Our annual State of the Union four-day Conference: Europe caught up in polycrisis?, which will take place from the 2nd until the 5th of November 2020. Look back at all debates here. ​​​​​​​

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented crisis for the European Union. Not only did it bring back memories of the Eurozone struggles, but it also re-enacted the divisions of the time, with framings of the “frugal” North and the “fragile” South re-emerging. Internally and externally, it raises questions about the Union’s state of readiness for a next crisis, while old ones – such as the irregular arrival of asylum-seekers and migrants and growing tensions with Russia – are still slumbering.

Join our online debates

With a total of eight online debates we aim to reflect on the European Union’s ‘polycrisis’ of the last decade and its effect on European integration and solidarity (2 & 3 November). Furthermore, we would like to reevaluate the various perspectives for action and leadership of the European Council, Commission and the Parliament (4 November), also in regards of the upcoming US elections. Michael Stibbe, EU advisor to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, will reflect on all debates during the final conference day.

Prominent speakers

You can expect a range of leading speakers. A small selection:

• Stef Blok, Dutch minister of Foreign Affairs, will open the conference.
• Erik Jones, Professor of European Studies and International Political Economy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Silvia Merler, Head of Research for Algebris Policy & Research Forum, and Michel Heijdra, Director of the International Financial Affairs Directorate at the Netherlands Ministry of Finance will speak in the panel debate 'The Euro after Corona'.
• Nanda Kellij, Advisor DG Migration at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security, and Hugo Brady, Senior strategic advisor at the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) will participate in the panel debate 'The Migration Pact: Future Proof?'
• Sarah Wheaton, Senior Health Reporter at Politico, Anniek de Ruijter, Associate Professor Health Law (EU&Global) at the University of Amsterdam, and Sylvain Giraud, Head of Unit ‘Medical products: quality, safety and innovation’ in the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission (DG SANTE), will speak in the debate 'The COVID-19 Crisis.' 
• Luuk van Middelaar, Professor of Foundations and Practice of the European Union and its Institutions at Leiden University, Heleen Mees, opinion writer, economist, and lawyer, and Duncan Robinson, Brussels bureau chief at The Economist, will discuss 'The State of European Leadership'.
• Lise Gregoire, EU Director at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Erik Brattberg, Director of the Europe Program and Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, and Steven Erlanger, Chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times will contribute to the debate ‘The EU in the New Global Reality (after the US Elections).'   
• Michael Stibbe, EU advisor to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, will reflect on all debates during the final conference day. 

Look back

Watch all the debates on our YouTube channel.