EUCE

Call for papers: The Future of EU Citizenship, Oct. 18-20, 2012

jkleiner — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:12:03 +0000

Support for a supranational European citizenship preceded integration and the political genesis of the key rights of EU citizenship was in the negotiations that established the foundations of European integration in the early 1950s. Since then, the concept of EU citizenship has hardened into law, most famously in the Maastricht Treaty’s declaration that “Citizenship of the Union is hereby established” and the Court of Justice’s oft-repeated assertion that “Union citizenship is destined to be the fundamental status of nationals of the Member States.” Today, as half a billion EU citizens worldwide enjoy a range of rights, the European Commission stresses the need to reinforce EU citizenship by revitalising the link between citizens and the EU and by giving real effect to their rights. Perhaps EU citizenship can most fruitfully be analyzed in terms of varieties of multilevel citizenship found in federal states or other cases of divided, overlapping, or nested sovereignty. Recent calls by European leaders to further deepen political integration and the leadup to 2013 as “the European Year of Citizens” demand analytical, interpretive, and normative considerations of the future of EU citizenship.

Call for papers
The Jean Monnet Chair and EU Centre of Excellence at York University invite proposals for original papers of roughly 8000 words in length, to be revised for publication following the conference. Confirmed participants include Rainer Bauböck, Dimitry Kochenov, Willem Maas, and Espen Olsen. Invited participants will act as discussants for other papers and expenses will be reimbursed for those who submit complete papers by October 3. Please send a 400-600 word abstract and short bio no later than July 8 to Willem Maas at noting “Future of EU Citizenship” in the email subject line.

Call for Papers: Sixty Years of European Governance, Sept. 13-14, 2012

jkleiner — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:08:59 +0000

The European Union Centre of Excellence and Jean Monnet Chair at York will be hosting conference around the theme “Sixty Years of European Governance” at York University, Toronto, Canada on September 13 and 14, 2012. Conference organizers will accept proposals for original papers of roughly 8000 words in length, to be revised for publication following the conference, until June 26, 2012.

Shared governance and policymaking have long played central roles in European integration. Some policy areas have had a strong European component since the 1950s but the importance of European coordination and responsibility increased substantially in the 1980s and 1990s with the single market project. Today it is difficult to find a policy sector in which EU institutions do not share competence with member states or at least help coordinate decisions. Many concepts and approaches have been advanced to describe and explain this evolution. As the role of the state generally has become more multifaceted, the governance and policymaking landscape in Europe has become ever more complex. EU institutions often have policy formulation or coordination roles but generally lack all but the most basic resources to ensure implementation. European publics, often ignorant or skeptical of EU governance, generally continue to hold national governments accountable even as these governments blame “Brussels” for unpopular policies. Responsibility without accountability leads to a democracy deficit or to a compromise of national approaches without a European solution. Participants in this conference will reflect on sixty years of European governance, from the formation of the coal and steel community in the 1950s to today’s complex policymaking world. Confirmed participants include Michelle Cini, Neill Nugent, Sharon Pardo, and Ingeborg Tömmel.

How to submit paper proposals
The Jean Monnet Chair and EU Centre of Excellence at York University invite proposals for original papers of roughly 8000 words in length, to be revised for publication following the conference. Invited participants will act as discussants for other papers and expenses will be reimbursed for those who submit complete papers by September 6.

Please send a 400-600 word abstract and short bio no later than June 26 to professor Willem Maas at maas@yorku.ca noting “Sixty Years of European Governance” in the email subject line.

Lecture: (De-)Constructing the Subject of Pornography in European Law, May 9th

jkleiner — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:54:56 +0000

Uladzislau Belavusau

EUCE York will present a lecture by Dr. Uladzislau Belavusau, an Assistant Professor at the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam on Wednesday, May 9th from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in room S536 Ross (building #28 on the map found here). Entitled “(De-)Constructing the Subject of Pornography in European Law”, this lecture will be presented as part of the series EUCE Lectures on Law and Governance and is open to all.

Dr. Belavusau is an assistant professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (the Netherlands) with expertise in EU law, human rights, comparative constitutional law, and critical theory. He holds a Ph.D. from the European University Institute (Florence, Italy) and an LL.M. from the Collège d’Europe (Bruges, Belgium). He was a visiting scholar at the University of California at Berkeley (USA) and Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches öffentliches Recht und Völkerrecht (Heidelberg, Germany). In addition he has been guest lecturing at various universities in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Time: 11:30am to 1:00pm
Location: S536 Ross Building

Lecture: Fighting Hate Speech in the E.U., Thursday, May 10th

jkleiner — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:25:08 +0000

EUCE York Visiting Scholar Dr. Uladzislau Belavusau will deliver a lecture as part of the series EUCE Lectures in Law and Governance on Thursday, May 10th from 12:30 to 2:00 pm in room 305 York Lanes (building #24 on the map found here). Entitled “Fighting Hate Speech in the E.U.”, this lecture will explore the latest developments on the controversial issue of hate speech in European law, both on the level of the Council of Europe and most recently in EU non-discrimination law.

