Europe’s integration project will be marked by profound changes in the coming years. Integration is quickly expanding among a subset of EU Member States – with the eurozone at its core. On the other hand, Member States like the UK seek to limit their involvement in European integration. Some non-EU countries in turn aim to have a closer relation with the EU. All these dynamics are likely to lead to a Europe with multiple speeds and layers of integration.

This conference seeks to discuss the future of such differentiated European integration. It marks the publication of the special issue of the Egmont Institute’s journal Studia Diplomatica on ‘Variable Geometry Union: how differentiated integration is shaping the EU’ .

Programme

• Opening address by Didier REYNDERS, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium
• Presentation of the Egmont publication ‘Variable Geometry Union’ by Stijn VERHELST, Senior Research Fellow at the Egmont Institute
• Key-note speech by Jean-Claude PIRIS, former Director General Legal Services at the Council of the EU and author of the book ‘The Future of Europe: Towards a Two-Speed EU?’
• Debate with the audience, and with the participation of authors of the Egmont publication ‘Variable Geometry Union’

The conference will be chaired by Marc LEPOIVRE, Director of the European Affairs Programme at the Egmont Institute. Please note that there are a limited number of available seats. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

(Photo credit: Flickr)