Europe 2.0

Minister of State Peter Power T.D. Launches Publications on the EU - March 10, 2009

2009-03-11T11:15:00.032Z

Click here to listen to the podcast www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/19 March 2009-YPN-6 Pack-launch.mp3

At the March 2009 Young Professionals' Network event at the IIEA, Minister of State for European Affairs and Overseas Development Aid, Peter Power T.D. launched new pamphlets and videos produced by the IIEA on different EU policy areas.

As part of the IIEA's Europe 2.0 project, sponsored by the European Commission, we have produced:

- 3 pamphlets on: justice policy, defense policy and social policy. These are highly illustrated, easy to understand and targeted at young people and those who want to find out more about the EU. These are available free of charge at the IIEA, so pick one up on your next visit.

- A "6-pack" of animated audiovisual presentations examining different EU policy areas using images, historical video footage, maps and speeches. These will be available on the IIEA youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/IIEA2009 from the end of business March 11, 2009.

You can also view the recording of the event at the following links.
Part 1:
Part 2:

Comments on all of these are very welcome.

Roundtable on Russia and the Western Media - 10 December 2008

2008-12-09T16:04:00.005Z

Former International Editor of The Irish Times Seamus Martin addressed a media roundtable in the IIEA in December 2008 on Russia and the western media. This was a particularly topical issue, coming in the wake of the Russia-Georgia conflict and also following the energy supply crisis that affected Southern and Eastern European Union member states. Seamus also addressed the transfer of power from President Putin to President Medvedev and assessed the impact that this may have on EU-Russian relations and the negotiation of a new EU-Russia agreement initiated in June 2008.

This event was part of the Europe 2.0 project, sponsored by the European Commission.

Speaker Biography:

Seamus Martin is the former International Editor of The Irish Times. He worked as a staff Foreign Correspondent for that paper in the former Soviet Union and South Africa from 1991 to 2000. He now writes on international affairs for The Sunday Business Post and the Irish Examiner and was present at both the Russian and Georgian presidential elections this year. His memoir Good Times and Bad was published earlier this year by Mercier Press.

Sevket Pamuk on "The Future of Europe: Turkey and the EU"

2008-11-05T16:50:00.012Z

On Thursday November 20 2008, Professor Sevket Pamuk, Chair of Contemporary Turkish Studies at the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science visited the IIEA to address a roundtable discussion on "The Future of Europe: Turkey and the European Union."

Professor Pamuk presented his views on Turkey’s progress towards EU accession and the impact that Turkish membership of the EU would have in terms of the promotion of common values and the development of enhanced intercultural dialogue in the European Union. This was the latest event in the IIEA's series of events on the Future of Europe under the Europe 2.0 project, which is sponsored by the European Commission.

Listen to the podcast of this event www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Sevket Pamuk.MP3

See Irish Times article below

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/1121/1227137525736.html

ECB Board Member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi addresses IIEA and Young Professionals

2008-09-26T10:11:00.009+01:00

click here for youtube video

To listen to the podcast, click here www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Bini Smaghi.mp3

On Thursday 25 September 2008, Dr. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank visited the IIEA to give a keynote speech on 50 Years of Europe as part of the Europe 2.0 series which is sponsored by the European Commission. As part of the IIEA's series of keynote speeches, Dr. Bini Smaghi identified a number of symptoms that are affecting Europeans as they reminisce and reflect about the years gone by, often viewing the these years through rose-tinted glasses.

The first of these symptoms is amnesia, meaning that many Europeans appear to have forgotten what Europe is about, assuming of course that they knew in the first place. The lack of awareness of Europe and how it functions is often embodied in statements about “Brussels” and when the Union fails to take a decision “Brussels” is often blamed rather than the individual member states of which it is made up. Europeans sometimes do not understand the competences of the Union, or who does what. The Union is much more limited than people think of terms of what it can do. Here, Dr. Bini Smaghi used the example of taxation. Some Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty under the false belief that Brussels would decide on taxation in Ireland. Overall, the range of the Union’s competences is quite restricted. In the economic sphere, for instance, with the exception of monetary policy, its competencies are limited to the coordination of the Member States’ policies. This is the worst of all worlds for the Union: being blamed for something it’s not responsible for.

The second symptom affecting Europeans is inconsistency. The period between 2002 and 2007 saw the world economy grow at its fastest rate since the 1970s. However, this has masked notable differences between advanced and emerging economies. With the birth of the Euro, monetary stability has been achieved in Europe. Europeans tend to forget about the advantages of being a member of the Euro and the European Union, and often, financial problems are blamed on the Euro.

The third symptom is myopia. Europeans in particular have a tendency to think that the world hasn’t changed much over the last 10 to 20 years, while in fact the opposite is true. Europe is getting smaller and smaller, and our economy is gradually accounting for a smaller share of world GDP. Individual countries are becoming smaller and less powerful and increasingly irrelevant. European states can either ignore this development or they can organise themselves as a major player in the international system, possibly in partnership with the United States.

