PROGRAMME 

Day 1 - Saturday 27 June 2020

9.30 – 10.00 OPENING 

Introduction to the Crossroads Europe project and the program of the training. Quick presentation of participants 

10.00 – 11.15 Policy Session 1 – ECONOMY: On the road to a fiscal Union

Introduced by Christopher Glück, Vice-President of the Union of European Federalists and Director of Hanbury Strategy, and Rasmus Andresen, Member of European Parliament, followed by discussion with participants

Moderated by Paolo Vacca, Secretary General of the Union of European Federalists

Topics: what is exactly the financial package that the EU is discussing to support the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis? How will the EU budget change? How will the EU change if it can issue its own debt and raise its own revenues? Will the EU introduce true European taxes to finance European projects? Is the EU on the roads to a fiscal Union? 

11.15 – 12.30 Policy Session 2 – CLIMATE: Getting the European Green Deal done

Introduced by Roland Joebstl, Policy Advisor to MEP Michael Bloss, Valentin Dupouey Sterdyniak, Head of Communications at European Green Party, and Monica Frassoni, Promoter of stopglobalwarming.eu and former Member of European Parliament, followed by discussion with participants

Moderated by Ophélie Omnes, President of the Union of European Federalists France

Topics: what is exactly the Green New Deal that the EU is discussing? Will the COVID-19 crisis create further support or rather distract resources from the Green New Deal? What are the sticky points for key member states? What are the real change-making decisions and how much will they cost? What are the next steps? 

12.30 – 14.00 BREAK: free-time (by open Zoom-room/s for participants for networking and socializing). 

14.00 – 15.30 Skills Workshop 1 – GET EUROPE RIGHT: Combat fake News, Promote a positive narrative 

Learn how to detect fake news against the European Union, combat them online and promote a positive narrative of what the EU is and can do. 

Facilitated by Andrew Scott, University of Edinburgh and Law Society of Scotland, and Jakub Zientala, Young European Federalists

15.30 – 15.45 Virtual Coffee break - Open Zoom-room for participants for networking and socializing. 

15.45 – 17.15 Skills Workshop 2 – BRING EUROPE TO THE CITIZENS

Learn how to reach out to circles normally not involved in European politics or from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Facilitated by Sonja Afanasjeva, Youth Outreach Unit at European Parliament and Andrea Zorzetto, Director at Poliferie

17.15 – 17.30 Closing remarks and closure of the first day 

Day 2 - Sunday 28 June 2020

9.45 – 10.00 Virtual Welcome coffee- Open Zoom-room for participants for networking and socializing. 

9.45 – 10.00 Opening & Introduction of the second day 

10.00 – 11.15 Policy Session 3 – GLOBAL EUROPE: Making Europe a global power 

Introduced by Charles-Michel Geurts, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Indonesia and Visiting professor at the College of Europe, and Andrey Kovatchev, Member of European Parliament, followed by discussion with participants

Moderated by Jacopo Scipione, Project Officer at the Union of European Federalists

Topics: what are the latest developments in EU foreign and security policy? Is European security and defense making progress? How is the European Commission trying to a “geopolitical Commission”? How is the European Union reacting to the raising transatlantic tensions?

11.15 – 12.30 Policy Session 4 –  DEMOCRACY: Will the Conference on the Future of Europe deliver? 

Introduced by Pauline Gessant, Vice-President of  the Union of European Federalists, and Domènec Ruiz Devesa, Member of European Parliament, followed by discussion with participants

Topics: what is exactly the Conference on the Future of Europe? Who will be part of it and what will it discuss? What will be the key issues? What are the likely obstacles on the road? What will be its outcome and what will be its follow-up by EU institutions and member states? How should the EU institutions change to deliver an effective, democratic and sovereign Europe? 

12.30 – 13.30 BREAK: free-time (by open Zoom-room/s for participants for networking and socializing). 

13.30 – 15.00 Skills Workshop 3 – BE A EUROPE SUPER-LOBBYIST 

Learn how to advocate your idea of Europe with policy makers, wherever you are, at home, in your capital, in Brussels, or just virtual.

Facilitated by Gianluca Sgueo, Policy Analyst at European Parliamentary Research Service

15.00 – 15.15 Virtual Coffee break - Open Zoom-room for participants for networking and socializing. 

15.15 – 16.45 Skills Workshop 4

Group 1 (The Thinkers) – How to write a European Constitution? 

How to get the Next Treaty of the European Union right once and for all 

Facilitated by Alejandro Cordero, Policy and Advocacy Officer at the Union of European Federalists

Group 2 (The Doers) – Your actions for change 

Build your own ideas and projects to foster Europe’s change 

Facilitated by Benjamin Charles Cassar, Programme Assistant at The International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law

16.45 – 17.00 Closing