Distinguished speakers for EDRC Conference 2002

This year`s EDRC conference, organised by the European Documentation and Research Centre of the University of Malta, in conjunction with the Jean Monnet Chair and the Malta European Studies Association and with the assistance of the European Commission, comes at a critical moment in Europe`s history.

Those who follow European developments know that the Future of Europe Convention is taking place. Yet few will have grasped its huge significance, for its conclusions will shape the future of the EU after the next expansion, of which Malta is presently negotiating to be part.

Europe after EU enlargement will be a profoundly different place from what it is today, for all European countries, whether members or not. For EU applicant countries like Malta and Cyprus, it is vital that their opinions and needs are heard and taken into account during the debate on the future of Europe.

The EU has recognised this necessity. Government and national parliaments` representatives from all EU applicant countries, including Malta, have been invited to participate in the Convention, while every present and aspiring EU member state has launched a public debate with a view to involving representative bodies of opinion from all interested groups and citizens.

The EDRC Conference 2002 is designed to be part of this important debate. Under the banner theme "Democracy and Bureaucracy" the conference will tackle some of the same key questions being addressed by the Convention: What institutional reform will be required as a result of enlargement? How can efficiency be maintained or enhanced in a Union of 27 or more members? In such an enlarged EU, how can sovereignty and identity be safeguarded? How these questions are eventually resolved will shape the future of the EU.

The conference, to be held on Thursday at the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort, is structured into two broad fields. The morning session - "Democracy and Constitutionalism" - will examine governance and institutional reform within an expanded EU. Of particular interest to the Maltese public will be the presentation by Professor Rosa Greaves entitled "How the EU Constitution in an enlarged Community should safeguard small island states"

Rosa Greaves is Allen and Overy Professor of European Law and Director of the Durham European Law Institute, University of Durham (UK). Prior to this she spent two years in Brussels at the Directorate General responsible for Enterprise Policy and Distributive Trades. She specialises in European Commercial Law.

She will be joined in the morning session by Auke Haagsma, adviser to the directorate of MARKT - A, European Commission, who will speak on "European Governance as a Prelude to an enlarged and democratic EU".

"Enhancing Co-operation post-Nice" will be addressed by Jo Shaw, Professor of European Law and Jean Monnet Chair of European Law and Integration at the University of Leeds (UK). Professor Shaw`s experience in socio-legal aspects of the EU Constitution and institutions illuminate her work on EU citizenship issues.

The theme of the individual within the EU will be continued by David O`Keeffe, Professor of European Law, University of London and College of Europe in Bruges. He will speak on "The Individual in the EU Legal Order". For five years Professor O`Keefe was legal secretary to Justice O`Higgins at the European Court of Justice and is an expert in citizens` rights within the EU.

The morning session will include presentations from Professor Peter G Xuereb, Jean Monnet Chair, University of Malta, who will speak about "The Future of Europe: Solidarity and Constitutionalism". Dr Roderick Pace, lecturer in European Integration, University of Malta, speaks on "The Future of Europe Debate: Launching the European Federation or strengthening the nation-state in Europe? - Or trying to achieve both?".

Dr Michael Frendo, MP, who is also a member of the Convention on the Future of Europe, will deliver the first presentation of the morning: "A future for parliamentary democracy in the EU".

Lunch will be followed by a change of emphasis in the afternoon session, which will focus on enlargement. Professor Marc Maresceau will open proceedings with an analysis on "EU Pre-Accession Strategies". He works at the University of Ghent and Brussels and is Jean Monnet Chair and Director of the European Institute, University of Ghent.

The magnitude of the events of September 11 has generated a fierce debate about the security and freedoms of citizens. In his paper "The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice after September 11" Professor Jorg Monar will address problems of balance and the challenges posed by Enlargement within the EU. Professor Monar teaches Contemporary European Studies at the University of Sussex and is co-director of the Sussex European Institute. He is also special adviser to the House of Lords on EU Justice and Home Affairs issues.

Lino Briguglio, Professor of Economics and Director, University, Gozo Centre will highlight some "Economic Implications associated with Malta`s accession to the EU"; John Consiglio, who lectures in Banking and Finance and European Banking at the University of Malta, will speak on the EMU in the post phase 3B scenario; and Dr Stephen Calleya, of the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, University of Malta, will speak on "Malta`s foreign policy in an enlarged Europe".

Professor Helen Wallace, director of the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, EUI, Florence, and a Fellow of the British Academy, will close the conference with a presentation on "Making a success of EU enlargement".

Helen Wallace was previously Jean Monnet Professor of Contemporary European Studies and founding director of the Sussex European Institute at the University of Sussex. From 1992 she was director of the British Economic and Social Research Council`s "One Europe or Several?" Programme (1998-2001).

She was a visiting professor of the College of Europe and is a member of various advisory boards at various universities in Europe. Professor Wallace is currently a member of editorial advisory boards of Journal of Common Market Studies; British Journal of Politics and International Relations; Co-operation and Conflict; Perspectives (Prague); European Union Politics; and Policy Studies.

With such a distinguished group of speakers the EDRC Conference provides an important opportunity for all interested parties from University, Government, the private sector and civil society to learn more about, and debate, some of the main issues raised by EU Enlargement for the EU itself and for applicant states - especially small states such as Malta. By this time next year, the Convention will have concluded its deliberations. Now is the time for all to immerse themselves in the issues and make their contribution to the unfolding debate.

Reservations for Thursday`s conference may be made by applying to Monica Cauchi, communications officer at the EDRC, University of Malta, tel. 213290-2001; fax 2133-7624; or e-mail: edrc@um.edu.mt.