In the future, there will have to be increasingly coordinated action on the part of the major economies to overcome the current financial market turmoil, through the agreement of new regulations and supervision. This will need to be discussed and agreed across the Atlantic. Europe must unite and speak with one voice on the international stage.

Finally, there is a sense of denial in Europe that the Union’s power is shrinking. Dr. Bini Smaghi gave the example of the manner in which major decisions concerning the IMF are increasingly taken in other fora, typically the G7 or the G20, where only the four largest European countries are represented.

He concluded with the belief that Europe needs to streamline its activities and go on a diet. The Union should clarify its role and show how few competences it actually has. This might give the people of the Union a better idea of what the Union does.

Bebo.com's Sofia's Diary

2008-07-17T10:41:00.018+01:00

On the 10 July 2008, members of the IIEA's Young Professionals' Network attended a presentation on BEBO.COM’s ‘Sofia's Diary’”. The event was part of the Europe 2.0 project which is sponsored by the European Commission.

Triona Campbell discussed the interactive reality show on Bebo, the hugely popular "Sofia's Diary". In the space of two weeks, Sofia's Diary gained five million hits. It may represent the future of media content delivered online, and embodies a paradigm shift in advertising models and audience input into media content. She gave an innovative and exciting presentation to the YPN in July 2008, presenting the short Bebo-based phenomenon Sofia’s Diary. The basis for the presentation was the issue of innovation in the digital age. As Sophie’s Diary was the first internet-based programme to become a television show, Ms. Campbell explained how developments in the digital age enable broadcasters to attract new audiences to engage with serious themes through a medium, which is entertaining and interactive. The show has become a Europe-wide phenomenon, following the extension of the franchise across the EU.

Click here to listen to the podcast www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Sofia'sDiary.mp3

See the YouTube video of the event above.

Roger Cohen (IHT) on McCain, Obama and Foreign Policy in the U.S. 2008 Presidential Election

2008-06-18T15:35:00.012+01:00

Listen to the podcast of this event www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Roger Cohen.mp3
Guest Speaker: Roger Cohen, Columnist and Editor–at–large,
The International Herald Tribune (IHT)

Topic: The Foreign Policy Priorities of the U.S. Presidential Candidates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP2-XTgMZ_0

Roger Cohen addressed the Young Professionals' Network (YPN) as part of the IIEA's Europe 2.0 project which is sponsored by the European Commission. Columns by IHT International Affairs Columnist, Roger Cohen, have covered the Bush presidency, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, energy issues, the 2008 U.S. presidential election campaign, the Obama phenomenon, development issues, the Beijing Olympics and European issues, including French and British domestic affairs and how these impact on the international stage. He has earned numerous awards and honours both for his work as a columnist and also as author of numerous books, including "Soldiers and Slaves"; "Hearts Grown Brutal: Sagas of Sarajevo" and "In the Eye of the Storm.”

Mr. Cohen previously occupied the position of foreign editor for The New York Times, also working from Berlin, Paris and the Balkans as New York Times Bureau Chief and Correspondent.

50 Years of the European Economy with Professor Barry Eichengreen

2008-05-29T16:32:00.008+01:00

Barry Eichengreen was the guest lecturer for the latest event in the IIEA 50 years of Europe lecture series, chaired by IIEA President and former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald. In his presentation, Mr Eichengreen gave a comprehensive overview of the EU's economic performance since 1995. Focusing largely on the EU 15, he looked at why the EU's productivity has lagged behind the US' over this period and looked ahead to future challenges for EU output, namely likely developments in the French and German economies respectively and the challenge posed by manufacturing in China.

Barry Eichengreen is Pardee Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Listen to the podcast of this event www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Barry Eichengreen.mp3

The IIEA 50 Years of Europe lecture series forms part of the Institute's Europe 2.0 project which is sponsored by the European Commission.

BBC Europe Editor Mark Mardell speaks to the IIEA Young Media Roundtable

2008-05-28T16:53:00.011+01:00

"Immigrants: Does Europe Need Them?"

Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor, was the first speaker at the IIEA's Media Roundtable series which is part of the IIEA's Europe 2.0 project, sponsored by the European Commission. Mark addressed the roundtable on the topic of immigration in Europe. He addressed current issues such as public concern about migration, the EU’s requirement for skilled workers, the possible introduction of a Blue Card scheme and the future of the Dublin Accord. He also identified a number of areas in which closer cooperation may come about as a result of Lisbon Treaty provisions, such as a common migration and immigration policy, more coordinated active border patrols, common visa agreements for seasonal workers, resettlement packages for returned illegal immigrants and the establishment of special protection zones in places such as Africa. The group also discussed future trends such as the role of climate change as a new driver of migration.

