Talk by Matthias Thiemann (Paris IAS fellow) within the framework of the first Biennial Conference "EU in European Affairs : Controversial Approaches towards European Solidarity - From Burden Sharing to Integration", organized by the Institute for European Studies (Université libre de Bruxelles)

Presentation

Our world, our Europe is constantly changing. We – as academic institutions, IES and IEE, – constantly face and adapt to new developments. We are challenged with difficult yet intriguing questions, questions on the refugee crisis, on the Brexit, on the transatlantic relations but most importantly on the unity and future of Europe. 60 years later Europe is experiencing a tough time.
The EU is having its growing-pains. We find ourselves in an environment that questions the very backbone of the EU, its identity, its solidarity. An environment that is based more on aversion, fear, ‘alternative facts’ and has little understanding for common grounds. That’s why the EUEA conference comes at the perfect time.
This conference aims to present and bring together the research, challenges and voices of IES and IEE experts on both internal and external EU matters. It’s a great opportunity to be able to bounce and feed off ideas from one another providing for a fruitful debate, creativity and inspiration. A forum as such will strengthen our collaboration and ensure that our institutions remain at the cutting edge of EU matters and relations.

More information (Institute for European Studies' website)