Romania and the future of European institutions

Nowadays Europe sees quite a dynamic development and it is very important to follow this evolution of the Community in real-time. With the urgency of the financial crisis passing, attention turns (again) to European integration. European countries, whether they are ‘Eurozone’, ‘non-Eurozone’, or ‘non-EU’, are re-assessing their relationship with the EU.

Over the next three years we will witness an intense debate about the future of the EU; about the possibility of an intergovernmental conference; about whether to sign a new EU treaty; and about the position of Member States in this debate. What is the key role for Romania in this process of transformation, what can we gain and what can we lose?

In order to find an answer to these questions, a consortium is formed, involving Brussels, Bucharest, and Cluj, as well as civil society organizations and academics interested in the subject. The following atypical project partners, trying to sustain the current debate, are based Romania: Faculty of European Studies Cluj, Institute for European Research Cluj, SNSPA Bucharest, GrupRomania Brussels, Club "Romania-EU" Brussels, “House of Europe” Cluj, with support of EurActiv Romania as well.

We plan to have 3 events: one in Cluj (February), one in Brussels (May) and one in Bucharest (October). The main objective is to launch a discussion about Romania's view on the European construction, involving Romanians from Romania and Brussels. The project aims to present a final document in October 2013: "Romania’s opinion about the future of the EU."

I have the honor to moderate the first debate on "Romania and the future of the European institutions", which will take place Friday 15 February 2013 at 10:00 in Cluj, at the Faculty of European Studies.

Confirmed panelists for the debate are: Nicolae Paun - Dean of the Faculty of European Studies Cluj-Napoca; Diana Iancu - Dean of the Faculty of Public Administration of the SNSPA; and Vasile Puscas - Coordinator of the European Research Institute Cluj-Napoca.

Dan LUCA / Brussels