Programme

13:00-13:15 |  Welcome Jan Wouters (RECONNECT Coordinator, KU Leuven)

13:15-13:25 |  The Conference on the Future of Europe: An Innovative, Citizens-centered Process, for a Democracy Fit for the Future – Address by Dubravka Šuica, EU Commission Vice-President and Vice-Chair of the Conference on the Future of Europe

13:25-13:50 |  Presentation of RECONNECT’s New Narrative for European Integration and Recommendations and Treaty Changes Report Paul Blokker (Charles University Prague) and Jan Wouters (KU Leuven)

13:50-14:10 |  The Rule of Law in Europe: Demands and Challenges for the European Judiciary – Marc van der Woude, President of the General Court

14:10-14:30 | The Challenge and Importance of Liberal Democratic Values for the EU’s Future – Daniel C. Thomas (Leiden University)

14:35-15:00 |  RECONNECT Legacy: How you can stay connected to RECONNECT Julinda Beqiraj (Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law), Axel Marx (KU Leuven), Maaike De Ridder (KU Leuven)

15:30-17:00 |  A Roadmap for Rebuilding Citizens’ Trust – Panel Discussion on the Future of Europe Alberto Alemanno (HEC Paris), Carlos Closa (Spanish National Research Council), Julia Fernández Arribas (Equipo Europa), Päivi Leino-Sandberg (Helsinki University), Constantin Schaefer (ifok, Deliberation Team of the COFOE’s European Citizens’ Panels), Birgit Van Hout (Regional Representative for Europe, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Brussels), Marlene Wind (University of Copenhagen)

17:00-17:30 | A More Resilient Europe through Respect for Fundamental Values – Closing Keynote by Herman Count Van Rompuy, Honorary President of the European Council

17:35-17:45 | Closing

 All participants are warmly invited to a closing reception.

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This event is part of RECONNECT’s Final Conference, which will take place over three days, each day focussing on one of the topics at the heart of RECONNECT, and their interconnections – Day 1: Stronger Rule of Law for a Stronger EU (19 April), Day 2: Democratic Renewal for a More Resilient EU (20 April), Day 3: The Future of the European Union (21 April). Day 1 and Day 2 will take place online, while Day 3 will be fully in-person in Brussels, with the possibility to follow a live-stream online.