Global crises, European responses: Where is the EU heading?

The European Union is facing challenges of historic proportions. Global crises do not stop at borders and are putting the EU's ability to act, solidarity and future viability to the test. The unpredictable US policy under Donald Trump, the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the war in the Middle East, the climate crisis, economic uncertainties, migration policy tensions and the rise of right-wing populist forces are just some of the issues that are currently of particular concern to the EU and its citizens. 

How is the European Union responding to these multiple crises? What political instruments does it have at its disposal? What role does the EU play in an increasingly multipolar world, and how do global developments influence the everyday lives of citizens in Europe? The event will provide an overview of the current crisis situations and shed light on how the European Union is attempting to respond to them politically, economically and socially. Together we will discuss how the EU can make itself more crisis-proof and what prospects there are for the future of the European project.  

Our guests: 

• Katarina Barley, Vice-President of the European Parliament 

• Prof Dr Ulrich Brückner, Professor of European Studies at the Berlin Study Centre of Stanford University, member of the EUROPE DIRECT Speakers‘ Pool team 

• Dr Carolin Rüger, Lecturer at the Jean Monnet Chair of European Politics at the University of Passau, member of the EUROPE DIRECT Speakers‘ Pool team 

Organiser:
The event is being organised in cooperation between the EUROPE DIRECTs Saarbrücken, Kaiserslautern, Ingelheim, Ulm and Relais Rhein-Main as well as the Fridtjof Nansen Academy for Political Education.

Registration:
The event will take place online via Zoom. The event is free of charge, registration is here required.