Events
Debating Europe has held a series of live debates, streamed online, drawing on the most innovative and interesting suggestions emerging from the online discussions.
Africa’s economic transformation
June 25, 2013
In June 2013, Debating Europe, along with our partner think tank Friends of Europe, held a high-level summit during which EU and African policy-makers reviewed ways in which the EU could encourage Africa’s sustainable development by crafting a new vision for future cooperation. Debating Europe collected video questions from young people from both Europe and Africa, displaying them at the summit itself and asking the speakers to respond.
Cleaner air for Europe’s youth
June 6, 2013
In June 2013 Debating Europe organised a student-led session as part of the official programme of the European Commission’s 2013 Green Week. The session involved pre-recorded video questions about air quality from students from across Europe, put to a high-level panel of experts. There were also live questions from an audience also comprised of European school children. The primary purpose of the session was to improve the confidence, knowledge and skills of Europe’s school children, helping them understand the importance of air quality, how it is affected, the role of the EU, and, ultimately, to empower them to change their behaviour.
Saving Europe’s “Lost Generation”
May 15, 2013
In May 2013, Debating Europe, in partnership with our partner think tank Friends of Europe, held a high-level Policy Summit that brought together a varied panel of experts to discuss Europe’s high levels of youth unemployment. Speakers included Androulla Vassiliou, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism & Youth; Ruairí Quinn, Irish Minister for Education and Skills; and Mariana Câmpeanu, Romanian Minister for Labour, Family and Social Protection.
Healthcare in times of austerity
May 7, 2013
In May 2012, Debating Europe, along with our partner think tank Friends of Europe, held an event looking at whether, with public budgets under pressure, Europe’s healthcare spending model should be re-shaped to boost prevention and reduce the social and economic costs of diseases.
“5 Ideas for a Younger Europe” closing event
March 18, 2013
In March 2013, Debating Europe was the official debating partner for the final event of the “5 Ideas for a Younger Europe” joint-initiative of the First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella, and the then Vice-President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Anna Maria Darmanin. The two senior representatives of EU institutions had been visiting universities across Europe to meet with young people and listen to their ideas for a younger and better Europe, and the top five ideas were selected and submitted to the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee.
How is social media changing politics?
January 9, 2013
In January 2013, Debating Europe hosted a debate with Adam Conner, Public Policy Manager at Facebook and social media strategist for President Obama’s 2012 election campaign. The debate offered an opportunity to hear about his experience and to discuss the role of social media in politics.
“Round Table with Round Cakes” special intern-only events
December 12, 2012 & May 2, 2013
Debating Europe partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme and the European Youth Press for the “Round Table with Round Cakes” series of events bringing together people-who-have-made-it with people-who-are-starting-out to discuss pressing global issues that will frame the career opportunities for young professionals. The two events held so far hosted Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, and Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Environment.
Destination Europe: Catalonia’s EU Future
November 7, 2012
In November 2012, Debating Europe, along with our partner think tank Friends of Europe, held a Policy Spotlight discussion with Artur Mas, President of the Government of Catalonia. Having made headlines in Europe and beyond for his plans to hold a referendum on independence from Spain, President Mas spoke on Catalonia’s future in the European Union.
Investing in Afghanistan’s future
April 24, 2012
In April 2012, Debating Europe, along with our partner think-tank Friends of Europe, held and event looking at what can be done to encourage a peaceful transition to a post-conflict society in Afghanistan. With Western forces due to pull out of Afghanistan in 2014, the issue of European policy towards Afghanistan is high on the foreign policy agenda. Taking part were Paul Smith, British Council Country Director in Afghanistan and Nasrine Gross, founder of the Roqia Center for Women’s Rights, Studies and Education in Afghanistan.
Lessons learned from the global economic crisis
March 27, 2012
In March 2012, Debating Europe, along with Euronews and EU40, hosted a live debate in the European Parliament between Jean-Clause Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg and the chairman of the Eurogroup of finance ministers and Jean-Claude Trichet, former president of the European Central Bank and chairman of the Bruegel think-tank. The debate was livestreamed online and questions from Debating Europe were put to the panellists.
EU 2050: Europe’s tech revolution
March 20, 2012
In March 2012, Debating Europe, along with our partner think-tank Friends of Europe, hosted a live event looking at some of the ways technology might affect Europe by the year 2050. Taking part in the debate were Professor Anne Glover, Chief Scientific Advisor to the European Commission President, and Dan Reed, Corporate Vice President of the Technology Group at Microsoft Research. It was a spirited debate, with questions coming in from users for the panellists and with the whole event livestreamed online.
One year after Fukushima: The future of nuclear energy in Europe
March 7, 2012
In March 2012, Debating Europe held a live head-to-head debate on the question of the future of nuclear energy in Europe. Taking part were Dr. Patrick Moore, Co-founder of Greenpeace and Co-Chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, and Jo Leinen MEP, Member and former Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment.
The European Parliament Presidential Debate
January 11, 2012
On 17 January 2012, MEPs elected a new president of the European Parliament. One week before the elections, Debating Europe, European Voice, VoteWatch.eu, EU40 and Burson Marsteller held a public debate amongst the declared candidates.
What would a collapse of the euro look like?
October 13, 2011
In October 2011, Debating Europe held a live head-to-head debate between Bill Cash, British Conservative MP and chairman of the UK parliament’s European Scrutiny Committee, and John Bruton, former Irish prime minister and former EU ambassador.