade conflicts proving so far the rather robust survival capacity of the Union. My closing remarks emphasized some aspects of new ideas actually developed by the EU-Commission and also by the French President Emanuel Macron.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9528″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/ukraine-ukrainian-association-of-professors-and-researchers-of-european-integration-25-28-march-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/aprei.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180321
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180324
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180301T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T002115Z
UID:5618-1521673200-1521845999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:CROATIA - UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB - Ignasi GUARDANS
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University of Zagreb organized guest lectures for students that are attending the course in Law of International Trade as well as guest lectures for the Bachelor Degree in Business Programme students that are attending the course in Commercial Law. Beside the lectures\, the University organised an interview for the student’s newspaper and a meeting with faculty management. \nIgnasi GUARDANS\, FMA Member\, participated in the event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/croatia-university-of-zagreb-22-23-march-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/uni_profile_93789zagg.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180303
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180301T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T092941Z
UID:5622-1519858800-1520031599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:CYPRUS - UNIVERSITY OF LANCASHIRE - Barbara WEILER
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe University of Lancashire organized a series of activities with students and a workshop\, with the judiciary and academics. \nBarbara WEILER\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: LECTURE AT UCLAN UNIVERSITY \nUclan – the University of Central Lancashire in Larnaca – provides a unique and innovative model of university education which is both Cypriot and British at the same time. There are close links with Europe through Jean Monnet modules and the Erasmus+ programme. Not surprisingly\, many students and teachers are of international origin. It is quite possible that an island on the extreme geographical periphery of Europe may be the ideal place to conduct such an experiment\, and I consider it a great success. There was an open atmosphere\, with a willingness to engage in debate\, and a high standard of innovative new approaches. Impressive! \nOn the first day\, the main event was debates with students on the campus. Various lectures were given in the course of the day\, all of them very well attended. The main subject was European social and employment policy\, including Juncker’s European Pillar of Social Rights initiative; Parliament’s working methods and the possible consequences of Brexit were also mentioned. The students were committed and well prepared. \nOn the second day in Nicosia\, a round table with national and international judges was the main event. It was opened by the President of Cyprus’s Supreme Court. The European Court of Justice was represented by judge Anna Marcoulli. Here too\, similar subjects were discussed: how can socioeconomic rights be promoted and protected in the current financial crisis? In the ensuing debate\, the students called for the European Courts (in Luxembourg and Strasbourg) to protect citizens against the pressures imposed by the ‘trio’ and for a different political course. It was a lively debate\, in which conflicting opinions were expressed. \nIn addition to the official subjects on the programme\, a topic repeatedly raised was relations between the EU and Turkey (and more specifically the naval blockade prompted by the gas dispute\, which was taking place at that very time). \nI took the opportunity to go for a short walk in the Turkish part of Nicosia. I had already once visited the city some 30 years ago\, when the UN was everywhere and it was virtually impossible to visit the north. Since then\, much has changed\, but it seemed to me that distrust and prejudice persist. This makes it all the more important for the EU to support projects such as Erasmus+.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”9872″][vc_column_text] \nUCLAN students \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/cyprus-university-of-lancashire-1-2-march-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/uclqn.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180228
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180303
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T092752Z
UID:5722-1519858800-1520031599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Liceo Artistico Alberti - Gisela KALLENBACH
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nGisela Kallenbach\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”SOMETIMES THINGS JUST DON’T WORK OUT AS PLANNED\nMission report” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23001891″ google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]It was an exciting prospect: I was going to take part in the teaching project run by the EU Historical Archives in Florence. My contribution would be to participate in not one but two panel discussions with students and school pupils focusing on my practical experience of life as a Member of the European Parliament and on specially chosen topical issues\, such as Brexit\, migration\, the re-emergence of nationalist movement in (almost) all parts of Europe and the future of European integration. And all that on the eve of the Italian elections. I was determined to do my best to make it clear that\, against the background of the ever more pressing challenges of a globalised world\, there is no alternative to a strong\, united Europe which acts as a force for peace. Unfortunately\, Mother Nature had other ideas. During the night of 1 March a thick blanket of snow fell on Florence\, bringing public life to a halt. All schools and universities were closed\, and only a very few buses and trains were running. Both my panel discussions fell victim to the weather as well. \nHappily\, though\, I was still able to visit the Historical Archives and see at first hand just how committed the staff there are to their work. I must admit that previously I had not given that work much thought. It was all the more impressive\, therefore\, to be able to browse through old documents\, to come ‘face to face’ with people who were present when European history was made and to read their accounts of those events. Some of what they wrote about has been forgotten; much of it\, today\, is taken for granted. Keeping documents and assessing them in the light of their historical significance is a vital task of immeasurable value both for us and for future generations. Those documents bear witness to motivations\, emotions and hopes; they embody memories of people who argued and suffered to shape a Europe with a future based on peace and mutual respect. I would urge researchers\, journalists and historians to visit. My stay in Florence also offered me an ideal opportunity to share my memories and experiences of life as an MEP\, as my contribution to the ‘Oral History’ project. \nWorking under the auspices of the European University Institute (EUI) and in cooperation with the Historical Archives and the De Gasperi Research Centre\, a small group of former EP officials\, coordinated by Alfredo De Feo\, wants to put together a collection of representative first-hand accounts which show how the history of the European Parliament can be portrayed in a more personal\, more vivid and more comprehensive way. More than 100 former Members have already agreed to take part. If at all possible\, the results are to be published in book form before the European elections in 2019\, exactly 40 years after the first direct elections to the European Parliament. I hope that the remaining hurdles can be overcome and that many former Members will share their memories\, in the service of the project. \nI am sure that the detailed appraisal of the successes achieved\, and the shortcomings brought to light\, which this project may trigger can make a significant contribution to the work of the EP. Strengthening the EP and making it more democratic is a long-held wish of the European family of peoples. Even though in Florence I was denied the opportunity to hold a free and frank discussion with young people about the present and future of our shared European project\, I can say this: we have every reason to work together to continue what our forefathers started more than 70 years ago\, in keeping with the saying that only those who understand their past can face the present and the future with open hearts.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/liceo-artistico-alberti-1-2-march-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180218
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180220
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200702T155843Z
UID:5718-1518994800-1519081199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Dino Compagni - Monica BALDI
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”9544″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]In 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nMonica Baldi\, FMA Board Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/dino-compagni-19-february-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180211
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180213
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200609T222616Z
UID:5714-1518390000-1518476399@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Liceo Artistico Alberti - Graham WATSON
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nGraham Watson\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”PROGRAMME IN FLORENCE\nMission report” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%23000ead” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]It was on a cold February morning that I made my way from the charming Florentine hotel into which the Historical Archives of the EU (HAEU) had booked me to the magnificent Villa Salviati\, built on the remains of the 14th century Montegonzi Castle\, famous for its cultivation of grape and jasmine. It passed through the hands of wealthy Italians\, Brits\, Swedes and Americans before being abandoned in the last century and bought in 2000 by the Italian government for the European University Institute. Today\, restored to its former glory at the foot of a Cypress-lined path\, it contains over 7km of shelving under an ornate English garden and alongside a vividly decorated grotto for the EU’s archives\, including those of Spinelli\, de Gasperi and Spaak. \nHere I was to address school students from the Liceo Artistico Alberti about my life as a MEP and to assist them in their project on the challenges facing Europe. Director Dieter Schlenker also kindly invited me to talk to a dozen researchers currently attached to the HAEU about the papers I have deposited there from my twenty years in Parliament\, covering particularly my time as LIBE Committee Chair (1999-2001) and Liberal Group Leader (2002-2009). And the impressively well organised archivist Mary Carr was very helpful in assisting me with research I am conducting into the life of Sir Russell Johnston\, MEP from 1973-1979 and subsequently President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The HAEU regularly invites schools in Florence to make use of its facilities and organises programmes in European awareness for their senior pupils. I am but one of the former MEPs fortunate enough to have participated and am pleased to commend the experience to others.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/liceo-artistico-alberti-12-february-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180203
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200618T092454Z
UID:5710-1517526000-1517612399@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Giobetti-Volta Bagno a Ripoli - Niccolò RINALDI
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nNiccolò Rinaldi\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/giobetti-volta-bagno-a-ripoli-2-february-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180122
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180226
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200326T144300Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T004514Z
UID:9875-1516662000-1519599599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:United Kingdom - De Montfort University - Doris PACK
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]De Montfort University organised seminars and courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students followed by open debates. On Europe Day there was a meeting with local schoolchildren. Mr John Bowis\, Mr Ben Patterson and Mrs Doris Pack\, former Members of the European Parliament\, participated in this programme. \nDoris PACK\, FMA Member\, participated in the event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/royaume-uni-universite-de-de-montfort-23-25-janvier-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/de-monfort1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180122
