Lunch Conference “European Integration and Consensus Politics in the Low Countries”
The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are well-known cases of consensus politics. Decision-making in the Low Countries has been characterized by broad involvement, power sharing and making compromises. These countries were also founding member states of the European Union (EU) and its predecessors. However, the relationship between European integration and the tradition of domestic consensus politics remains unclear.
In order to explore this relationship the recently published book European Integration and Consensus Politics in the Low Countries (edited by Hans Vollaard, Jan Beyers and Patrick Dumont, published by Routledge) offers in-depth studies of a wide variety of political actors such as governments, parliaments, political parties, courts, ministries and interest groups as well as key policy issues such as the ratification of EU treaties, corporatism and migration policy. First of all, the book provides a much-needed comprehensive overview of Europeanization in the three Low Countries. It also shows how consensus politics shapes the impact of European integration, and how European integration may undermine consensus politics.
On the occasion of the publication of this book a lunch conference is organised hosted by the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU.
Practical
VENUE: Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU, Wetstraat/Rue de la Loi 61-63, 1040 Brussels
DATE: 17 October 2014; 12h30 – 14h30; from 12h30 onwards a sandwich lunch is offered (upon registration), the conference starts at 13h00; drink are offered after the conference
PROGRAMME
* welcome by Ambassador Dirk Wouters, Permanent Representative of Belgium towards the EU
* presentation of the book by Dr. Hans Vollaard (Leiden University)
* keynote speech on European politics and the Low Countries by Senator Steven Vanackere, former Belgian Minister of Foreign and European Affiars
* panel debate, moderated by Prof. Jan Beyers (University of Antwerp), with
- Mr. Christian Braun, Ambassardor of Luxemburg towards the EU
- Prof. Rinus Van Schendelen (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
- Dr. Jean-Benoit Pilet (ULB – Free University Brussels)
* concluding remarks
* drink afterwards
Participation in this event is free, but online registration before October 15th is mandatory.
https://www.uantwerpen.be/nl/faculteiten/politieke-en-sociale/kalender/lunch-conference–eu/#
Book Presentation European Integration and Consensus Politics in the Low Countries
