Seminar: “2010 Review and Prospect of European Union”

●Organiser:
Research Center of the European Union, National Chengchi University
●Co-organiser:
European Union Center in Taiwan
●Time:
January 20, 2010 PM 13:30-17:00
●Venue:
New Briefing Room, Institute of International Relations, National Chengchi University


"2010 Review and Prospect of European Union" Seminar, aiming to explore the EU foreign policy (CFSP) trends and other vital issues under the Treaty of Lisbon, was held on 20th January.

The seminar was hosted by the European Union Research Center, National Chengchi University, with great help from European Union Center in Taiwan.
Inviting nearly 20 local and foreign scholars and researchers’ discussion and in-depth analysis of the international situation in 2009, this seminar sincerely hopes to grasp more insight on the world ahead.

From our great retrospect to the international crucial events happened within 2009, European Union had strived for passing the "Lisbon Treaty", which was regarded as a big integration process, after r the failure of "European Constitutional Treaty.

However, the new appointments of Permanent European Council President and the CFSP High Representative, coupled with the hovering financial turmoil and the democratic deficit problems waiting for solutions, seemingly implies that we have seen nothing yet. Obviously, the Lisbon Treaty, still can’t be viewed as the "panacea " to EU integration.

In addition to the rises of Russia, the United States have embraced China, claiming the "G2" powers in the world, both pose more challenges to EU's foreign policy. The Copenhagen Conference, with a far cry from EU’s expected outcome of the meeting, trails how EU to exercise and extend its normative power to each level more effectively. The mission forward shows its own significance.
Last but not least, while Russia and Georgia’s South Ossetia fighting has just showed its pause, it’s time for the European Union to rethink the applicability of "European Neighborhood Policy." The current trails as how to encourage more countries’ identity and sign in a new European security treaty, developing a more practical models for the reciprocal cooperation with Russia, relie upon the further integration of EU to develop a more wholesome Common Foreign and Security Policy.