UK perspectives on EU employment and social law

A Foreign Policy Centre, European Commission Representation in the UK and TUC project

Date: Friday 10 February 2012, 2pm-5.45pm (Registration and lunch from 1pm, event followed by networking drinks)

Venue: TUC Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

The FPC, ECUK and TUC's 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' conference will be a high profile half-day event that will bring together a range of different British perspectives on the EU's role in employment and social law. The conference will look at the current state of the debate in Brussels on employment and social rights, take the political temperature in the UK around the issue and set out the benefits and challenges for workers, businesses and the country.

The Conference will involve a range of high profile speakers including:

• Commissioner Laszlo Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Emma Reynolds MP, Shadow Europe Minister
• Brendan Barber, General Secretary, TUC
• Professor Anne Davies, University of Oxford
• Lord Monks, former General Secretary, ETUC
• Billy Hayes, General Secretary, CWU and TUC Europe Spokesperson
• Karen Clements, British Chambers of Commerce
• Mats Persson, Director, Open Europe

The conference will also launch the 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' pamphlet with copies available for participants. The event is free and open to all, though places will be allocated on a first come-first served basis.

Please contact events@fpc.org.uk to RSVP for this event

Download Single Market, Equal Rights invite (180 kilobyte PDF)

UK perspectives on EU employment and social law

Date: Friday 20th April 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Diamond Room, Macdonald Burlington, Burlington Arcade, 126 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4JQ

The FPC, EC and TUC's 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' Birmingham seminar will bring together a range of different British perspectives on the EU's role in employment and social law. The event will look at the current state of the debate in Brussels on employment and social rights, take the political temperature in the UK around the issue and set out the benefits and challenges for workers, businesses and the country.

Our panel will comprise:

• Emma Reynolds MP, Shadow Europe Minister
• Lorely Burt MP, Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party
• Further speakers TBC

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, FPC

The event is free and open to all.

Please contact events@fpc.org.uk to RSVP for this event

UK perspectives on EU employment and social law

Date: Friday 11th May 6pm-7.30pm

Venue: Hilton Cardiff, Kingsway, Cardiff, CF10 3HH

The FPC, EC and TUC's 'Single Market, Equal Rights?' Cardiff seminar will bring together a range of different British perspectives on the EU's role in employment and social law. The event will look at the current state of the debate in Brussels on employment and social rights, take the political temperature in the UK around the issue and set out the benefits and challenges for workers, businesses and the country.

Our panel will comprise:

• Kay Swinburne MEP (Conservative)
• Derek Vaughan MEP (Labour)
• Dr Nick Parsons, School of European Studies, Cardiff University
• Further speakers TBC

Chair: Owen Tudor, Head of European Union and International Relations, TUC

The event is free and open to all.

Please contact events@fpc.org.uk to RSVP for this event

DATE: Monday 10th October 2011

TIME: 7.00-9.00pm

VENUE: Committee Room 6, House of Commons, SW1A 0AA 

(please use Cromwell Green Visitors Entrance, see map attached)

This event is now full

Speakers:

• Lord Alderdice, former Leader Alliance Party
• Jonathan Fryer, SOAS
• Firdevs Robinson, formerly BBC World Service

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

Introduction: Nick De Bois MP, Enfield North 

The Centre for Turkey Studies and Development (CTSD) and the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) are please to host a Westminster seminar to discuss the current political situation in Turkey at the start of the AKP third term. It will examine both the progress Turkey has made in recent years and the challenges it still faces, particularly on media freedom and minority rights. With plans to change the Turkish Constitution high up the political agenda it is an important time for a UK audience to examine what can be done both in Turkey and abroad to strengthen the process of democratisation and political reform in this growing global power.

Event is free and open to all. For more information please contact Ibrahim Dogus of CTSD on 02083412021

If you would like to attend, please RSVP by email to:

events@fpc.org.uk

Date: Thursday 23 June, 3pm-5pm,

Venue: European Policy Centre, Résidence Palace, 155 rue de la Loi, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium

As part of the FPC's global series of events following the launch of the recent Spotlight on Armenia publication, we are delighted to be able to partner with the European Policy Centre, to hold a seminar in the Brussels. The EPC and OSI Spotlight on Armenia event will debate the major challenges Armenia faces regarding democratic development, rule of law, media freedom, corruption and other human rights issues, while examining the impact of its international relationships on domestic politics.

