Conference Conversations 11 – The war in Ukraine and the (Conference on the) future of Europe

On the morning of the final Conference Plenary, we held the eleventh edition of our Conference Conversations series. 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?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eziVHLOkuH8]

Conference Conversations (11) with Brigid Laffan, Emeritus Professor, European University Institute; Daniela Schwarzer, Executive Director for Europe and Eurasia, Open Society Foundations; Janis Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies, European Policy Centre; Dominik Hierlemann, Senior Expert, Bertelsmann Stiftung

Moderator: Jacki Davis, Meade Davis Communications