A Soul for Europe Conference 2017
Preparatory Material

Find links to relevant contributions from our online debate for each workshop and read Volker Hassemer’s introduction here.

Have a look at Elmar Brok’s article  It is time for European citizens to take ownership of the European Union’ that serves as preparatory material for all workshops or find Collected Key Statements from the Online Debate, that provides a summary of the whole online-debate.

A Soul for Europe Conference 2017: Preparatory Material

Find links to relevant contributions from our online debate for each workshop and read Volker Hassemer’s introduction here.

Have a look at Elmar Brok’s article  It is time for European citizens to take ownership of the European Union’ that serves as preparatory material for all workshops or find Collected Key Statements from the Online Debate, that provides a summary of the whole online-debate.

Topic 2: Europe from the Bottom Up

 

2:00
– 3:30

 

Studio B

 

Civil Society in Georgia on the Way towards Europe

Organisation: Arts Research Institute of Georgia
Format: Panel discussion
Active participants: Minister Viktor Dolidze; David Sakvarelidze, Artistic Director of Tzsinandali Music festival; Giorgii Sharvashidze, Rector of Javakhisvili Tblisi State University; Doris Pack, former MEP; Volker Hassemer, Chairman Stiftung Zukunft Berlin; Levan Khetaguri, Stichting Caucasus Foundation
Host: Steve Austen, Fellow Felix Meritis Foundation

Georgian civil society witnessed their state transforming from a former Soviet republic to having an association agreement with the European Union. How can culture form the European identity of Georgians? The European choice is a citizens’ choice –
two participants from Forum Tblisi taking place in October will report on the outcomes.

Preparatory material:

 

Topic 2: Europe from the Bottom Up

 

2:00 – 3:30 PM | Studio B

Civil Society in Georgia on the Way towards Europe

Organisation: Arts Research Institute of Georgia
Format: Panel discussion
Active participants: Minister Viktor Dolidze; David Sakvarelidze, Artistic Director of Tzsinandali Music festival; Giorgii Sharvashidze, Rector of Javakhisvili Tblisi State University; Doris Pack, former MEP; Volker Hassemer, Chairman Stiftung Zukunft Berlin; Levan Khetaguri, Stichting Caucasus Foundation
Host: Steve Austen, Fellow Felix Meritis Foundation

Georgian civil society witnessed their state transforming from a former Soviet republic to having an association agreement with the European Union. How can culture form the European identity of Georgians? The European choice is a citizens’ choice –
two participants from Forum Tblisi taking place in October will report on the outcomes.

Preparatory material:

 

Ferdinand Richard: “Who is assuming responsibility for Europe?”

  • I consider that one of the main threats to the European dream is the obviously growing disequilibrium between peripheries and centers, and north and south Europe.
  • I consider that one of the main threats to the European dream is the obviously growing disequilibrium between peripheries and centers, and north and south Europe.
  • Today’s political situation in Europe forces us to remember that the ultimate goal of the European project requires an acceptable level of federalism, a consistent reduction of the Nation-States “domaines reservés” (Culture, Defense/Intelligence, Social Integration policies, Healthcare and Education), and certainly a complete revision of the European political power decision-making process.

Levan Khetaguri: The Role of the EU in Georgia

  • Success for Georgia is equated with its political convergence to Europe and the European Union. It is equated with the assurance of our future development as free citizens.

Hella Dunger-Löper: Affirming one’s history — towards a European identity

  • The future lies in cities with their economic power, productivity, potential and infrastructure for a knowledge society.
  • It is only histories that are recognized and felt together and common traditions and experiences that lead to a shared sense of identity and solidarity, closeness, affinity and home.
  • The responsibilities for the process to be successful involve an interplay between the local and the European.

Ferdinand Richard: “Who is assuming responsibility for Europe?”

  • I consider that one of the main threats to the European dream is the obviously growing disequilibrium between peripheries and centers, and north and south Europe.
  • I consider that one of the main threats to the European dream is the obviously growing disequilibrium between peripheries and centers, and north and south Europe.
  • Today’s political situation in Europe forces us to remember that the ultimate goal of the European project requires an acceptable level of federalism, a consistent reduction of the Nation-States “domaines reservés” (Culture, Defense/Intelligence, Social Integration policies, Healthcare and Education), and certainly a complete revision of the European political power decision-making process.

Levan Khetaguri: The Role of the EU in Georgia

  • Success for Georgia is equated with its political convergence to Europe and the European Union. It is equated with the assurance of our future development as free citizens.

Hella Dunger-Löper: Affirming one’s history — towards a European identity

  • The future lies in cities with their economic power, productivity, potential and infrastructure for a knowledge society.
  • It is only histories that are recognized and felt together and common traditions and experiences that lead to a shared sense of identity and solidarity, closeness, affinity and home.
  • The responsibilities for the process to be successful involve an interplay between the local and the European.