Bratislava, 14 November 2018
A New Model for European Governance
Sebastian Schäffer wrote a policy paper in the framework of his Think Visegrad Fellowship at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute in Bratislava. "Towards a New Model for European Governance: from Macro-regionalism vs. Minilateralism to an Institutional Reform of the EU" offers a different idea for institutional reform. While the paper acknowledges that a macro-regional approach os best suited to alleviate the multiple crises the EU is facing, there is a need for a more output-driven approach.
Sebastian Schäffer conducted interviews and research resulting in his recommendations, which seek to contribute to ta debate on European governance:
1) Reduce the number of Commissioners to 15.
2) Elect the European Parliament in a truly pan-European way.
3)Abolish the Council of the European Union and integrate it into the European Council.
4) Establish a Council of the European Regions.
Friedrichshafen, 27 September - 28 October 2018
Dynamics of European Affairs
Michael Bauer taught a seminar program on Dynamics of Administration, Politics and Policy in the European Affairs for the BA-Programme Politics, Administration and International Relations (PAIR) of Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen.
Beirut, 24-25 September 2018
Peace-building and Reconstruction in Syria
Michael Bauer participated in a conference on peace-building and reconstruction in Syria organized by UN-ESCWA's National Agenda for the Future of Syrian Programme (NAFS). The conference discussed policy gaps at the national level in priority themes/sectors that hinder peace-building and reconstruction in the country based on the NAFS-long-term vision for Syria 2030. Michael Bauer contributed to the working group focussing on emergency response, relief and humanitarian work.
Gütersloh, August 2018
Key states in the EUropean Neighborhood: russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran
Michael Bauer joined a strategy group set up by Bertelsmann Stiftung to analyze the strategic priorities and foreign policy objectives of Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran with regard to the European Neighborhood as well as the relations between these four states. The group's first findings are summarized in the publication Antagonisms in the EU's neighborhood.
Munich, 3-24 Aug 2018
2018 MEIA Middle East Summer School
The 2018 MEIA Middle East Summer School of MEIA Research in cooperation with the Institute for the Near and Middle East, the
Center for Applied Policy Research and the International Office of Ludwig Maximilian University Munich took place in Munich and Berlin, gathering 20 undergraduate and graduate students as well as
young professionals from 12 different countries for courses on Middle East politics, cultures, economics and international affairs.
For further information click here.
Munich, 14 Aug 2018
On the Turkish Lira Crisis
Ludwig Schulz answered questions of Deutschlandfunk on the crisis of the Turkish Lira and the reactions of the Erdogan government.
Eschborn, 16-19 July 2018
POLICY DEVELOPMENT IN POST-CONFLICT CONTEXTS
Michael Bauer continued his cooperation with the programme team of the National Agenda for the Future of Syria (NAFS) at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) in another workshop on "Policy Development in Post-Conflict Contexts: Analyzing Policy-Gaps, Drafting Recommendations". A series of updated NAFS analysis papers will be published in October 2018.
Innsbruck, 28 June 2018
Lebanese Parliamentary Elections of 2018: An Assessment
The Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) published an analysis by Peter Nassif on the Lebanese Parliamentary Elections of May 2018, the first of its kind since 2009.
Munich, 25 June 2018
Elections in Turkey
Ludwig Schulz gave interviews for German news outlets such as GMX or Abendzeitung (1 or 2) on the general and presidential elections in Turkey.
Vienna, 7-14 May 2018
The Future of Europe: Academic Programme With ChulalonGkorn University Bangkok
Sebastian Schäffer and Michael Bauer gave a one-week seminar on the future of European integration for MA students of Chulalongkorn University's European Studies programme (MAEUS). The seminar-programme was titled "Between crisis management and muddling through" and focussed on the various external and internal challenges for the European Union. The Viennese Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) and Seminars Simulations and Consulting Europe co-organised the programme and IDM director Dr. Erhard Busek, former Vice-Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, gave the opening lecture. The students also participated in a meeting of the OSCE's Forum for Security Co-operation. (Photo by IDM)
Berlin, May 2018
The JCPoA After US Pullout
Gulf expert Sebastian Sons explained the US pullout from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of the P5+1 with Iran for the German broadcaster ZDF's Auslandsjournal and 3Sat Makro (each one in German).
Berlin, April 2018
INterviews on Saudi ArAbia and Gulf affairs
Sebastian Sons gave various interviews on current developments in Saudi Arabia and the situation in the Gulf region for numerous German and international news outlets, such as HR Info, Businessinsider.de, die Schweizer Nachrichten, Tagesspiegel, DLF, DIE WELT, BILD, Tagesspiegel Causa, Deutsche Welle, Telepolis, Jungle World, Handelsblatt, IZ, Arab DW, Cibedo, Washington Post, Stuttgarter Zeitung, L'Express, WDR, ZDF Heute und dem ZDF Heute Journal.
Beirut, 10-13 April 2018
Policy Making in Post-Conflict Settings
Michael Bauer facilitated a training course on strategy development and policy-making for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission on West Asia (UN-ESCWA) National Agenda for the Future of Syria Programme. A particular focus of the training was on the prospects and challenges for planning, formulating and implementing policies in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Bonn, 8 March 2018
Yemen and Regional Rivalries
Sebastian Sons spoke at a panel discussion, organized by the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) in Bonn on the topic of the Yemen conflict in the context of regional rivalries, focussing on the role of Saudi Arabia. The event was moderated by Gudrun Harrer (Der Standard).
Tutzing, 30 January 2018
THe MAghreb as Transit Region, Origin and Destination of MIGRATion
At a conference on migration and forced displacement in Africa, Michael Bauer gave a talk on the Maghribian states and their role as transit countries as well as destination and countries of origin for migration flows. He discussed local socioeconomic and political conditions and focussed in particular on the situation in Morocco and Libya.
Geretsried, 11 January 2018
Causes of Conflicts and Human Rights
Michael Bauer gave a training session on causes of conflicts, human rights and civic engagement for members of the German Federal Volunteer Service at the educational center in Geretsried. The seminar also covered the prospects and challenges of development cooperation and international humanitarian relief work.