Listen to the podcast www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Mark Mandell.mp3
View the YouTube video below:

Media Roundtable on China and the EU with Conor O'Clery

In November 2008, the second Europe 2.0 Media Roundtable welcomed Conor O'Clery, former Irish Times foreign correspondent in Belfast, London, Moscow, Washington, Beijing and New York to address members.

He shared his experiences as a correspondent in Beijing and his observations on the political, economic and cultural changes that he witnessed during his time there. He also commented on China’s economic growth story and the relationship that the European Union has created with China and the broader role of the European Union in the world. Finally, he shared his predictions for the future of that relationship as a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) is negotiated.

To listen to the podcast of this event, click here www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Conor O'Clery.MP3

Jeremy Rifkin - EU Can lead the Third Industrial Revolution

2008-04-24T11:47:00.007+01:00

Listen to the podcast of this event www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/jeremy rifkin (podcast).mp3
Jeremy Rifkin, the Wharton Business School’s economic forecasting expert and economic and energy advisor to the EU, warned a capacity crowd at the Institute that EU governments and leaders in business must make critical changes to how they produce and distribute energy, to combat the looming oil crisis, rising energy costs and climate change.

Speaking to members of the Institute at an event sponsored by NTR plc and part of Europe 2.0, which is sponsored by the European Commission , Mr Rifkin warned that: “To remain dependent of fossil fuels will have ominous consequences for the future of human civilisation and the ecosystems of the earth. Every government needs to explore new energy paths and establish new economic models with the goal of achieving as close to zero carbon emissions as possible.”

“Pivotal economic changes in world history have occurred when new energy regimes converge with new communications regimes. The First Industrial Revolution occurred when coal powered steam technology came together with the print press. The Second Industrial Revolution saw the convergence of first generation electrical forms of communications (telegraph, telephone, radio, etc) with the introduction of oil and the internal combustion engine.”

“The creation of a renewable energy regime will herald the Third Industrial Revolution. We need to envision a future in which millions of individuals can produce locally generated renewable energy – solar, wind, hydro, waves, biomass, etc - store that energy in the form of hydrogen and share their power generation across a Europe-wide intelligent intergrid, through sophisticated IT systems.”

“Just as second generation information systems allow businesses and individuals to connect with millions of desktop computers via the Internet, millions of local producers of renewable energy can potentially produce and share far more distributed power than the older centralised forms of energy – oil, gas, coal,” Rifkin concluded.

Europe 2.0 and the Young Professionals' Network

2008-01-09T16:43:00.001Z

Europe 2.0 is an exciting new project recently undertaken by the Institute of European Affairs, Dublin, with the support of the European Commission. Over the next twelve months, we will be bringing European issues closer to you, through high profile events, keynote addresses at the Institute, our new Young Professionals Network, blogs and podcasts, and we want your opinions and contributions.

In 2007, the European Union celebrated its 50th birthday. Through the Internet,using interactive Web 2.0 technology, and also in our city-centre premises and out-of-house locations, we will increase public participation and dialogue on themes such as prosperity in the EU, justice and security issues and Europe's place in the world. Looking to the future, we will examine and debate what the EU must do in order to meet the aspirations and interests of its citizens for the next 50 years, focusing on such issues as EU enlargement and the Reform Treaty.

Give us your views by visiting the blogs linked to this website. Please visit our website again for details of upcoming events at the Institute.http://youngprofessionalnetwork.blogspot.com/

The Young Professionals' Network has been set up as part of the Institute's Europe 2.0 project. Young people from business, legal and diplomatic backgrounds, the public sector, the media and academia, among others, will have the opportunity to attend keynote addresses by high level speakers drawn from a number of professions and disciplines. Members will be able to interact and network with speakers and other professionals in their specialised area.

This Young Professionals' blog provides a forum for debate on a wide range of topics, and gives members the opportunity to give their thoughts on events they have attended or topics of particular interest to them.

As part of the Young Professionals' Network, the Institute is also running a series of media roundtable discussions primarily aimed at engaging with young journalists, although these roundtables are also open to the wider membership of the Young Professionals' Network.

About the Institute of European Affairs

2007-12-29T17:27:00.000Z

The Institute of European Affairs is a policy research think-tank and forum based in Dublin. It provides members with early warning of EU policy developments and in-depth analysis of their implications for Ireland and Europe and flag key policy issues that shape the business environment.

Europe House, the Institute's city-centre Dublin premises, provides a forum for dialogue between representatives from government, business, industry, the civil service, the diplomatic corps, the legal professions, NGO's, trade unions, the media and academia. The Institute is located in Dublin city centre at Europe House, 8 North Great Georges Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. The Institute also has a branch in Brussels.

»click here for directions to the Institute on Google Maps.