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180226
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T134045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T003631Z
UID:5630-1516662000-1519599599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:UNITED KINGDOM - UNIVERSITY OF MONTFORT - Ben PATTERSON
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]De Montfort University organized seminars and classes for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Followed by open debates. The day of Europe involved a meeting with local school children. Mr John Bowis\, Mr Ben Patterson and Ms Doris Pack\, former MEPs\, participated in this programme. \nBen PATTERSON\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nReport mission: EP TO CAMPUS VISIT TO DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY \nWithin ten minutes of my arrival at de Montfort\, the clock went back over fifty years: I found myself sitting in the front row at a lecture on the mathematics of fiscal stabilisers. Was I −oh\, Lord! – having to prepare for an economics exam again? And then I was up myself to answer questions on the subject. \nContacts between students studying a topic academically and those who have had to apply what they have learnt in the practical world are useful to both sides. The problems of the Euro Area in combing a centralised monetary policy with devolved fiscal policies were clearly relevant to the fiscal policy class; and also to the next one on monetary policy. Attending academic lectures can also remind ex-MEPs of fundamentals which may have been forgotten over the years. \nI had\, as requested by the Former Members Association office in Brussels\, prepared a written paper on the history and problems of the Euro. But it was not needed. Unsurprisingly\, the focus of all the discussions\, and in particular the general question-and-answer sessions\, was Brexit. What was going to happen if and when the UK left the EU? Doris Pack and I struggled to find satisfactory answers. Almost all the students and staff appeared to be Remainers\, and it was difficult to deny that no arrangement outside the EU could possibly be as good as not leaving in the first place. \nBut then there was a bewildering array of options\, ranging from EEA membership plus Customs Union (probably\, in due course\, leading to an EU return)\, to a cliff-edge crashout next year. It was necessary to explain that nearly everyone else\, and almost certainly the UK government\, were as much in the dark as we were. \nThe university had issued us with an envelope-full of vouchers for use in the various canteens on campus\, which I mostly spent on coffee. But we were also entertained to two excellent dinners in town\, after the first of which we went to the site of Richard III’s burial and saw something of the old\, now partly pedestrianised city. The de Montfort campus itself extends over quite a large area; and if there is one complaint we had it is that the local taxis seemed at a loss when trying to drop us off at the right building. \nMy visit ended\, as it had begun\, with attendance at two classes on special policy fields\, both under the supervision of Professor Alasdair Blair\, the university’s Jean Monnet Professor of International Relations\, and overall organiser of the event. The first was on the CAP\, a subject that has been endlessly debated and reformed over the years. I was able to recall the days of butter mountains and wine lakes\, and even\, before that\, of the UK’s expensive deficiency payments system. Now we have the Basic (formerly Single) Payment Scheme\, based on how much land you own. What\, we wondered\, was coming next? \nFinally\, after a short session on the British political situation – a subject for three days’ discussion in itself – I headed off back down the M1 to London.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/united-kingdom-university-of-montfort-23-25-january-2018/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/de-monfort1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180121
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180123
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200609T225410Z
UID:5706-1516575600-1516661999@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Liceo Castelnuovo - Riccardo VENTRE
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \n \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nRiccardo Ventre\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”TOGETHER IN FLORENCE” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230028ba” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal”][vc_column_text] \n\n\n\n\nThe experience that our organisation enabled me to enjoy in Florence was to my mind remarkable both because it was so well managed and because the audience succeeded so excellently in participating\, putting forward proposals\, and summoning up enthusiasm for the matters at issue. If meetings of this kind and this calibre had been held ever since we rst came together\, then even those who now call themselves Eurosceptics would probably have become staunch Europhiles. \nThe topics covered – freedom of thought\, freedom of speech\, non-discrimination\, making no prejudicial distinctions on grounds of race or gender\, and other core concerns not just for a further experiment in coexistence\, but also to countries encompassing a variety of institutional systems\, languages\, customs\, mores\, and religions – inspired the young participants not only to engage in discussion and respond with a modern vision\, which I would describe as contemporary with the current historic moment\, but also to make innovative\, original proposals. I am sad that\, because of its broad intrinsic scope and the shortness of the time available\, I could not address the – before the Treaty of Lisbon – much-debated question whether the text of the preamble to the Treaty should cite the Judaeo-Christian and Periclean democratic roots of European civilisation. \nWhat that would have involved\, I believe\, and might\, I hope\, involve in the future should the subject be taken up again is not merely setting down a historical reference\, but exploring the genesis of profound changes shaped in the course of a development process and of the bene ts which these have brought to the whole of humankind and Europe in particular. Comparison of the discussion topics with the rst part of our Constitution proved interesting. The young people were able to grasp the underlying similarities\, in terms of principles\, between the essence of our Constitution and