Sovereign again through Europe, Vienna 23 November 2018

Friday 23 November 2018| 16:00-19:00

Arena 21, MuseumsQuartier

Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna

The case for European unity is today stronger than ever. Global instability grows, but the EU continues to underperform in foreign, security and defence policy. A decade-long economic slow-down is not yet over, but the eurozone remains weakened by poor fiscal integration and loose governance. Immigration puts a strain on the management of European borders and the integration capacity of our societies, but the EU struggles to agree common policies in the fields of asylum and immigration. Brexit and the raise of nationalism in many European countries show the risk of overall disintegration. A radical renewal of the European Union’s institutions and policies is needed to preserve and advance European integration. European solutions for European problems require more effective and democratic institutions as well as more resources. The elections for the European Parliament in May 2019 will be the occasion to present citizens the alternative between progress towards a federal Europe or the renationalisation of European policies and institutions. The Spinelli Group and the Union of European Federalists are engaging with citizens and policy-makers across Europe to raise awareness of the challenges and opportunities at stake and to promote support for a federal Europe at the elections in May 2019 and beyond.

The debates will be in English

Registration is compulsory

Programme

Press Kit

15:30 Registrations

16:00 Opening by

Elmar BROK, Member of the European Parliament, President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF)

Christian BUCHMANN, Chairman of the EU Committee, Austrian Federal Council

16.15 - 17.40

1st Roundtable

A shared destiny - Political change for a Federal Europe

Panel discussion with: 

Andrew DUFF, President of The Spinelli Group

Othmar KARAS, Member of the European Parliament

Kai Jan KRAINER, Member of the Austrian Parliament

Jo LEINEN, Member of the European Parliament

Angelika MLINAR, Member of the European Parliament

Paul SCHMIDT, Secretary-General of the Austrian Society for European Politics

Moderated by: Nana WALZER, Author, Winner of the 2018 Europa Staatspreis

17.45 - 19.00

2^nd Roundtable

The 2019 European elections: challenges and opportunities for the future of Europe

Panel discussion with: 

Brando BENIFEI, Member of the European Parliament

Elmar BROK, Member of the European Parliament

Ulrike GUEROT, Founder and Director of the European Democracy Lab

Stefan WINDBERGER, International Officer New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS)

Stephanie COX, Member of the Austrian Parliament

Christopher GLÜCK, President of JEF Europe

Moderated by: Nana WALZER, Author, Winner of the 2018 Europa Staatspreis

The Spinelli Group is a network of European political leaders committed to the goal of federal union. Founded in the European Parliament in 2010, the Group brings together MEPs of different party groups. Its aim is to work by stages towards a federal constitution of the European Union. The Group want to inject a federalist momentum into the political decisions and policies of the European Union. Through a « Manifesto » in a similar fashion as Altiero Spinelli – the Spinelli Group call upon fellow MEPs and European personalities to develop a network of those who choose the European interest above their national interest, those who want to push the federal project in their respective environment.

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is a pan-European, non-governmental political organisation dedicated to the promotion of European political unity. It was founded shortly after World War II, in the belief that only by uniting into a European Federation could the states of Europe overcome the divisions of the past and ensure a future of peace and economic prosperity. Throughout the past 70 years we have been a leading voice in the promotion of European unity and an early campaigner for key milestones in the development of the European Communities and then the European Union.