NEWS


The CES 2024 Lyon Conference

The Jean Monnet Network Debating Europe is set to participate in the CES 2024 conference in Lyon, where it will engage in discussions on European integration and policy-making. This involvement underscores the Network's commitment to fostering academic dialogue and promoting a deeper understanding of European affairs among scholars and practitioners. For more information click the link here.

ECPR 2024/Panel Politicising European democracy(ies)

Date, time and Location

In person icon Building: O'Brien Centre for Sciences, Floor: 2, Room: ALE H2.38

Wednesday 11:15 - 13:00 BST (14/08/2024)

Abstract

Despite the activities of the EU and national institutions as well as intermediate institutions and actors, research as well as opinion surveys diagnose a gap between what has been termed "EU elites" and EU citizens. The EU has a legitimacy problem, support rates have been decreasing during the peak of the financial crisis and despite the economic situation improving, votes for populist, extremist, anti-EU and anti-democrat parties and movements are on the rise throughout the EU. At the same time, the Europeanisation of politics and decision making continues to impact and transform the national democratic systems of the member states.

The panel focuses on theoretical and conceptual aspects as well as empirical results of student views on EU democracy and EU politicization, and in particular this gap between the EU and its citizens. Discussing with EU Studies students means to discuss with a group of citizens that is relatively well informed about the EU and, as according to quantitative findings, supposedly Europhile. This choice allows to diagnose the problem of the EU as they are seen by a social group who is supposed to be a pro-EU avant-garde, and hence consists of key actors for EU development.

For more information click the link here.

Researching Europe III. International Ph.D. Workshop, February 9, 2024

This international workshop assembles doctoral candidates researching on Europe and the EU from six different EU countries and seven different European Universities. The doctoral students are invited to present their research projects and discuss methods, theory and topics among peers and teachers in an open and cooperative debate. Besides the workshop offers to discuss the scientific, operational and practical framework of writing a doctorate in an experimental manner among the peers and teachers.

Organisation:

Direction:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)

In cooperation with:

  • Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)
  • Niilo Kauppi (Helsinki University)
  • Ruzha Smilova (Sofia University)
  • Kim Ziliacus (Helsinki University
  • Willy Beauvallet (Université Lyon)
  • Cecile Robert (Science Po, Lyon)
  • Ana Matan (University of Zagreb)
  • Tonci Kursar (University of Zagreb)
  • Igor Vidacak (University of Zagreb)
  • Meta Novak (University of Ljubljana)
  • Damjan Lajh (University of Ljubljana)

 


Timetable, February 9, 2024

Timetable, February 9, 2024


 9.00h-11.00 Security – Chair: Ana Matan

  • Dragan Juric, University of Zagreb, THE INFLUENCE OF EU’S CSDP ON CROATIAN FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY
  • Leon Runje, University of Zagreb, DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL BURDENSHARING WITHIN NATO AND THE CSDP OF THE EU IN THE POST-COLD WAR PERIOD

Break

Chair: Ruzha Smilova

  • Yael Salomon, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, MAINSTREAMING WHITE POWER MUSIC AND COUNTERTERRORISM IN THE EU 
  • Vivian Seidel, Fulda, REAGAN'S IDEA OF A WORLD FREE OF  NUCLEAR WEAPONS? THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE (SDI) IN TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE

11.00h-13.00h, Institutions – Chair:  Cecile Robert

  • Mario Rusinov, APPROACHES TOWARDS STUDYING CORRUPTION IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN HE EUROPEAN UNION
  • Kaloyan Velchev, University of Sofia, EUROPEANISATION AND TECHNOCRATISATION: DOES EUROPEAN INTEGRATION LEAD TO MORE TECHNOCRATIC MINISTERS IN BULGARIAN GOVERNMENTS?

