The British Embassy Budapest, in partnership with the Central European University and the British Chamber of Commerce in Hungary is convening a series of four expert seminars focusing on the EU and its role as a key player in the world.

We are living in an ever more integrated and inter-connected world and Europe needs to respond constructively to globalisation if it is to remain a serious player on the world stage. This is why I welcome this initiative, which aims to explore EU internal and external policies in a global context.

Many questions will be raised. How is the EU's CFSP developing, especially in relation to Russia and newly-emerging world powers? What is the EU's approach in the Doha trade negotiations? How does the EU contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? How does the EU determine its policy towards issues of justice, freedom and security? In what way is the EU determining its own future both through the Lisbon Treaty and the successor to the Lisbon Agenda?

This series will raise the profile of these issues both locally and regionally, bringing together policy-makers, academics, the media and figures from business and the third sector. I am confident that this seminar series will make a valuable contribution to EU policy debates.

Glenys Kinnock
Minister for Europe

 

SEMINAR SERIES

Seminar 1 - Common foreign and security policy (CFSP) in an enlarged EU

Thursday 8 October 2009, 9.45-13.00

The seminar will put CFSP in context. It will examine the EU's objectives for its CFSP, consider how it conducts and co-ordinates its activity, how the EU works together and how it relates to non-EU neighbours and key partners, such as Russia, Central Asia, Pakistan and NATO.

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Seminar 2 - Trade & Development

Thursday 10 December 2009, 9.45-13.00

A central theme of this seminar will be the EU perspective on the future of  World Trade Organisation negotiations. The EU's central donor role in global development cooperation will be explored, with a  focus on implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and EU trading relations with emerging players.

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Seminar 3 - Justice, freedom and security

Thursday 4 February 2010, 9.45-13.00

The seminar will examine issues connected with justice, freedom and security, both within the EU and in terms of the relationship between the EU and the rest of the world. Issues covered will include immigration, terrorism, minorities and human rights.

Seminar 4 - Lisbon Agenda post 2010 and the future of the EU

Thursday 25 March 2010, 9.45-13.00

This seminar will focus on the EU's internal agenda, the successor to the Lisbon Agenda, how the EU spends its money - priorities for the EU budget and the next financial perspective, and what an enlarged EU will look like.