On 13 February, ICDS hosted a seminar on future challenges of the EU.
The Franco-German partnership is gathering speed, aiming to reinvigorate the EU. Both the European Commission (Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Council (Donald Tusk) have come forward with their proposals on the future of Europe. Some smaller member states are concerned about weakening of their influence and the prospect of a multi-speed EU. The seminar addressed questions such as the changing balance of power between and among the EU institutions and member states; ways to engage the citizens; and reform of the eurozone.
The seminar started with introductory speeches by Siim Kallas, Professor of the University of Tartu, Former Vice President of the European Commission, and Matti Maasikas, Undersecretary for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussion was moderated by Kristi Raik, Director of Estonian Foreign Policy Institute.