European Lounge Talks

The CEDI European Lounge Talks are designed to increase the visibility of current topics related to the European Union and to provide a platform for a lively, yet casual exchange between researchers, practitioners and civil society. The talks offer an innovative perspective on EU studies and processes of European integration, with a focus on Europe’s role in the world.


Keynote speaker Dr. Rogelio Madrueño-Aguilar at CEDI's Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)
Keynote speaker Dr. Rogelio Madrueño-Aguilar at CEDI's Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)

June 23, 2018

 

Third European Lounge Talk: 

 

"Breaking Walls and Fostering Collaboration. Knowledge Sharing in Latin America and Lessons for Europe"

 

CEDI's third European Lounge talk took place on June 18, 2018 at the Schader-Forum in Darmstadt. CEDI invited a keynote speaker and 4 experts to discuss experiences with knowledge sharing and lessons for German and European foreign and development policy.

Dr. Rogelio Madrueño-Aguilar, Research Associate at Georg-August Universität Göttingen gave a keynote speach to introduce the topic. He discussed the challenges of Knowledge Sharing and emphasized the need for a broader concept of cooperation with regard to global public goods and global governance to foster inclusive institutional dialogue and better intercultural dialogue.

 

Keynote speaker, panelists and moderators of the 3rd European Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)
Keynote speaker, panelists and moderators of the 3rd European Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)

CEDI invited the following panelists: Annette Bähring, Director of the Methodological Approaches Division, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Citlali Ayala-Martínez, Research Professor at the Research Institute Dr. José María Luis Mora (CONACYT) in Mexico-City, and Zirahuen Villamar, Freie Universität Berlin, research project „The Construction of Latin American Emerging Powers in the Perspective of Germany’s Foreign Policy“. CEDI director Prof. Michèle Knodt and Dr. Ulrich Müller, GIZ, moderated the roundtable discussion. The panelists shared their experience with knowledge sharing in development cooperation and diplomatic and political relations.

 

Over 30 guests attended the third European Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)
Over 30 guests attended the third European Lounge Talk (Foto: A. Hofmeister)

They formulated conlcusions and recommendations for German and European foreign and development policy. After two rounds of questions from the moderators, the audience was invited to pose questions and a lively debate ensued. Scientists from different disciplines, civil society representatives and members of the general public attended the event. The audience posed questions on the difficulties of cultural exchange, the political implications of harmonizing effects and the practical pitfalls of cooperation projects. The  following get-together provided the opportunity to discuss follow-up questions and continue the dialogue.

 

The event was organised in co-operation with the Schader Foundation in Darmstadt.

 


Experts discuss the future of EU foreign and security policy (Foto: Claus Völker)
Experts discuss the future of EU foreign and security policy (Foto: Claus Völker)

March 15, 2017

 

Second European Lounge Talk:

"Between Trump and Putin: The future of the European foreign and security policy"

 

CEDI organised the second European Lounge Talk on March 15, 2017 at the Schader-Stiftung Darmstadt. The roundtable discussion focussed on new strategic challenges for a common European Foreign and Security Policy. Experts discussed the impact of Russian and American foreign policy, US-Russian relations and the effects of the Brexit on EU security policy.

Speakers included Prof. Dr. Thomas Jäger (University of Cologne), Dr. Manfred Sapper (Journal Osteuropa), Dr. Annegret Bendiek (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik) and Protestant Military Bishop Dr. Sigurd Rink. CEDI Director Michèle Knodt and Co-Director Arne Niemann chaired the discussion.

 

CEDI Director Michèle Knodt and Annegret Bendiek (Foto: Claus Völker)
CEDI Director Michèle Knodt and Annegret Bendiek (Foto: Claus Völker)

Thomas Jäger, expert on transatlantic relations, analysed the strategic changes in the American foreign and security policy in general and the new relations with Russia. Dr. Manfred Sapper, expert for Russia and East Europe, took the Russian point of view and discussed the relations to the USA and the EU. Annegret Bendiek summarized the challenges for the European foreign and security policy. She detected a a new political pragmatism in the current European Agenda on Security. Military Bishop Sigurd Rink directed the focus of the debate to more fundamental normative principles, such as reliability, just freedom and solidarity. The experts concluded that the EU should take on more responsibility in global security policy. At the same time the EU must hold up normative guidelines and not give way to a new pragmatism as it was detected in the current European Agenda on Security.

Over 70 guests attended the second European Lounge Talk (Foto: Claus Völker)
Over 70 guests attended the second European Lounge Talk (Foto: Claus Völker)

After two rounds of questions from the moderators, the audience was invited to pose questions and a lively debate ensued. Scientists from different disciplines, local administrators, civil society representatives and members of the general public attended the event. The informal setting of the talks and the following get-together facilitated direct exchange between researchers, practitioners and the general public.

 

The event was organised in co-operation with the Schader Foundation in Darmstadt.


Scientists and practioners discussed EU refugee policy
Scientists and practioners discussed EU refugee policy

January 8, 2016

 

First European Lounge Talk on EU Refugee Crisis

 

On 8 January 2016, Arne Niemann and Natascha Zaun (University of Mainz) convened a roundtable discussion on the EU’s role in the global refugee crisis and the EU’s refugee policy, bringing together scientists from different disciplines, street-level bureaucrats, civil society, and the general public.

The event covered different aspects of the EU’s refugee policy and the refugee crisis and potential ways to overcome the crisis. After an assessment of the status-quo different policy recommendations were discussed. Speakers included Prof. Dr. Dietrich Thränhardt (University of Münster), Michael Richter (Author, Journalist, Film Artist), Maik Boldau (former director of a refugee reception centre in Brandenburg, Germany) and CEDI Team member Dr. Natascha Zaun (University of Mainz).

Over 100 guests attended the first European Lounge Talk
Over 100 guests attended the first European Lounge Talk

The EU’s refugee policy is a topical issue on which exchange between scholars and practitioners is of high importance. Additionally, civil society and the general public have a strong interest in this topic and often feel insufficiently informed. The roundtable discussion aimed to close this gap and was well-received, welcoming over 100 guests

Among the guests was a group of school teachers who had visited the event after a day-course for teachers about the global refugee crisis, which was organised by the department of geography of Mainz University.