Members

Its individual members are former heads of state and government, government ministers, parliamentarians, Secretaries General of government departments, senior civil service officials, company chairpersons and CEO's, ambassadors, senior managers, members of the judiciary, Senior Counsel, partners in solicitors' firms, senior representatives from trade unions, academia, NGO's and professional and sectoral associations. The Corporate & Foundation Members, who provide the majority of the Institute's operating capital, are generally large organisations such as investment banks, government departments, or industrial conglomerates.

Activities

In 2006, the Institute held 113 high-level meetings on business, political and legal issues, and 93 such events in 2005. These events attract presentations from Irish, EU and global decision makers. Meetings are generally not open to the public and are often off the record. However, any interested individual can apply for membership.

High profile keynote speakers at the Institute include:
Political leaders such as Gordon Brown, Dominique de Villepin, Mikhail Gorbachev, Giuliano Amato, Chris Patten, John Podesta; Leading intellectuals including Jeffrey Sachs, Joseph Stiglitz, Noam Chomsky, Joseph Nye; European decision-makers including Catherine Day, Andris Piebalgs, Charlie McCreevy, László Kovács, Javier Solana, Franco Frattini; Eminent legal experts including the Rt. Hon Lord Goldsmith QC, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (US Supreme Court); Leaders of international financial institutions such as James D. Wolfensohn, Pascal Lamy, Hans Tietmeyer, and Jean Claude Trichet; International business leaders including Peter Sutherland (Chair of BP and Goldman Sachs), Martin Broughton (Chair of British Airways), Niall FitzGerald (Chair of Reuters), and Willie Walsh (CEO of British Airways); and Leaders of international bodies including Hans Blix (Chairman of the WMD Commission), Mohamed ElBaradei (Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)), Rajendra K. Pachauri (Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

Confidentiality - "The Europe House Rule"

The Institute adheres to a strict rule of confidentiality known as the Europe House Rule. This allows members to use information received at IEA events as background material but precludes the attribution of comments made at the Institute to any speaker. (individual speakers may choose to make their comments on-the-record). The Rule has never been broken. Our institutional adherence to confidentiality allows us to function as a centre for frank and open dialogue.

Finances & Legal status

The Institute of European Affairs was founded in 1991 as a self-governing body. The Institute is a registered, independent charity, and is independent of all political, economic and social interests. The Institute represents no sectoral viewpoint and expresses no corporate views of its own. Views expressed in the Institute's publications and at its conferences, seminars and briefings are those of the authors and speakers.

Honorary positions

Patron Mary McAleese President of Ireland
President Dr. Garret FitzGerald former Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland
Members of the Comite d'Honneur: Bertie Ahern, T.D. An Taoiseach (Prime Minister), John Bruton former Taoiseach, Charles McCreevy European Commissioner for Internal Trade, Dr Patrick Hillery former President of Ireland, John Bruton former Taoiseach, Mary Robinson former President of Ireland, Albert Reynolds former Taoiseach, Pat Cox former President of the European Parliament, Richard Burke former European Commissioner, David Byrne former European Commissioner, Padraig Flynn former European Commissioner, Ray MacSharry former European Commissioner, Micheal O'Kennedy former European Commissioner, Peter Sutherland former European Commissioner.

IIEA - University of Limerick Dialogue on the Future of Europe

2007-12-12T16:24:00.000Z

As part of the Europe 2.0 project which is sponsored by the European Commission, the IIEA held a public dialogue in the University of Limerick in December 2007 with guest speaker Niall Bowen, DG Internal Market, European Commission. Mr. Bowen gave an in-depth presentation on Where Next for the Single Market?

He spoke about the benefits of the single market for businesses, entrepreneurs and citizens across the EU, the challenges that remain for the completion of the single market and the tools needed to tackle these challenges before engaging in a question and answer session with the audience.

Europe 2.0 Dialogue on the Future of Europe

2007-12-03T10:25:00.001Z

In December 2007 Mr. Frans Timmermans, Minister of European Affairs in the Government of the Netherlands, and Mr. Pierre Moscovici, former French Minister for European Affairs from 1997-2002 and current member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the French National Assembly visited the IIEA to engage with a packed audience in a dialogue on the Future of Europe.

Each speaker made initial remarks, outlining the various reasons for No votes in France and the Netherlands in the 2004 referenda on the Constitutional Treaty and the prospects of a referendum in Ireland. A series of issues regarding the Reform Treaty were then raised by the Chair, such as the new need to communicate Europe and mobilize governments in order to inform citizens, the need for a Minister for Europe in governments across Europe and the role of the press in addressing European affairs, which the two speakers then addressed in turn.

To listen to the podcast of this event, click here www.iiea.com/audio/YPN/Timmermans-Moscovici.mp3

The Europe 2.0 project is sponsored by the European Commission.