Speakers:

• Peter Semneby, Former EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus(tbc)
• Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre
• Jacqui Hale, Senior Policy Analyst - EU External Relations, Open Society Institute-Brussels
• Paruyr Hovhannisyan, European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA)

Chair: Amanda Paul, Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre

To RSVP please email: v.belmega@epc.eu

Date: Tuesday 14 June, 6pm-7.45pm

Venue: Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London SW1A 2LW (use public entrance on Victoria Embankment)

As part of the FPC's global series of events following the launch of the recent Spotlight on Armenia publication, we are delighted to be able to hold an event in London. The FPC's Spotlight on Armenia event will debate the major challenges Armenia faces regarding democratic development, rule of law, media freedom, corruption and other human rights issues, while examining the impact of its international relationships on domestic politics.

Speakers:

• Lord Prescott, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Rapporteur for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee for Armenia
• Anna Walker, Senior Analyst-Central Asia and South Caucasus, Control Risks
• Dr Elisabeth Robson, EastWest Insight and former head of the BBC Russia and Caucasus & Central Asia Services
• Dr Armine Ishkanian,Programme Director NGOs and Development, LSE

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

To RSVP please email: events@fpc.org.uk

Download Spotlight on Armenia: London invitation (90 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Thursday 2 June, 12.15pm-2pm

Venue: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036-2103

To hear the recording of the event please click here

http://dl2.newmediamill.net/media/carnegie/2011-06-02-Armenia.mp3

As part of the FPC's global series of events following the launch of the recent Spotlight on Armenia publication, we are delighted to be able to partner with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to hold a seminar in Washington D.C. The event will debate the major challenges Armenia faces regarding democratic development, rule of law, media freedom, corruption and other human rights issues, while examining the impact of its international relationships on domestic politics.

Speakers:

• Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre
• Dawn Schock, Armenia Country Director, American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative
• Laura Jewett, Director, Regional Director- Eurasia, National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Discussant: Ambassador John Evans, US Ambassador to Armenia, 2004-06

Chair: Tom De Waal, Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment

To RSVP please email: events@fpc.org.uk

For more information about the event email: russiaeurasiaprogram@ceip.org

Date: Monday 30 May, 5.30pm-7pm

Venue: Nieuwspoort, Lange Poten 10, 2511 CL The Hague, Netherlands

As part of the FPC's global series of events following the launch of the recent Spotlight on Armenia publication, we are delighted to be able to partner with the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, to hold a seminar in the Hague. The event will debate the major challenges Armenia faces regarding democratic development, rule of law, media freedom, corruption and other human rights issues, while examining the impact of its international relationships on domestic politics.

Speakers:

• Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre
• HE Dzyunik Aghajanian, the Ambassador of Republic of Armenia in Netherlands
• Guido de Graaf Bierbrauwer, Senior Programme Officer Caucasus, IKV Pax Christi
• Further speaker tbc

Chair: Harry Hummel, Director, Netherlands Helsinki Committee

To RSVP please email: events@fpc.org.uk

Download Spotlight on Armenia: The Hague (140 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Thursday 31 March, 6.00pm-7.30pm

Venue: Dunedin Suite, Radisson Blu Hotel, Royal Mile, 80 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TH

Speakers:

• Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative
• David Martin MEP, Labour
• Alyn Smith MEP, SNP
• Elspeth Attwooll, former Liberal Democrat MEP
• Professor Andrew Scott, Professor of European Union Studies, University of Edinburgh

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, FPC

Our Edinburgh event will be the final in a series of events taking place around the country as part of a new project between the Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom. It seeks to explore the impact the new coalition government is having on the UK's relationship with EU institutions and other member states and on the dynamics of the European debate within the main parties. The panel will examine the potential internal and external challenges and opportunities facing the coalition on European issues, while addressing any impact electoral defeat has made to the Labour Party's long-term approach to the EU, given perceived problems over Lisbon ratification and EU migration.

The event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download The 'new British politics' and Europe: Edinburgh (160 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Friday 25 March 2011, 6.15pm-7.45pm (drinks from 6pm)

Venue: West Reception Room, Liverpool Town Hall, High Street, Liverpool, L2 3SW

Speakers:

• Stephen Twigg MP, Shadow Foreign Office Minister, Liverpool West Derby
• Sir Robert Atkins MEP, Conservative - North West
• Chris Davies MEP, Liberal Democrat - North West
• Dr. Kevin Hickson, Senior Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of Liverpool

Chair: Jim Hancock, former BBC North West Political Editor

This Liverpool seminar is the third in a series of events around the country as part of a new project between the Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom. It seeks to explore the impact the new coalition government is having on the UK's relationship with EU institutions and other member states and on the dynamics of the European debate within the main parties. The panel will examine the potential internal and external challenges and opportunities facing the coalition on European issues, while addressing any impact electoral defeat has made to the Labour Party's long-term approach to the EU.

