The DIALOGUE ON EUROPE was initiated by two German organisations, the think tank Das Progressive Zentrum and the German Federal Foreign Office, in the context of a multidimensional European crisis. The aim of the project was to start a dialogue with the countries most concerned by this crisis, i.e. the South-European countries. Thus, the project started with France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The UK and Poland later joined the process, since several key players of these two countries also expressed the need for such a dialogue.
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The Interconnection of Greek islands: Another Perspective on the EU’s Security of Energy Supply and Economic Growth
How Greece's tremendous natural resources could contribute to foster clean energy on a European level
Greece disposes of considerable natural resources to foster clean energy in the country itself but also on a European level. Yet, this potential remains unrealised to a large extent. The interconnection of the so-called Greek Non-Interconnected Islands (NII) opens up new opportunities in this direction. In this interview, Dr. Theodore Panagos explains the possible economic, social and even geopolitical repercussions.
“The European Union is a victim of its own success”
Cas Mudde on the root causes of populism in Europe
Cas Mudde is one of the most renowned experts on political extremism and populism in Europe. He is Associate Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia and Researcher at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo. In his interview for DIALOGUE ON EUROPE he talks about the structural reasons behind the rise of populist movements all over Europe, the failure of the traditional parties and why tax havens, unlike migration issues, are not part of the political agenda.
“There has been a constant neglect of the migration reality”
Interview with Meike Behrends on migration and asylum policy in Germany
In 2015, almost one million asylum-seekers came to Germany and the country still has to cope with the repercussions of this development – in social, political and economic terms. Yet, migration and integration is not a new phenomenon to Germany. In this interview, Meike Behrends, an expert on European migration policy talks about the historic development of migration in Germany and how the country’s integration approach has changed during the last decades.
Third European Thinking Lab Summit
The Thinking Labs finalised their policy recommendations in Rome
On 13-15 October 2017, DIALOGUE ON EUROPE contributors from eight European countries met in Rome for the third and last European Thinking Lab Summit. This three-day meeting gave them the opportunity to further discuss the four main topics of the project, namely Migration & Integration, Populism, Social Cohesion and Sustainable Growth, and to finalise their policy recommendations for European decision-makers through various work and exchange sessions. (more…)
Adapting to increased immigration: the problems faced by Italy
Insider perspective on working towards integration and refugee inclusion with Valentina Fabbri
In this interview for #DialogueOnEurope, Valentina Fabbri highlights flaws and particularities of the Italian system and its effects on refugees living in various capacities in Italy, comparing these to the European context.
Migration and Integration in Portugal: An example to follow?
A look at a country with one of the world's best level of protection for refugees' human rights, by Cláudia Pedra
Claudia Pedra, Director of the Network for Strategic and International Studies, comments on the way Portugal deals with the refugee crisis. Even in a country with one of the best asylum laws worldwide, integration and tolerance seem to remain problematic issues.
Sustainable Development as a Way out of Crisis
Expert Interview of Zefi Dimadama on multi-actor economic strategies, energy transition and the pillars of sustainability in Greece
The one-fits-all approach does not fit the current socioeconomic environment. It is imperative that we develop horizontal policies, in cooperation with all involved players, to tackle multiple problems effectively.
Austerity is the Wrong Framework: Why Italy needs a Shift Towards Investments and Growth
Expert interview with Giulio Guarini, analysing key parameters of the current economic situation in Italy and identifying ways out of the crisis
The political mainstream thinks that this crisis is conjunctural, not structural. But the trouble with austerity policies is that they increase the crisis in a cumulative way. With austerity one can only enlarge the probability to maintain the crisis, not to rule out it. And politicians don’t solve this problem – they preserve it.
Social Cohesion is eroding when there is no Trust between the People and the State
Expert interview of Elina Makri on the topic of Social Cohesion in Greece
The government has to stop taxing people and is in need of a long term plan, liberating entrepreneurs and also modernizing the public sector through technology and more qualified personnel. Social cohesion is eroding when there is no trust between the people and the state, but instead exertion and pressure.
A young Spanish Generation “Trying Migration”
Interview with Cristina Faraco about Migration in Spain
The interview was conducted with Christina Faraco. She has studied Political Science and Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid and is living in Germany since 1998, where she has been working on research projects on the field of migration (European Migration Center). Since 2009 Christina was responsible for different mobility projects and in 2013 founded “La Red e.V.“, an association supporting new immigrants in Berlin. Currently she works at the Competence Center of Immigration of “Minor – Projektkontor für Bildung und Forschung e.V.”.