EUSAAP Conference 2018 (Taipei)
The European Union Studies Association Asia Pacific (EUSA AP) is pleased to report on its annual conference and postgraduate student workshop. The event was entitled:
The Future of the EU and European Integration in the aftermath of Crises
Thursday & Friday, 28-29 June 2018, Taipei
Since the outbreak of sovereign debt crisis in Greece in 2010, the EU as a whole had been confronted by a series of crises both internal and external. Though some of these crises have yet to be resolved, the EU has proved resilient and even been able to promote the integration process further, through initiatives such as the Banking Union and closer defence cooperation, which had been unimaginable a decade ago. Elections in the Netherlands, France and Germany in 2017 have addressed rising extremism, nationalism and Euro-skepticism although the consequences of Brexit remain unresolved.
It is time to rethink the future of the EU and European integration as a whole. The conference discussed research findings on sub-themes in relation to the future of the EU and European integration and its impact upon global governance and the world order.
Asia Pacific countries have significant connections with Europe and the EU. Therefore, any changes in European politics and EU policies will affect the regions. Consequently, EUSAAP saw it as timely to hold a conference focused on the future of European integration in the aftermath of crises since 2010. Is there more continuity or change in the EU – Asia Pacific relationship? How do different groups perceive the EU and is there any change in its relationship to the region?
Conference sub-themes
The conference was multi-disciplinary in focus and papers and panels from a wide range of academic disciplines were invited to look at findings in relation to the roles of the EU and the Asia Pacific region in this global era. Postgraduate students working in any area of EU and Asia Pacific relations or European Integration were invited to register for the postgraduate workshop. The following sub-themes were discussed in greater detail:
- The Future of EU External Relations – CFSP, CSDP, Trade and Development
- The Future of the EU Global Strategy, Normative Power and Principled Pragmatism
- The Future Relationship between the EU and the Great Powers
- The Future Relationship between the UK and the EU
- The Future of EU-Asia Pacific Relations
- Solutions to the EU crises
- Debates over the Finality of the European Integration process
- Future enlargements
- The Future of European Neighbourhood Policies
- The Future EU Agenda for Global Governance
- Culture and the Future of European Integration