The event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download the report (170 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Tuesday 1 February, 6.00-7.45pm

Venue: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Room (off Westminster Hall), Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

Speakers:

• Baroness Emma Nicholson, Liberal Democrats
• Wayne David MP, Shadow Minster for Europe
• Chris Heaton-Harris MP, European Scrutiny Committee
• John Peet, Europe Editor, The Economist

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

Introduction: Jonathan Scheele, Head of European Commission Representation in the UK

This Westminster seminar is the second in a new series of events taking place around the country as part of a new project between the Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom that seeks to explore the impact the new coalition government is having on the UK's relationship with EU institutions and other member states and how it is shaping the dynamics of the European debate within the main parties. The panel will examine the potential internal and external challenges and opportunities facing the coalition on European issues, while addressing any impact electoral defeat has made to the Labour Party's long-term approach to the EU, given perceived problems over Lisbon ratification and EU migration.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download The 'new British politics' and Europe: London, Feb 1st, 6pm (160 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Friday 21 January, 6.00pm-7.30pm

Venue: Yorkshire Bank Lecture Theatre, Leeds University Business School, Maurice Keyworth Building, University of Leeds, Moorland Road, Leeds LS6 1AN

• Edward McMillan Scott MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, Liberal Democrats
• Linda McAvan MEP, Labour
• Dr David Seawright, Senior Lecturer in British Politics, University of Leeds (expert on the Conservative Party and Europe)

Chair: Adam Hug, Policy Director, Foreign Policy Centre

Our Leeds seminar launches a series of events around the country as part of a new project between the Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom. It seeks to explore the impact the new coalition government is having on the UK's relationship with EU institutions and other member states and on the dynamics of the European debate within the main parties. The panel will examine the potential internal and external challenges and opportunities facing the coalition on European issues, while addressing any impact electoral defeat has made to the Labour Party's long-term approach to the EU, given perceived problems over Lisbon ratification and EU migration. The event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download The 'new British politics' and Europe - Leeds event (160 kilobyte PDF)

Wednesday 27th October

Time: 1pm - 2.15pm (lunch provided from 12.45pm)

Venue: Inter-Parliamentary Union Room, Houses of Parliament, Westminster

Speakers:

• HE Ambassador Volodymyr Khandogiy, Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK
• John Whittingdale OBE MP, Chair British-Ukraine APPG and Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
• David Clark, FPC Senior Research Associate & Chair of the Russia Foundation
• James Sherr, Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House
• Chair: Helen Goodman MP, Secretary British-Ukraine APPG

The Foreign Policy Centre is to hold an important seminar exploring the current situation in Ukraine, its prospects for the future and its international relationships. It will look at Ukraine's political and economic stability since the 2010 Presidential election and its prospects for reform. The seminar will examine the future of its relations with Russia and NATO but particularly explore the opportunities for strengthening the relationship with the EU through Eastern Partnership.

The FPC is bringing together a diverse panel of speakers for a full and frank discussion about Ukraine's future and the role we can play to help it on the path of reform.

Please RSVP by email to: events@fpc.org.uk

On Friday 28 May, The FPC held a major conference in Istanbul 'Turkey 2020: Challenges and Opportunities' at the Point Barbaros Hotel. Exploring the key themes of Turkey's Economic Future, Turkey in the World and A Turkey for all its Citizens it brought together leading progressive thinkers from academia, journalism, business, ngos and politics.

Mustafa Sarigül, leader of Turkey's Change Movement, delivered the keynote speech and its contents can be viewed at http://fpc.org.uk/fsblob/1210.pdf

Download The full speaker line up for Turkey 2020 (180 kilobyte PDF)

Friday 21 May, 4.00-5.45pm

Main Hall, Pierhead Building, The National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF99 1NA

This is the final event in the FPC and European Commission Representation in the United Kingdom's Reconnecting the European Parliament and its People series.