This lecture is being presented by EUCE York in cooperation with the Centre for Feminist Research.

Abstract: In the last fifteen years, the “European” fight with hate speech has attracted a new wave of attention in the light of the vehement (anti-)migration narratives, ever-virulent rhetoric of the radical right, glorification of terrorism and, ultimately, the discussion on the extent of the hate speech clauses in criminal law (genocide denial, homophobic hate speech, sexism, anti-Roma burlesquing etc.).

The first part of the lecture will explore the recent (“Strasbourg”) developments on hate speech from the European Court of Human Rights. The second part will offer a fresh look into the previously under-theorized issue of hate speech in EU law. The attention will be brought towards by now the only “race” judgment from the European Court of Justice and attempt to criminalize hate speech in Brussels. Finally, the lecture will reconstruct the dominant European theory of freedom of expression via rhetorical and victim-centered constitutional analysis, bearing important ethical implications for European integration.

Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012
Time: 12:30 to 2:00 pm
Location: 305 York Lanes

Call for papers: The European Union and World Politics Graduate Student Conference

jkleiner — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:23:33 +0000

The Institute for European Studies at SUNY (IEUSS), The University at Buffalo (SUNY) and Buffalo State College will be hosting a graduate student conference on the theme “The European Union and World Politics” on October 5-6, 2012.

At present, conference organizers are currently accepting paper proposal and will be doing so until June 1, 2012.

More details on the conference including the submission process, is found in the document found below:
The EU and World Politics – International Graduate Student Conference

Streaming audio: Migration and Social Change in Greece at Times of Crisis – Wednesday, April 11, 2012

jkleiner — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:41:49 +0000

Panos Hatziprokopiou, Aristotle University

EUCE York was pleased to present a lecture by Prof. Panos Hatziprokopiou (Associate Professor, Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece) on Wednesday, April 11th, 2012.

His lecture entitled “Migration and Social Change in Greece at Times of Crisis” was presented in the context of the series EUROPEAS: EUCE Lectures in History, Culture and Society and is available in streaming audio at:
http://media.yorku.ca:8080/faculty/ccges/1_Hatziprokopiou.mp3
http://media.yorku.ca:8080/faculty/ccges/2_Hatziprokopiou.mp3

The PowerPoint presentation which Prof. Hatziprokopiou used to support his lecture is found here.

Abstract: The lecture intends to offer a critical overview of the trends and processes of migration and the incorporation of immigrants’ in Greece. It will locate the Greek case within the European map of migration, explaining the transition of Southern Europe as a whole from emigration to immigration, and describing the particularities of the Greek context. It will then account for the labour market implications of migration to Greece and assess the development of immigration and integration policies. It will finally reflect on the challenges posed by Greece’s emerging ‘multiethnicity’ to established notions of national identity and uneasy perceptions of the ‘other’. The lecture’s overall goal is to establish the links between migration, integration and social change in contemporary Greek society, which are ultimately shaped by the deepening economic and social crisis.

Panos Hatziprokopiou is Associate Professor at the Department of Spatial Planning and Development at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He has conducted research in Greece and the UK, focusing on aspects of migration and the incorporation of immigrants, and on dimensions of diversity, otherness and the urban space. He is author of various chapters and articles on the above topics, including the book Globalisation, migration and socio-economic change in contemporary Greece (Amsterdam University Press, 2006). He is currently involved in research projects on Muslim migrants and on ethnic entrepreneurship in Athens.

Light refreshments will be served.

All are welcome.

Date: Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Time: 305 York Lanes
Location: 305 York Lanes

Hatziprokopiou is Associate Professor at the Department of Spatial Planning and Development at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Call for nomination: 2012 EUCE York Award

jkleiner — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:02:24 +0000

EUCE York is pleased to announce that it is accepting nominations from York graduate students for the 2012 EUCE York Award. This year, EUCE York will present up to two awards of $2,000 each to York graduate students working on a research topic related to the European Union and/or the Canada-E.U. relationship.

