Disintegration and Integration in Central-Eastern Europe

"Borders, Identities, Communities: The Road to Reconciliation and Partnership in Central and Eastern Europe"

(Berlin, April 14th - 15th, 2016)

Introduction

The end of Europe’s division in 1989 marked the beginning of a new Europe, which was to be achieved through integration. The conference”Disintegration and Integration in Central-Eastern Europe” will focus on the integration process of east and central Europe in the framework of the transitions and challenges having taken place since 1989.

Program

Thursday, April 14
8.30-9.00 Registration
9.00-10.30 Welcome Speeches
Venue: RED Ballroom Saal
Moderator: Prof. Dr. Nicolae Păun (Dean of the Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University, Co-organiser of the Conference)

  • The Message of the President of Romania presented by Ms Iulia Huiu (State Councillor)
  • H. E. Emil Hurezeanu, Ambassador of Romania in the Federal Republic of Germany
  • Prof. Dr. Ioan-Aurel Pop (Rector of Babeş-Bolyai University, Member of the Romanian Academy)
  • Prof. Dr. Sylvain Schirmann (University of Strasbourg, Co-organiser of the Conference )
  • Mark Donfried (Executive Director of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy of Berlin)
10.30-11.00 Coffee Break
11.00-13.00 Opening Panel Discussion
“1989: The End of Europe’s Division. A New Europe through Integration”
Chair: Prof. Dr. Ioan-Aurel Pop (Member of the Romanian Academy)

Keynote speakers:

  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Wilfried LOTH (Professor Emeritus, University of Duisburg-Essen): La chute du mur comme lieu de mémoire
  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Gérard BOSSUAT (Professor Emeritus, University of Cergy-Pontoise): La fin de l'Europe?
  • Prof. Dr. Michael O’NEILL (Nottingham Trent University, Jean Monnet Chair ): Challenges or Crisis: The 'European Idea' in Retreat?
  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Antonio VARSORI (Chairman of the European Union Liaison Committee of Historians, University of Padua): Italy and the Balkan/Danubian area after the fall of communism: between traditional interests and new challenges
13.00-14.30 Lunch Break
14.30-16.00 Panel Discussion
“Challenges to European Reconciliation: National Populism in Eastern and Central Europe”
Venue: Big Classroom
Chair: Dr. Charles BARTHEL (National Archives of Luxembourg)
Contributors:

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sergiu MIȘCOIU (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): The New Consensual Disagreement: Melting Populism into Neo-Populism
  • Lect. Dr. Ovidiu VAIDA (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): Already Tired of Europe? Euroscepticism in Central and Eastern Europe
  • Dr. Sergiu GHERGHINA (Department of Political Science, Goethe University Frankfurt): Electoral Support Beyond Leaders? The Organization of Populist Parties in Post-Communist Europe
  • Dr. Andrei RĂDULESCU (Senior Economist Banca Transilvania; Scientific Researcher, Institute for World Economy, Romanian Academy, Bucharest; Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): European Real Economic Convergence - Evidence from Central and Eastern Europe
16.00-16.30 Coffee Break
16.30-18.00 Panel Discussion
“Communities and Borders in Eastern European Euro-region”
Chair: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Renzsch (University of Magdeburg)
Contributors:

  • Prof. Dr. Nicolae PĂUN (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): The Fifth Wave of Enlargement of the European Union
  • Prof. Dr. Victor NEUMANN (West University of Timișoara): Multiculturality and Socio-Cultural Heterogenity, The Case of East-Central Europe
  • Dr. Vladimir GONEC (Institute of Political Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences): The Transborder Regions of EU: a Successful or Failed Tool for Reconciliation and Partnership. The Experience of Slovakia and the Czech Republic
  • Lect. Dr. Adrian CORPĂDEAN (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): The Romanian-Hungarian Strategic Partnership (2002-2016)
18.00-20.00 Meeting of the European Union’s Liaison Committee of Historians
Venue: ICD Meeting Room
20.00 Cocktails Hosted by Babeş-Bolyai University and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy
Venue: RED Berlin Restaurant
Friday, April 15
9.00-12.00 Panel Discussion
“Franco-German Reconciliation, a Model”
Venue: RED Ballroom Saal
Chair: Prof. Dr. Sylvain SCHIRMANN (University of Strasbourg)

Contributors:

  • Prof. Dr. Sylvain SCHIRMANN (University of Strasbourg): General issues
  • Prof. Dr. Wichard WOYKE (Westfalian University of Münster): Two Active Civil Societies - Franco-German Cooperation in Everyday Life
  • Prof. Dr. Birte WASSENBERG (University of Strasbourg): The Franco-German Border Cooperation
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Martial LIBERA (University of Strasbourg): Cooperation Between French and German Chambers of Commerce
10.30-11.00 Coffee Break

  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marion ABALLEA (University of Strasbourg): Diplomats and Franco-German Rapprochement
  • Pr. Corine DEFRANCE (CNRS): Twinning , Reconciliation Vectors  
  • Dr. Jean-Christophe MEYER (University of Strasbourg): Sport and Franco-German Reconciliation
12.00-13.30 Panel Discussion
“Governance and National (Re)Constructions at the Borders of Europe”
Venue RED Ballroom Saal
Chair: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang-Dietrich GRUNER (University of Rostock)

Contributors:

  • Prof. Dr. Sergiu Musteaţă (Ion Creangă State University of Chișinău): The Republic of  Moldova - a Young State with a Fragile Democracy and Uncertain Citizenship
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Georgiana CICEO (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): The Normative Power of Europe Beyond its Borders
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentin NAUMESCU (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): The EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood: Borders, Identities, Conflicts. A Comparison between Ukraine and Moldova
  • Lect. Dr. Laura HERȚA (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): Reconciling with the Past: The Attitudes and (Re)Actions of the West towards the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War)
  • Lect. Dr. Dorin DOBRA (Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University): Borders as Sources of Crisis: the Great Future Challenge of the EU
  • Dr. Werner Müller-Pelzer (University of Dortmund): The Manifesto convivialiste in a European Perspective
13.30-15.00 Lunch Break
15.00-17.00 Panel Discussion
“Teaching National History without Hard Feelings?”
Venue: Red Ballroom Saal
Chair: Prof. Dr. Kiran PATEL (University of Maastricht)

Contributors:

  • Prof. Mihai MANEA (President of the Romanian Association of History Teachers: Truth and Teaching History without Hard Feelings. An Approach to History Teaching and Reconciliation)
  • Dr. Annie Guénard-Maget: Teaching National History without Resentment?
Discussion: with the participation of the European Union’s Liaison Committee of Historians / avec la participation du Groupe de liaison des historiens de l’intégration européenne :
  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Antonio VARSORI, University of Padua
  • Dr. Charles BARTHEL, Archives nationales de Luxembourg
  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Gérard BOSSUAT, Université de Cergy-Pontoise
  • Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c. Wilfried LOTH, University of Duisburg-Essen
  • Reader Dr. Piers LUDLOW, London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Prof. Dr. Kiran PATEL, University of Maastricht
  • Prof. Dr. Nicolae PĂUN, Babeş-Bolyai University
  • Prof. Dr. Sylvain SCHIRMANN, Université de Strasbourg
15.00-17.00 Panel for PhD Students of the Doctoral School ‘The European Paradigm’ - guidelines and progress reports
Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elena CALANDRI (University of Padua)
Contributors:

  • Lect. Dr. Yehudit OD-COHEN (Ohalo College, Kazrin): Intercultural processes enhancing doctoral learning between cultures
  • Dr. Sarah FEINGOLD (Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts): Dialogue and Challenges of Language Acquisition in Integration of Migrants
  • Mati AVNI: Cross-cultural issues involved in an appointed committee managing an Arab local authority in crisis in Israel
  • Segev AVRAHAM: Migrants for Africa to Israel - "Detention Camps" or "Living Facilities"
  • Shula MENACHEM: The European Union, Globalization and National Policy: from Deciders to Receivers
  • Ahmad NATOUR: Organized Sport Events Promoting Cooperation Between Nations
  • Ori NISSIM LEVI: Operational-Nuclear-Defense-Model
  • Jessica STROSCHEIN: Berlin – a “border city”
  • Sullam YOEL: Cultivating Organizational Culture within Globalized Companies Using the Wellness Kickoff Tool
  • Orit RISHPI: Title reserved
17.00-17.30 Final Remarks
Venue: RED Ballroom Saal
  • Prof. Dr. Sylvain SCHIRMANN (University of Strasbourg)
  • Prof. Dr. Nicolae PĂUN, Dean of the Faculty of European Studies, Babeş-Bolyai University, Co-organiser of the Conference
19.00 Cocktail hosted by H.E. Emil HUREZEANU, Ambassador of Romania in the Federal Republic of Germany
Venue: Romanian Embassy in Berlin