Chair: Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, Former First Minister of Wales and Chair of the Welsh Assembly European and External Affairs Committee

Speakers:

• Dr Kay Swinburne MEP (Conservative)
• Derek Vaughan MEP (Labour)
• Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru)
• John Bufton MEP (UKIP)
• Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy and External Affairs, British Chambers of Commerce

Please RSVP to: events@fpc.org.uk

Download Reconnecting the European Parliament and its People: Cardiff (170 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Friday 29 January 2010, 5pm-6.45pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Scottish Parliament, Palace of Holyrood House, Edinburgh EH99 1SP

Speakers:

• Catherine Stihler MEP, Labour
• Struan Stevenson MEP, Conservative
• Christopher Harvie MSP, SNP
• Elspeth Attwooll, former Liberal Democrat MEP
• Professor Jo Shaw, Salvesen Chair of European Institutions, University of Edinburgh

Chair: George Foulkes MSP

The Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the UK are delighted to be holding a 'Reconnecting the European Parliament and its People' event in Edinburgh. The event, part of a series of four seminars being held across the UK, will examine public awareness and attitudes towards the European Parliament, assess the problems that it faces and explore some possible solutions.

To RSVP, please email: events[at]fpc.org.uk

Survey

Information for visitors to the Scottish Parliament

• PDF file

Download Edinburgh invitation (150 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Tuesday February 2nd, 6pm-7.45pm

Venue: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room, Houses of Parliament.

2010 is a vitally important year for Kazakhstan and for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). For the first time a Central Asian nation has taken the leadership role of a major international political organisation, but Kazakhstan is also be the first non-democracy to become the OSCE's Chairman-in-Office. Kazakhstan is under the international spotlight to an extent it has not seen since independence. In light of this the FPC hosted a major Westminster Seminar, supported by the Civil Activity Fund, to discuss Kazakhstan's OSCE Chairmanship, the current human rights and political situation in the country and the role the international community can play to support reform in the country.

Speakers included:

• Chris Bryant MP, Minister for Europe
• Iva Dobichina, Director of Central Asia Programmes, Freedom House
• Bakhytzhan Ketabayev, Head of K+ Satellite TV Channel, and member of the Civil Activity Fund
• Vera Tkachenko, Director, Legal Policy Research Centre
• Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (Chair)

Download Transcript of Kazakhstan at a Crossroads Event: Feb 2nd (230 kilobyte PDF)

Date: Friday 11 December, 5pm-6.45pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester M60 2LA

Speakers:

• Arlene McCarthy MEP, Labour
• Sajjad Karim MEP, Conservative
• Jim Hancock, former BBC North West Political Editor
• Paul Nuttall MEP, UKIP (tbc)

Chair: Stephen Twigg, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre

The Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the UK are delighted to be holding a 'Reconnecting the European Parliament and its People' event in Manchester. The event, part of a series of four events across the UK, will examine public awareness and attitudes towards the European Parliament, assess the problems that it faces and explore some possible solutions.

To RSVP for the Manchester event, please email: events[at]fpc.org.uk

Download Manchester event invitation (160 kilobyte PDF)

Tuesday 1 December, 6pm-7.30pm, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Room, Houses of Parliament

Chair: Stephen Twigg, Director, Foreign Policy Centre

Panel:

• Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP, Former Europe Minister
• Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory MP
• John Peet, Europe Editor, The Economist
• Liz Atkins, Director of Public Policy, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

Welcome remarks: Sarah Lambert, Acting Head of Representation, European Commission Representation in the UK

The Foreign Policy Centre and the European Commission Representation in the UK are delighted to announce the launch of a new project, 'Reconnecting the European Parliament and its People. It will comprises a series of four events across the UK, followed by research, that will examine public awareness and attitudes towards the European Parliament, assess the problems that it faces and explore some possible solutions.

Download Event invitation (160 kilobyte PDF)

Wednesday 16th September 3.45-5pm

The Foreign Policy Centre hosted Irakli Alasania, leader of both his 'Our Georgia-Free Democrats Party' and the moderate opposition coalition 'Alliance for Georgia' at a Westminster Seminar on 16 September.

Prior to his role in opposition Mr Alasania served as Georgia's Ambassador to the United Nations from June 2006 to December 2008 and before that, from 2004-2006 as leader of the Abkhazian Government-in-exile and the President's Special Representative in the Georgia-Abkhaz peace talks.

Mr Alasania spoke about the current political and human rights situation in Georgia and what the international community can to do to support the country's democratic development.