those of more modern constitutions and the Treaty of Lisbon. These are the subjects to which we shall probably have to draw the attention of all Europeans\, the young and the not so young\, in order to ensure that economic matters – the size of pizzas\, say\, or the quantity of sugar added to wine – are\, whatever their importance\, relegated to second place behind what should be the de ning elements on which to build – or rather rebuild – a society. The Florence-based European University Institute and the Former Members are working free of charge with public and private education institutions in all parts of Europe to foster discussion of the above topics in schools and the foremost cultural associations\, enlisting aid offered at no cost by serving MEPs and university teachers from countries possibly lying outside the range of rst-hand experience. At a conference to be held at the end of each year\, course participants will come together to discuss the elds that they have covered and select young people who\, having been trained\, will be ready to join the ranks of the trainers. \n\n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/liceo-castelnuovo-22-january-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180118
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180120
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200609T230450Z
UID:5700-1516316400-1516402799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Ist. Sup. Cecchi – Fucecchio - Vitaliano GEMELLI
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nVitaliano Gemelli\, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/ist-sup-cecchi-fucecchio-19-january-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20180115
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20180117
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20180101T171539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200609T230425Z
UID:5698-1516057200-1516143599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Ist. Sup. Giotto-Ulivi BS Lorenzo - Luciana CASTELLINA
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nIn 2018\, the Historical Archives have developed a programme for high schools focused on three main themes: Brexit\, Migrations and Rising of nationalist movements across Europe. The meetings were attended by our members Monica Baldi\, Luciana Castellina\, Vitaliano Gemelli\, Gisela Kallenbach\, Niccolò Rinaldi\, Riccardo Ventre\, and Sir Graham Watson. \nLuciana Castellina\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”BUILDING THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY\nMission report” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:left|color:%230014ad” google_fonts=”font_family:Raleway%3A100%2C200%2C300%2Cregular%2C500%2C600%2C700%2C800%2C900|font_style:800%20bold%20regular%3A800%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]I had a wonderful time working with a hundred or so secondary school pupils from Florence at the European University Institute in Fiesole. The boys and girls seemed very interested in what we were doing\, to the point of even being too keen to please. By ‘too keen’ that I mean that\, despite the dramatic decline in the popularity of the institutions\, there was a remarkable lack of critical remarks about the EU. Most of the pupils displayed intelligence and skill in amending the proposals discussed in their working groups. Maybe they felt pressured by the very formal setting\, but I just wondered if they were holding back\, keeping their deeply held reservations to themselves. \nI should make it clear that overall the initiative was very beneficial and that the pupils who organised it did a great job. What I took from it\, however\, and this is something I think we should all bear in mind\, is that rather than focusing solely on what the institutions do\, these meetings should also be about debating and analysing the issues facing European society. I still believe that the main weakness of the European project is that after 50 years there are still no intermediate bodies working at European level to bridge the gap between the people and the institutions – bodies of this kind are the backbone of democracy. Take trade unions\, political parties and media outlets\, for example. They may be European in theory\, but in reality they remain resolutely national. I think we need to draw on the knowledge of how each Member State is organised\, how each society expresses itself culturally and politically\, as the basis for building the European community that has yet to take shape. This is why it is taking so long for solidarity to replace rivalry as the founding principle of the EU.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/ist-sup-giotto-ulivi-bs-lorenzo-16-january-2018/
CATEGORIES:The Historical Archives
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/eui.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171202
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171211
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20171201T075141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T005751Z
UID:5634-1512255600-1512946799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:CZECH REPUBLIC - MENDEL UNIVERSITY - Mariela BAEVA
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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. \nA 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. \nMariela BAEVA \, FMA Member\, participated in this event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/czech-republic-mendel-university-3-10-decembre-2017/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/mendel_university_logo-eng_cmyk_0.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171129
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171201
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200221T155549Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250527T072559Z
UID:4783-1511996400-1512082799@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:Annual Seminar 2017 "EU global strategy on security and defence"