Details on how to apply are found in the link here: 2012 EUCE Award Call

The deadline for submissions is 4:30 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012.

Questions regarding the award can be submitted to Mr. John Paul Kleiner, EUCE York Coordinator, by phone at (416) 736 5695 or email

Lecture: Germany’s Transformed Multilateralism – European Security and the Transatlantic Relationship, March 31, 2012

jkleiner — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:55:26 +0000

EUCE York is pleased to be facilitating the participation of Peter Schmidt (Honorary Professor, University of Mannheim/Senior Fellow, Aspen Institute, Berlin) in 2012 Glendon Germany Symposium which will take place on Saturday, March 31, 2012. This annual symposium is overseen by students in the International Studies Program at York University’s Glendon College and each it takes a close look at a particular country or region.

The 2012 Germany Symposium will consider a number of themes relevant to contemporary Germany including:

the euro crisis
security and the German Basic Law
Germany’s place in Europe.

Peter Schmidt will take part in a panel entitled “Germany’s Transformed Multilateralism: European Security and the Transatlantic Relationship” along with:

Beverly Crawford (Associate Director and Associate Research Political Scientist, Centre for German and European Studies, University of California at Berkeley)
Benjamin Zyla (Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa)
Lt. Col. Kay Kuhlen (German Defense Attaché, German Embassy, Ottawa).

This event is open to all. For more information, visit the Glendon Germany Symposium website or write

Streaming audio: Polish graduate migrants in the U.K., March 29, 2012

jkleiner — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:14:03 +0000

Aga Szewczyk, Loughborough University, U.K.

EUCE York along with the Centre for Refugee Studies and CERIS – Ontario Metropolis Centre was pleased to present a lecture by Aga Szewczyk (PhD candidate, Geography, Loughborough University, U.K.) on Thursday, March 29th, 2012.

For those unable to attend, we are pleased to make this lecture available in streaming audio format at:
http://media.yorku.ca:8080/faculty/ccges/Szewczyk%20talk.mp3

Entitled “Polish graduate migrants in the U.K.”, this talk will address issues of career trajectories of Polish graduate migrants in theUK, with a focus on their skills attainment through education and work experiences both in Poland and in the UK, influencing their employability. In particular, it sheds light on the usefulness of higher education and further training in the labour market advancement of this cohort.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Aga Szewczyk is a PhD candidate in the Geography at Loughborough University, U.K. Her major research interest lies in graduate migration within the European Union. She holds Masters Degrees from Leicester University (Sustainable Management of Natural Resources) and Jagiellonian University (Human Geography) in Krakow, Poland.

Date: Thursday, March 29th
Time: 12:30 to 2:00 pm
Location: 626 York Research Tower

Lecture in streaming video: On Sovereign Debt Crisis and Sovereignty – A Constitutional law perspective, March 8, 2012

jkleiner — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:05:58 +0000

Nikos Skoutaris, University of Maastricht

EUCE Visiting Scholar Prof. Nikos Skoutaris (Assistant Professor, International and European Law, Maastricht University) delivered a lecture in the series “Whose (De)Fault is it Anyway? – The E.U. Crisis in Historical and Comparative Perspective” on Thursday, March 8th. Entitled “On Sovereign Debt Crisis and Sovereignty: A Consitutional law perspective”, this lecture was the fourth contribution to a highly-successful lecture series which is intended to explore the intimidating dimensions of the European financial crisis from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Abstract: Legal theory often differentiates between external and internal sovereignty. The former denotes state’s power to act independently from an external or higher authority while the latter is usually understood as “the ultimate source of authority within a state”. In this talk, I will argue that while signing the Memorandum has been nothing more than a voluntary act made by a sovereign state that failed to effectively meet its economic obligations by reference to the markets, still, the ratification and implementation of the Memorandum impedes the very foundations of popular sovereignty as described in the Greek constitution. In order to achieve this, my analysis will focus on the legislative procedures used to ratify the relevant treaties that undermine the Greek Rechtsstaat and the implications of the signing of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the EMU.

Nikos obtained his LL.B. from the University of Aberdeen, his LL.M. from Maastricht University and his Ph.D. from the European University Institute (Florence). He has worked at Amnesty International, the Council of the EU, the Academy of European Law and Tilburg University. At the moment he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International and European Law of Maastricht University where he teaches EU External Relations law and comparative constitutional law. He is an academic expert in the fields of EU constitutional law, EU external relations, comparative federalism and conflict resolution theory.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Date: Thursday, March 8th
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Room 2003 Ignat Kaneff Building/Osgoode Hall Law School