An excerpt from his speech can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htLM7ckNAfM

Download Irakli Alasania event invitation (150 kilobyte PDF)

Wednesday 11th March 2009, 6.00-7.30pm

Date: Wednesday 11th March 2009, 6.00-7.30pm

Speakers:

• Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG MP, Former Foreign Secretary
• Tom De Waal, Caucasus Research Associate, Conciliation Resources.
• HE Giorgi Badridze, Ambassador Designate, Embassy of Georgia

Chair: Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee

The FPC hosted a 'Spotlight on Georgia' seminar on Wed 11 Mar to launch a programme of work on Georgia that will examine the country's performance across a range of good governance areas, including: human rights, the rule of law, media freedom, the growth of civil society and the development of democratic institutions.

This work will be set in the context of the development of the relationship between Georgia and the West, the stalled decision on whether to offer Georgia a NATO MAP, and the long-term possibility of EU membership. It will also examine the practical steps that can be taken to improve performance towards good governance goals.

For more information about this project, please email: events@fpc.org.uk

Wed 5 November 2008, 6.00-7.30pm

Date: Wed 5 November 2008, 6.00-7.30pm

Venue: Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, Victoria Embankment, London SW1A 2LW

Speakers:

Peter Luff MP, Chairman, Business & Enterprise Select Committee

John Peet, Europe Editor, The Economist

Roland Rudd, Chairman, Business for New Europe

Serra Kaleli, First Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in London

Chair: Bob Laxton MP, Chair, All-Party British-Turkish Parliamentary Group

The Foreign Policy Centre, in partnership with Business for New Europe, launched a new pamphlet on 5 November that sets out a clear economic and business case for Turkish membership of the European Union. The event was timed to coincide with the release of the EU's report on progress accession and provided an opportunity to debate Turkey's progress towards accession, the challenges it still faces and the important economic and political linkages Turkey and the EU share.

The pamphlet, edited by Adam Hug at the Foreign Policy Centre, contains contributions from: Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Rt Hon William Hague MP, Commissioner Olli Rehn, Roland Rudd (Chairman, Business for New Europe) Dr Mehmet Ugur (University of Greenwich), Prof Refik Erzan (Bogazici University), Dr Bahadir Kaleagasi (TUSIAD, the Turkish business association), Sir Julian Horn Smith, (UK Co-Chair, Turkish British Business Council) and Dr Gareth Winrow (formerly of Istanbul Bilgi University).

Download the pamphlet in full at:

http://fpc.org.uk/fsblob/991.pdf

Wednesday 28 March, 2007

Time: 10.30am to 11.45am

Keynote speech: Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP

Chair: Stephen Twigg

Venue: Committee Room 9, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE(Access via St Stephen's Entrance)

Places are limited, please RSVP to: alex.bigham[at]fpc.org.uk

+44 (0)20 7729 7566

Download Alan Johnson's speech (30 kilobyte PDF)

Tuesday 6 March, 2007

Rt Hon Peter Hain MP

Chair: Stephen Twigg

Kindly hosted by:

Hill & Knowlton

20 Soho Square

London W1A 1PR

About the event:

Peter Hain spoke and took questions at a packed Foreign Policy Centre discussion on "The End of Foreign Policy?" kindly hosted at the offices of Hill & Knowlton.

Since the events of September 11th, the barriers between the domestic and the international have further broken down. The old definition of "the national interest" is too narrow a guide to foreign policy in a globalised world, but we are still developing the new rules which should replace it. How can we redefine a multilateral foreign policy to encompass this new dynamic? Today's foreign policy needs to be shaped by ideas, not by events.

You can download a copy of Peter Hain's speech below

Download Peter Hain's speech to the Foreign Policy Centre (50 kilobyte PDF)

An ODI, Foreign Policy Centre and APGOOD Event

Global Challenges: Europe's Role

Keynote Speaker: Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Thursday 1st February, 1.00 – 2.30PM

Committee Room 10, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA (please use St Stephen's entrance) PLEASE NOTE ROOM CHANGE

At this joint ODI, Foreign Policy Centre and All Party Parliamentary Group on Overseas Development (APGOOD) event, Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister for Europe will speak about the role Europe can play in addressing today's major global challenges.

The Minister would like his speech to focus on the thoughts of the audience in this respect and to this end, you are invited to submit your own thoughts here in response to the following questions:

1. Which three main global challenges are especially suited for a Europe-wide response?

2. What three main strengths and three main weaknesses will determine whether the EU is or is not able to deliver a good response?

3. What does the UK and wider European development/external relations community have to do differently to make sure the weaknesses are overcome?

All feedback received in response to these questions will be passed to the Minister's office in advance of the event and his speech will endeavour to address the major themes which emerge.

