Details on every session:

In 2011, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies launched the “Call to Europe” initiative in order to address the challenges facing the European Union as we move through the 21st century. It sought to assess the progress of the European project through major themes related to social, economic, political and international issues.

As a think tank at the intellectual crossroads between social democracy and the European project, FEPS always seeks fresh perspectives on the pertinent issues facing Europe.

As an organisation, FEPS is mandated to help bridge the gap between European citizens and their representative institutions.

In essence, we wish to look at how the EU can play a positive role in the world today.

So, this year’s “Call to Europe” will concentrate on the issue of “Europe in the World”. It will be dedicated to international relations and address the EU’s Foreign and Security policy.

The conference will bring together intellectuals, politicians and people from civil society to face the difficult issues at play. As such, the conference will address many of the difficult issues both on Europe’s doorstep and further afield.

The conference will be divided into three main sections. The first looks at the area of EU external cooperation in the areas of peace and security with the specific case study of Africa. The second session will look at the big philosophical debates which have divided progressives over the years and asks whether EU soft power is enough. The final session looks more practically at the implementation of these ideas at policy level, with particular reference to South Eastern Europe and North Africa. These main conference sessions will be followed by a debate of prominent former foreign ministers who will discuss the issues raised during the course of the conference.

Therefore, it is our great pleasure to invite you to Call to Europe.

Yours sincerely,

Massimo D’Alema
President,
Foundation for European Progressive Studies