Break

Chair: Willy Beauvallet

  • Nicola Diedrich, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, MICROPOLITICS IN THE EU INSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM OPPORTUNITIES, DEADLOCKS AND DYNAMICS IN EU ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND MIGRATION POLICY
  • Daniel Coronel Crespo, SciencesPo Lyon, ORIGIN AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AS THE EUROPEAN UNION’S ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION POLICY

 

 14.00h-15.30h, Democratisation – Chair: Meta Novak

  •  Zhylien Kaja, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, NAVIGATING THE WESTERN BALKANS' EU ACCESSION PROCESS: DEMOCRACY AND CIVIL SOCIETY. A CASE STUDY OF ALBANIA, KOSOVO, AND SERBIA.
  • Rafaa Chehoudi, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, DEMOCRATIZATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA: UNITED NATIONS DEMOCRACY FUND’S ROLE IN FOCUS
  • Damir Fak, University of Zagreb, THE IMPACT OF THE EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION (ETC) PROGRAMMES ON THE EUROPEANIZATION PROCESS OF CIVIL SOCIETY - THE CASE OF THE CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMMES BETWEEN CROATIA AND MONTENEGRO.

Break

15.30h-17.00h, Media/Civil society – Chair: Claudia Wiesner

  • Tihana Pavlović, Ljubljana, MEDIA AS A POLICY ACTOR IN THE CASE OF CHINESE INVESTMENTS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
  • Muriel Pluschke, University of Applied Sciences Fulda, TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP DYNAMICS OF THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE IN THE LOCAL SPHERE
  • Daria Petliaeva, Université Jean Monnet Saint-Étienne/Triangle, SUPPORT FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRIES AS PART OF EU PUBLIC ACTION: THE CASE OF RUSSIA

Break

17.00-18.30h, Citizens – Chair: Kim Zilliacus

  • Yanitsa Petkova, Sofia University, THE FUTURE OF EUROPE ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT GENERATIONS
  • Samo Smole, University of Ljubljana, INTEGRATING POPULIST CITIZEN PROPOSALS INTO PUBLIC POLICY-MAKING PROCESSES THROUGH DEMOCRATIC INNOVATION
  • Jana Bub, University of Applied Sciences, MARGINAL EU WORKERS: BETWEEN FREE MOVEMENT  AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GERMANY; AUSTRIA AND THE NETHERLANDS


Interim Conference Fulda

Despite the activities of the EU and national institutions, as well as intermediary institutions and actors, studies and surveys note a growing gap between the so-called "EU elites" and EU citizens. The EU has a legitimacy problem, support rates dropped during the height of the financial crisis and, despite the improving economic situation, votes for populist, extremist, anti-EU and anti-democratic parties and movements are rising across the EU. At the same time, the Europeanisation of politics and decision-making continues to affect and change the national democratic systems of member states.

What explains the distance between EU institutions and EU citizens? The event will present the first results of the Jean Monnet research projects "Debating Europe" and the Jean Monnet Chair "BridgE" on this question. In the projects, a total of 18 international focus groups were and are being conducted in Bulgaria, Finland, France, Croatia, Slovenia and Germany. 12 of these have now taken place and the results are available. The interim results will be presented on 11 September at 18.00h by Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences), Cecile Robert (Sciences Po Lyon) Willy Beauvallet (Université de Lyon II), Ana Matan; (University of Zagreb), Meta Novak (University of Ljubljana), Niilo Kauppi and Kim Zilliacus (University of Helsinki) and Ruzha Smilova (Centre for Liberal Strategies).
On 12 September at 9.30 am, social scientists Virginie van Ingledom (Leuven), Celine Belot (Grenoble) and Claudia Wiesner (Fulda) will discuss the relationship between citizens and the EU.

On 12 September at 17.00, the Jean Monnet Chair "Bridging the Gap between the EU and is Citizens" will conclude with a discussion on the consequences and possibilities for the EU to become closer to its citizens.  Representatives from political practice, Thomas Berger for Europe Direct, Peter Schaub for Europa-Union and Marianne Müller for Pulse of Europe, as well as Muriel Pluschke (University of Applied Sciences Fulda) will discuss.



