THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: PROGRESS OR BREAKDOWN

  PROGRAM

 

A. THE GLOBAL ROUND TABLE – 10 AM – 7 PM, 12 MAY

Place: The Central University Library - Biblioteca Centrală Universitară „Carol I”

9.45-10.00: WELCOME GUESTS

10.00-10.30 INTRODUCTION

 Teodor Melescanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Romania

  Daniel Daianu, Member, Romanian Academy / Board of the National Bank of Romania

 Marius Stoian, President/Founder Club of Romania

 Dr. Gilbert Fayl, President, The Global Round Table

 

10.30-11.30-PANEL 1

THE MISSING UNIFYING VISION AND AMBITION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Moderator: Dr. Joan Majo, former Minister for Industry and Energy of Spain

Background:

The European Union has achieved its primary objective: peace among

its Member States. However:

 Has the EU lost or is it on the way to lose its unifying vision?

 Is the initial ambition of the European Communities adequate and sufficient for

the European Union to meet the challenges of the 21st Century?

 Should the EU continue to focus on immediate / shot-term issues or open-up new

“frontiers”?

 Interaction with audience * (10-15 min.)

11.30-12.30-PANEL 2

 UNIFYING VISION: EMPLOYABILITY AND JOB CREATION?

Moderator: Prof. Erich Hoedl, former Graz University Rector

Background:

There are more than 25 million unemployed citizens in the EU. This

would make them the sixth largest EU Member State (after Brexit). Moreover, Brexit

may raise this number. For that reason:

 Should the EU set targets for an acceptable level of unemployment in the EU to

address the regional inequalities that exist?

 To what extent will Brexit and the current uncontrolled migration into the EU

further aggravate the unemployment situation?

 Would the EU unemployment challenges better be addressed by enhancing

worker mobility or by local job-creation initiatives?

 Interaction with audience * (10-15 min.)

 

15.30-16.30 PANEL 3

 UNIFYING VISION: SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE?

Moderator: Mark Dubrulle, President of The Club of Rome EU Chapter

Background:

The new US Administration is on a crusade against “the elites”, which

includes basic scientific facts. This is removing the issue of sustainability, climate

change and biodiversity from international political agendas. Therefore:

 Can the EU strengthen the credibility of scientific facts and findings?

  Should the EU use the current leadership vacuum to assert its global leadership

in this context?

 Should the EU seek to achieve targeted bilateral/multilateral agreements to

ensure the advancement of the climate change agenda?

 Interaction with audience * (10-15 min.)

 

16.30-17.30 PANEL 4

 UNIFYING VISION: EU SOCIETAL SECURITY?

Moderator: David H. Price, Brussels-based Journalist and Historian

Background:

The EU is under attack from forces that seek to undermine basic

Western (Judaeo-Christian) values and the European way of life. History has shown

that unpreparedness and naive patience may lead to undesired societal degradation

and polarisation.

 How can the EU ensure and nurture the values and cornerstones of Western

democracy (ie: gender equality and equality of minorities; equality in and under

the law; separation of church and state)

 How can the EU help ensure that individuals living in the EU subscribe to the

afore values?

 How can the EU prevent conflict-of interest of individuals with dual EU and

non-EU nationality?

 Interaction with audience * (10-15 min.)

 

17.30-17.45-COFFEE BREAK

17.45-19.00- CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS (final document):

PROGRESS OR BREAKDOWN?

Moderator: Daniel Daianu, Member, Romanian Academy /Board of the National Bank of Romania

Moderator: Ulric Fayl v. Hentaller, Director, The Global Round Table

Speakers from The Global Round Table:

1.         Dr Dimitri Corpakis, former senior official, European Commission

2.         Dr Vincenzo Costigliola, President of the European Medical Association

3.         Mr Mark Dubrulle, President of The Club of Rome EU Chapter

4.         Dr Gilbert Fayl, President, The Global RoundTable

5.         Mr Ivo Grga Secretary General, The Global Round Table Croatia

6.         Mr Ulric Fayl v. Hentaller, Director, The Global Round Table

7.         Prof. Erich Hoedl, former Rector of Wuppertal University / Graz University of Technology

8.         Dr Joan Majo, former Minister for Industry and Energy, Spain

9.         Mr David H. Price, Brussels-based Journalist and Historian

10.       Phd. Mrs Pelle Anita, University of Szeged