“Engagement or Containment: EU-Russia Relations in Turbulent Times and the Role of Central Europe”
“Engagement or Containment: EU-Russia Relations in Turbulent Times and the Role of Central Europe”
Central European University, Budapest
Nádor utca 9, Auditorium
September 25, 2014
As tensions are on the rise between Russia and the European Union, it is undoubtedly timely to discuss what future lies ahead for this important relationship. The conference provides a forum for discussing and evaluating the chances of a common European Russia-strategy, the potential role of the Central European countries in its shaping, and gives an insight into a matter that is often left unexplored in Europe: how Russia (both the political elite and the society) sees the current developments in the relations. We will also take the opportunity to explore one of the most pressing policy areas in EU-Russia relations, the issue of energy security with a focus on Central Europe.
8.30 – 9.30 Registration
9.30 – 9.40 Opening Remarks
- John Shattuck, President and Rector, Central European University, Budapest
- Jan Niklas Engels, Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Budapest
9.40 – 10.30 Keynote Speeches – Evolving EU-Russia relations
- Reinhard Krumm, Director, Department for Central and Eastern Europe, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Berlin
- Wolfgang Behrendt, Desk Officer, Russia Division, European External Action Service, Brussels
10.30 – 12.00 Panel I. – The European Union Seen from Russia
12.00 – 13.00 Buffet Lunch
13.00 – 14.30 Panel II. – Ally or foe? Russia seen from Central Europe
14.30 – 14.45 Coffee Break
14.45 – 16.15 Panel III. – Pipelines, plants and European energy networks: dealing with dependency
16.15 – 16.30 Concluding remarks
- Péter Balázs, Director, CEU Center for EU Enlargement Studies, Budapest
Please find the detailed program attached.
The conference is organized with the kind support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Budapest.
