Brussels Think Tank Dialogue - The EU’s New Leaders: Key Post-Election Challenges

Join us on January 28 for an in-depth discussion on the tasks and challenges facing the EU’s new leaders as they take charge following the 2014 elections to the European Parliament. For the fifth year running, ten leading Brussels-based think tanks will join forces to debate the EU’s future including issues such as the Banking Union, the rise of populist movements across Europe and the EU’s main foreign and defence policy goals.

Jointly organised by the Bertelsmann Stiftung, Bruegel, the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Confrontations Europe, the Egmont Institute, the European Policy Centre (EPC), Friends of Europe – Les amis de l’Europe, the Institut français des relations internationales (Ifri), Madariaga – College of Europe Foundation, the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) and European Voice as a Media Partner, the Brussels Think Tank Dialogues are annual policy forums for critical reflection on the state of the EU and the joint development of analysis and recommendations to improve EU policies. The Dialogues are designed to address pressing political concerns as well as to offer recommendations on specific issues.

You can receive updates of the event and join the discussion by following #BTTD14.

Event materials

Session 1 Download

Session 2 Download

Session 3 Download

Programme

10.00-10.15 WELCOME ADDRESS AND INTRODUCTION

• Aart De Geus, Chairman and CEO, Bertelsmann Stiftung

10.15-11.45 ENHANCING THE LEGITIMACY OF EU POLICYMAKING: THE FUTURE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

Panelists:

• Danuta Hübner, Member of the European Parliament
• Roger Liddle / Lord Liddle of Carlisle, Member of the British House of Lords; Chair of Policy Network
• Michael Link, former member of the German Bundestag; Minister of State, German Federal Foreign Office
• Giles Merrit, Secretary General, Friends of Europe/Les amis de l'Europe
• Sonia Piedrafita, Research Fellow, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS)

Chair:

• Janis Emmanouilidis, Studies Director, European Policy Centre (EPC)

11.45-13.15 THE BANKING UNION AND BEYOND: NEXT STEPS FOR COMPLETING THE EMU

Panelists:

• Peter Bofinger, Professor of Monetary Policy and International Economics, University of Würzburg
• Valerie Herzberg, Member of the Cabinet of the President of the European Council
• Eric de Keuleneer, Managing Director of Credibe SA
• Benoit Lallemand, Senior Policy Analyst, Finance Watch

Chair:

• Silvia Merler, Affiliate Fellow, Bruegel

13.15-14.15 LUNCHEON

14.15-15.45 KEY TASKS FOR A NEW EU FOREIGN POLICY

Panelists:

• Arif Havas Oegroseno, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union
• Ronja Kempin, Head of Research Division EU External Relations, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
• Vivien Pertusot, Head of Brussels Office, French Institute for International Affairs (Ifri)
• Justin Vaïsse, Director of the Strategic Planning, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chair:

• Shada Islam, Director of Policy, Friends of Europe / Les amis de l’Europe

15.45-17.30 DIRECTORS WRAP UP

2014 Presidency Keynote

• Theodoros N. Sotiropoulos, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Greece to the EU

Q & A

Directors Panel (16.15-17.30)

Panelists:

• Aart De Geus, Chairman and CEO, Bertelsmann Stiftung
• Philippe Herzog, President, Confrontations Europe
• Pierre Defraigne, Executive Director, Madariaga – College of Europe Foundation
• Marc Otte, Director-General, Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations
• Volker Perthes, Director, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
• Guntram Wolff, Director, Bruegel

Chair:

• Simon Taylor, Deputy Editor, European Voice

17.30 END OF CONFERENCE (followed by a reception)