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row el_class=”management-committee”][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”EU GLOBAL STRATEGY ON SECURITY AND DEFENCE” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]The 2017 Annual Seminar took place on 30 November 2017 at the European Parliament in Brussels.[/vc_column_text][vc_images_carousel images=”10106\,10110\,10112\,10116\,10118″ img_size=”large” onclick=”custom_link” custom_links=”#E-8_aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZmxpY2tyLmNvbSUyRnBob3RvcyUyRjE1MTg2MjA1MCU0ME4wNyUyRmFsYnVtcyUyRjcyMTU3Njg5MDkwMzY1MDcx”][vc_custom_heading text=”KEYNOTE SPEAKERS” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” link=”url:%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F02%2Fprofile_of_speakers.pdf||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxiAV2l5KCw”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \n\n Welcome and introduction to the seminar\, by Mr Enrique BARÓN CRESPO\, President of the European Parliament Former Members Association and Former EP President.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY9_CpE8eLU&t=16s”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \n\nSpeech by Sir Julian KING \, EU Commissioner for the Security Union\, followed by Q&A Session.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY9_CpE8eLU&t=16s”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \n\nSpeech by Mr. Michael GAHLER MEP\, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence and President of the Kangaroo Group\, followed by Q&A Session.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHthihCU7qY&t=118s”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text] \n\nSpeech by Mr. Ivailo Kalfin\, Member of the High Level Group on Own Resources\, EP Rapporteur on critical information infrastructure protection – achievements and next steps: towards global cyber-security\, followed by Q&A Session.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/annual-seminar-2017/
CATEGORIES:Annual Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/20171130_EP-059162A_DHM_004-002-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171128
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171203
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20171101T075141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T011125Z
UID:9900-1511910000-1512255599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FRANCE - UNIVERSITY OF CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Zofja MACEJ KUKOVIC
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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. \nZofja MACEJ KUKOVIC\, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: DO WE CARE ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS? \nIt 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. \nMore 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. \nThe most important areas that will require major changes are mobility\, food\, health and housing.’ \nThese 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. \nResearchers 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. \nAt the conference organised by the Michelin Network\, I gave a presentation on mobility. \n‘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. \nThe 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. \nWe 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. \nCécile 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/france-university-of-clermont-auvergne-29-november-2-december-2017-2/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/clermont-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171128
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171203
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20171101T075141Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200608T010138Z
UID:5638-1511910000-1512255599@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:FRANCE - UNIVERSITY OF CLERMONT AUVERGNE - Ilona GRAENITZ
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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. \nIlona GRAENITZ \, FMA Member\, participated in this event. \nMission report: EUROPE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT \nThe Programme encompassed two components: \n1) Lectures and discussions at the University \n2) Participation in the first meeting of the international network of Michelin cities. \nThis was a clever combination of academic work and a big public event and the organiser Arnaund Diemer did a great work. \n• 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. \nThe fact that all presentations and discussions at the university were in English added to the international atmosphere of the seminar. \nThe 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. \nOne was a presentation of ourselves and our work in the E.P. and one was an interview conducted by a retired scientist. \nWe were able to talk about programmes\, budgets and in particular about legislation and how we see the future development. \nAs 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. \nI 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. \n• 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. \nIt 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.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/france-university-of-clermont-auvergne-29-november-2-december-2017/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/clermont-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171128
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171130
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200227T152954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200415T125414Z
UID:5025-1511910000-1511996399@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:2017 Annual Dinner
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] \nThe 2017 FMA Annual Dinner was held on 29 November. The guest speaker was Mr. Mirek Topolánek\,Former President of the Council of the EU (2009) and former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (2006-2009). His speech was entitled “The former Communist states of Eastern Europe are they meeting the challenges of our continent”. \n[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”5026\,5028\,5030\,5032\,5034\,5036\,5038″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/2017-annual-dinner/
CATEGORIES:Dinner Debate
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/2017-annual-dinner-pic1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20171112
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20171117
DTSTAMP:20260503T232945
CREATED:20200326T154251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20200326T154251Z
UID:6733-1510527600-1510873199@www.formermembers.eu
SUMMARY:ALLEMAGNE - Université de Göttingen - 13 - 16 NOVEMBRE 2017
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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. \n> Michael HINDLEY \, FMA Member[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://www.formermembers.eu/event/allemagne-universite-de-gottingen-13-16-novembre-2017/
CATEGORIES:EP to campus
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.formermembers.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Uni_Aula_Aussen_2_Frank_Stefan_Kimmel.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR