Conference Conversations – The war in Ukraine and the (Conference on the) future of Europe
YouTube, 29.04.2022
Interactive Online Talkshow
At this 11th edition of the Conference Conversations, moderated by Jacki Davis, Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor, European University Institute; Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Director for Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations; Dominik Hierlemann, Senior Expert, Bertelsmann Stiftung; and Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies, European Policy Centre, discussed the war in Ukraine and the potential consequences on the (Conference on the) future of Europe.
The event took place on the on the day of the final Conference Pleanary of the CoFoE. As the Conference wraps up and prepares its final report, our panellists reassessed where the Conference on the Future of Europe stands in light of global developments.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is a watershed moment with immense consequences for the European and global order. As the EU grapples with an all-out war on the continent, the Conference on the Future of Europe might not seem like a priority. Some believe that the Conference should be paused and reassessed. Others argue that the Conference is now more important than ever, and that any delays could delegitimise the process and risk losing the political momentum that could create real change. Does this new era put the Conference into question? Can we still talk about the future of democracy in the EU while more immediate concerns are on the agenda? Is this new reality calling for a stronger need to involve citizens in the debate on the future of Europe?
The Conference Conversations event series is part of the Conference Observatory, a joint initiative by an international consortium comprising the Bertelsmann Stiftung, the European Policy Centre, the King Baudouin Foundation, and the Stiftung Mercator. The Conference Observatory aims to observe, critically analyse and inspire the Conference deliberations. Based on the lessons learned, the initiative will also develop proposals aiming to improve the EU's future participatory and democratic architecture.
Link to video on YouTube here
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