If you would like to attend, please click here to register your place and submit your thoughts on the Minister's questions: http://www.odi.org.uk/speeches/apgood/international_development/1stFeb07/form.html

Please note that the deadline for submitting feedback is 12.00NOON on Thursday 18th January. Submissions received after then will not be passed to the Minister's office, although you will still be able to register for the meeting until 48 hours before the event.

Download Geoff Hoon's speech (30 kilobyte PDF)

Kindly sponsored by United Utilities

Tuesday 18 July 2006, 11.30am – 1.00pm

Venue: Committee Room 18, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA (Access via St Stephen's entrance)

The Foreign Policy Centre is delighted to welcome one of Bulgaria's most popular politicians, Boyko Borissov, Mayor of Sofia to speak at a seminar on the next enlargement of the European Union.

Bulgaria and Romania are due to join the European Union on 1 January 2007. This, the sixth enlargement of the EU, is part of an ongoing transformation of south-eastern Europe. Across the region, the prospect of EU membership is inspiring economic reform and democratic governance.

Yet question marks remain. In Bulgaria and Romania, there are problems of corruption, weak judiciary, organised crime, human trafficking, and mistreatment of minorities. The 2007 enlargement will bring the borders of the EU to new shores of instability in the Black Sea region. How will the EU respond to this new environment? What pressures can the EU exert to push reforms through before 2007?

Keynote Speaker:

Boyko Borissov, Mayor of Sofia

Panellists:

Graham Brady MP, Shadow Europe Minister

Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP, Former Europe Minister

Matthew Shinkman, Economist Intelligence Unit

To reserve a place at the seminar, please contact Edward Young:

edward.young[at]fpc.org.uk

T +44 20 7388 6662 or F +44 20 7388 8896

Royal Netherlands Embassy, London

On 9 June 2005 Quentin Peel, the Foreign Editor of the Financial Times, chaired a discussion between leaders of the French and Dutch campaigns on the EU Constitution and its implications for the British vote.

The event offered the opportunity for a high-level group of UK policy-makers, campaigners, business leaders and media representatives to discuss the results of both referendums; the reasons behind the results; necessary future action by the EU as well as the lessons to be learned for a potential British vote.

Paneliests were Nick Clegg MP, Monique Saliou-Gloux of the French Socialist Party and Lousewies van der Laan, deputy leader of the Dutch Liberal Democratic Party (D66).

The event report will be posted soon.

Download the event report (30 kilobyte PDF)

A seminar with:

Sir Digby Jones

Director-General, The Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

and

Dr Denis MacShane MP

Minister of State for Europe

Monday 4 April 2005

The debate over how national governments and parliaments can best scrutinise European legislation is of critical importance to the evolution of the EU.

This seminar marked the launch of a new pamphlet from The Foreign Policy Centre, 'UK Parliamentary Scrutiny of EU Legislation', by Sir Digby Jones (Director-General, The Confederation of British Industry), with a preface by Dr Denis MacShane MP, British Minister for Europe.

It sets out the key advantages and flaws of the current scrutiny system, and identifies the priorities for reform.

• Read the report

On March 29, the Barrow Cadbury Trust and The Foreign Policy Centre hosted a Global Exchange Forum conference on 'Social Capital: A Policy Tool for North and South?'. The conference brought together some of the luminaries on social capital and related debates from the North and the South, including: Professor Anthony Giddens; Matilde Ribeiro, Minister for Race Equality (Brazil); Maxine Molyneux, Institute of Latin American Studies; Anthony Heath, Oxford University; Jean Pierre Voyer, Policy Research Initiative (Canada); Michael Woolcock, World Bank; Raja Dharmapala, Dharmavedi Institute (Sri Lanka); David Halpern, Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.

The aim of the conference was to improve channels of communications and create networks between Northern and Southern policymaking communities, both inside and outside of government. It explored ways in which social capital has been understood in different contexts and how it has been applied in key areas of policy. In particular, it focused on three areas: the empowerment of women, managing communities under stress and improving race relations.

• Click here to read the conference report

The European Parliament is getting stronger and is now the most sophisticated supranational parliament in the world.

There is simply nothing like it.

So why is it still failing to capture the imagination or even the interest of the European public?

In an report from the Next Generation Democracy series, Nick Clegg and Michiel van Hulten argue that the European Parliament needs to deploy its strengths better and reform its organisation if it is to gain greater legitimacy and credibility.

The report was launched in Brussels at Webber Shandwick Adamson, 50 Rue Wiertz, 1050 Brussels, on the 27th of May 2003.