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Scotland debates EU governance
Key European players are gathering in Edinburgh to debate the EU’s economic future.
The conference, supported by the European Commission Representation in the UK and the University’s Europa Institute, brings together some of Europe’s leading economic figures to discuss everything from economic regulation to competition law in the European Union.
The conference - organised by Dr David Howarth, Chair of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the University of Edinburgh - will run from May 31 to June 1.
There’s growing scepticism in the UK and Scotland with regard to the European Union and its ability to promote economic growth. The perception is that difficulties in the Eurozone and the EU have directly damaged the UK’s economic growth prospects.
Dr David Howarth
Chair of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
Debating the EU
The conference is the first time that such a comprehensive debate on EU economic policy has been held in Scotland.
Key speakers and sessions include:
- Bill Jamieson (the Scotsman) on ‘Lessons from the euro crisis for Scotland and the UK’
- Lieve Fransen (EU Commission) on ‘EU Social Policy in an age of Austerity’
- Gabriel Glöckler (EU Institutions Division, European Central Bank) on ‘The ECB, the sovereign debt crisis and the construction of Economic Governance’
All are welcome to attend. Please contact Shirley Fraser at shirley.fraser@ed.ac.uk for more details.
Scotland’s role in the EU
Dr Howarth said that Scotland could have a much bigger role to play in the EU moving forward, if the yes vote was successful.
“It’s frequently said that Scotland lacks influence in British policy making on EU affairs. As most UK economic legislation comes from the EU, this is a pretty serious state of affairs for Scotland,” he said.
“This conference provides Scotland with a unique opportunity to insist on a stronger voice in the setting of UK policy on EU policy developments.”
The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
The EU’s Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture awarded the University of Edinburgh a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in 2010 until 2013.
It was the only UK Centre awarded that year, and one of only ten in the EU for this period.
The award recognises the leading role played by academics at the University in the study of the EU.
This article was published on May 31, 2012