(2011-2014)
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
ABOUT RALF DAHRENDORF
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THE ROUNDTABLE FORMAT
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THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
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LIBERAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY
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PROMOTING RULE OF LAW IN EUROPE
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ROUNDTABLE LOCATIONS
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ABOUT THE EUROPEAN LIBERAL FORUM (ELF)
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IMPRINT
5 ABOUT RALF DAHRENDORF Lord Ralf Dahrendorf has been described by his peers as one of the greatest minds of his generation. An academic and politician of German and British nationality, he straddled both worlds with confidence. To Lord Dahrendorf, European Liberalism was chiefly characterised by its advocacy for opportunity of choice, as well as an emphasis on universal rights. Born into a political family, Lord Dahrendorf grew up to realise the heavy impact politics has on life. Both he and his father were imprisoned in concentration camps during the Second World War for acts of resistance against the Nazi regime. He described his first-hand experience of the perils of totalitarianism as formative to his liberal outlook.
LORD RALF DAHRENDORF (1929 – 2009)
Lord Dahrendorf subsequently studied classics at the University of Hamburg and later sociology at the London School of Economics (LSE). At the LSE he studied under Karl Popper, developing his theory of conflict which would later bring him to academic fame.
stronger Europe. As Commissioner he was a sharp critic of European Union bureaucracy while he was passionately in favour of a European Parliament exercising greater power. Lord Dahrendorf served as Chairman of the Board of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for five years (1982 – 1987).
He enjoyed an impressive career in the German Free Democratic Party (F.D.P.), representing the party in both the state legislature of The German Land of Baden-Württemberg and the German Bundestag. Later, during his four years in Brussels (1970 – 1974), Lord Dahrendorf was European Commissioner for Foreign Relations and Trade and subsequently Research, Science and Education. He actively supported a
By connecting the roundtable series with his name, ELF seeks to underline Lord Dahrendorf’s great achievements. In his many functions he championed liberal democracy and European integration, he consistently promoted the role of the EU as a guarantor of human rights and liberty.
7 THE ROUNDTABLE FORMAT Roundtables enable frank, open and equal discussion. They encourage dialogue and level the rhetorical playing-field. The most famous reference to roundtables can be found in the Arthurian legends, where King Arthur is rumoured to have gathered his barons around a round table. He gathered them at his table to underline the equality of all those around it. He thus effectively stopped his men from bickering over position, focusing instead on the subject for discussion.
Ralf Dahrendorf Roundtables are characterised by this same spirit of egalitarianism. Short, introductory statements are followed by a dialogue with the audience. The moderator plays a key role in the discussion, weighing in where he or she finds it necessary. In the spirit of Arthur’s round table and the open discussion so favoured by Lord Dahrendorf, ELF heartily invites you to take a seat at the next roundtable.
DUE TO THEIR CIRCULAR LAYOUT, ROUNDTABLES OFFER EQUAL PARTICIPATION FOR ALL THOSE WHO TAKE PART
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THE FUTURE OF EUROPE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
Domestic Developments in Turkey Brussels Turkey After the Elections – What Now? Brussels A Europe of 100 Flags – A Nightmare or a Dream? Dublin Pooling and Sharing in the EU – Pipe Dream or Converging Reality? Vienna Illegal Immigration – The Crossing Point Pula Quo Vadis Moldova? On the Way to the 2013 Eastern Partnership Summit Chisinau Banking Union – A Blessing or a Curse? Munich The Future of Europe and Liberalism Tallinn The Great Aid and Trade Debate The Hague Young Voices – Towards a Centripetal or Centrifugal Europe? Bucharest Europe in the World – What does Multipolarity mean for the EU? Helsinki
LIBERAL SOLUTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY
1. Migration – Europe’s Challenge and Opportunity Brussels 2. Resolving The Euro-Zone Crisis – Liberal Responses for Stability and Prosperity Palermo 3. Energy Security for Europe – Liberal Perspectives Yerevan 4. Entrepreneurship – Unleashing France’s Potential Paris 5. Cutting the Gordian Knot – Extracting Europe From the Crisis Warsaw 6. Education and Economic Growth: Two Sides of the Same Medal Aix-en-Provence 7. TTIP’ing in the Right Direction – What Does the New Free Trade Agreement Mean for Growth in Europe? London 8. All on Board – Promoting Women in Private Enterprise Beirut 9. Crowdfunding Europe – Freedom to Create Ljubljana 10. Tech Start-Ups – The Way to Recovery? Athens
PROMOTING RULE OF LAW IN EUROPE
ROUNDTABLE LOCATIONS
1. European Values – Fostering a Common Judicial and Legal Culture Bucharest 2. Smart Solutions to Demographic Decline – E-solutions and Their Potential for Local and Regional Government Dresden 3. The State of Media Freedom in Greece and Turkey Thessaloniki 4. Protecting Privacy in Europe Warsaw 5. Instantly Online? Connectivity and Its Implications for E-Governance Brussels 6. The Media – The Artillery of Freedom? Budapest 7. “You Cannot Walk Straight When the Road is Bent” Recommendations on National Roma Integration Strategies in Central and South-Eastern Europe Brussels 8. The Sanctity of Free Media Kyiv 9. Freedom of Movement Under Threat? Vienna 10. Taxation Without (Any Possible) Representation in European Parliaments Rome
Aix-en-Provence Athens Beirut Bucharest Budapest Brussels Chisinau Dublin Dresden The Hague Helsinki Kyiv London Ljubljana Munich Palermo
Paris Pula Rome Sofia Tallinn Thessaloniki Vienna Warsaw Yerevan
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13 ABOUT THE EUROPEAN LIBERAL FORUM (ELF) The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the foundation of the European Liberal Democrats, the ALDE Party. A core aspect of our work consists in issuing publications on Liberalism and European public policy issues. We also provide a forum for the discussion of European politics, and offer training for Liberal-minded citizens. Our aim in all of this is to promote active citizenship. Our foundation is made up of a number of European think tanks, political foundations and institutes. The diversity of our membership provides us with a wealth of knowledge and is a constant source of innovation. In turn, we provide our members with the opportunity to cooperate on European projects under the ELF umbrella.
ENGROSSED PARTICIPANTS DISCUSS THE FUNDAMENTAL CORNERSTONES OF LIBERALISM
We work throughout Europe as well as in the EU Neighbourhood countries. The youthful and dynamic nature of ELF allows us to be at the forefront in promoting active citizenship, getting the citizen involved with European issues and building an open, Liberal Europe.
IMPRINT PUBLISHER
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