Interim Conference Helsinki

The conference discussed the first findings of the focus groups held in Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Croatia and Slovenia against the state of the art findings in EU studies and political sociology. Expert guests have been Jonathan White, Celine Belot, Andrew Favell and Luis Bouza.

Programme

Wednesday, March 29

13.00-17.00 CET Claudia Wiesner, Fulda UAS; Damian Lajh, Meta Novak, University of Slovenia; Niilo Kauppi, Kim Ziliacus, University of Helsinki, Ruzha Smilova, Center for Liberal Strategies (Sofia); Igor Vidacak, University of Helsinki; Willy Beauvallet, University of Lyon

 

Thursday March 30

Online Course On EU Studies

8.00-9.00 CET Marcus Fessler, Inter.research Institute /Fulda UAS

 

Analysis of Focusgroups

9.00-11.00 CET Claudia Wiesner, Fulda UAS; Damian Lajh, Meta Novak, University of Slovenia; Niilo Kauppi, Kim Ziliacus, University of Helsinki, Ruzha Smilova, Center for Liberal Strategies (Sofia); Igor Vidacak, University of Helsinki; Willy Beauvallet, University of Lyon

 

Scientific Board Meeting

13.00-14.30 CET Celine Belot, Sciences-Po Grenoble; Jonathan White, London School of Economics; Andrew Favell, University of Leeds; Luis Bouza, Autonomous University of Madrid

 

Analysis of Focusgroups

15.00-17.30 CET Claudia Wiesner, Fulda UAS; Damian Lajh, Meta Novak, University of Slovenia; Niilo Kauppi, Kim Ziliacus, University of Helsinki, Ruzha Smilova, Center for Liberal Strategies (Sofia); Igor Vidacak, University of Helsinki; Willy Beauvallet, University of Lyon

 

Friday, March 31, 2023,

Citizens, Democracy and the European Union

08.00-10.00 CET Thinkcorner, University of Helsinki Ana Björk, Demos, Heidi Hautala, MEP and vice-president of the EP, Johanna Kantola, University of Helsinki; Niko Pyrhönen, University of Helsinki; Claudia Wiesner, Fulda UAS; Chair: Niilo Kauppi, University of Helsinki

Public Event: Citizens, Democracy and the European Union

08.00-10.00 CET Thinkcorner, University of Helsinki

 

Democracy is the most important social innovation ever. Citizens are the cornerstone of any working democratic system. But to work properly democracy requires knowledge and interest in societal issues, active citizens who not only vote but are also ready to challenge political leaders.

While EU integration is a unique process in world history, many seem to be estranged from it and uninterested in what is happening in Brussels and other European capitals.

This panel is organised by the Jean Monnet Network DebatEU (https://www.debating-europe.de/network/hochschule-fulda/). The Network enhances debate through citizen focus groups, conferences, social media, publications and events. It seeks to generate a dialogue and better understanding of the EU among citizens. And it aims at learning from the citizens what are their reasons to feel distant to the EU.

The panel is chaired by Niilo Kauppi, research director at the University of Helsinki and member of the DebatEU network. Panelists include Anna Björk from Demos, MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament Heidi Hautala, Professor Johanna Kantola from the University of Helsinki, University Researcher Niko Pyrhönen from the University of Helsinki and Professor Claudia Wiesner from Fulda Hochschule and Pi of the DebatEU network. Link to the recording of the Live event:

https://tiedekulmamedia.helsinki.fi/fi/web/tiedekulma/player/webcast?eventId=227890001


Link for the live event

International Ph.D Course "Researching Europe", February 10, 2023

This international workshop assembles doctoral candidates researching on Europe and the EU from six different EU countries and seven different European Universities. The doctoral students are invited to present their research projects and discuss methods, theory and topics among peers and teachers in an open and cooperative debate. Besides the workshop offers to discuss the scientific, operational and practical framework of writing a doctorate in an experimental manner among the peers and teachers.

Organisation:

Direction:
Prof. Dr. Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)

In cooperation with:

  • Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences)
  • Niilo Kauppi (Helsinki University)
  • Ruzha Smilova (Sofia University)
  • Kim Ziliacus (Helsinki University
  • Willy Beauvallet (Université Lyon)
  • Cecile Robert (Science Po, Lyon)
  • Ana Matan (University of Zagreb)
  • Tonci Kursar (University of Zagreb)
  • Igor Vidacak (University of Zagreb)
  • Meta Novak (University of Ljubljana)
  • Damjan Lajh (University of Ljubljana)

Timetable February 10, 2023

EU-Policies from Macro to micro

 

9.00h-11.00h // Chair: Meta Novak, University of Ljubljana, Ana Matan, University of Zagreb

  • Keller, Maria, Fulda University of Applied Sciences , Beyond the glass ceiling. Female Leadership in the institutions of the European Union
  • Diedrich, Nicola, Fulda University of Applied Sciences , Micropolitics in the EU Institutional System. Opportunities, Deadlocks and Dynamics in EU anti- discrimination policy
  • Cavic, Vesna, University of Zagreb, The impact of europeanization on changes in higher education policies in Croatia
  • Pluschke, Muriel, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Top-down and bottom-up dynamics of the European public in the local

 

 EU-Policies from Macro to micro

 

11.15h-13.15h // Chair: Cécile Robert, Sciences Po Lyon , Niilo Kauppi, University of Helsinki

  • Coronel Crespo, Daniel, Sciences Po LyonThe financialization of the ecological transition policies of the European Union: the emergence of a framework for sustainable finance as an instrument of European public action.
  • Baumann, Sara, University of Ljubljana, The impact of focusing events on public policies through the example of man-made disasters
  • Bežovan, Mijo, University of Zagreb, Influence of business consultants on the absorption capacity of local self-government units in the use of ESI funds
  • Konrad Valentina, University of Ljubljana, The Role of Social Movements in EU Climate Policymaking

Timetable February 10, 2023

 EU, democracy, democratisation

 

14.15h-15.45h // Chair: Ruzha Smilova, Center of Liberal Strategies (Sofia), Ana Matan, University of Zagreb

  • Kaja, Zhylien, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, The Western Balkans and EU: A never-ending story?
  • Held, Christoph, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, A Comparison between Chantal Mouffe and Claude Lefort - No escape from the liberalism trap
  • Chehoudi, Rafaa, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, United Nations and Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and North African from 2000 to 2020

 

 

 

 

EU Security Policy and the Global Order

 

16.00h-17.00h // Chair: Claudia Wiesner, Fulda UAS

  • Juric, Dragan, Zagreb University,, The Influence of EU’s CSDP on Croatian Foreign and Defense Policy Description
  • Petliaeva, Daria, SCIENCES PO Lyon, The EU as an external actor of democratization in Russia // Perspectives of democratization in Russia through the process of Europeanisation
  • Calzolari, Fabio, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Is it the Beginning of a New Era? How the Russo-Ukrainian War is Changing the European Union from Within United Nations and Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and North African from 2000 to 2020

 


The Ukraine War and EU Studies. A Zeitwende? Novembre 3, 2022

 Roundtable Discussion: Claudia Wiesner (Fulda University of Applied Sciences), Philipp Genschel (Jacobs University Bremen), Doris Wydra (University of Salzburg), Knud-Erik Joergensen (Aarhus University); Chair: Michèle Knodt (TU Darmstadt)

December 3, 2022, Fulda Transfer, Veranstaltungssaal, Eingang 1a, Heinrich-von-Bibra Platz 1a, 36037 Fulda

More information