University American College Skopje holds the sixth annual academic research conference on European integration "EUROPE 2020: Towards Innovative and Inclusive Union" on Thursday May 17, 2012.
Prolonged multiple crises in the past years have provoked ever more people to question the viability of the basics of European integration. This inter- and multi-disciplinary one-day conference seeks to analyze the different components of European political and institutional architecture in search for sustainable solutions to the current fundamental challenges of the European Union. Researchers are invited for multidimensional and cross-sectional examinations of the key drivers behind the negative trends in the various areas from finance, economy, social cohesion and environment to education, media and culture. The basic point of departure is our belief that the nations of Europe possess the capabilities to reshape the Union by 2020 and reinvent the attractiveness of the EU model, which is so far considered the most successful instance of economic and political integration in the history of humankind.
Major issues to be addressed include:
- Federal Europe based on deeper political integration and common economic governance as a solution to the debt and Euro crises vs. revival of economic nationalisms on the continent;
- Creation of a society of knowledge as a developmental priority;
- Improving higher education policies in order to cope with the new challenges and global competition;
- Sustaining information society and reducing the digital gap within Europe as a prerequisite for wider integration;
- Making multicultural practices an asset, not an obstacle towards building more inclusive communities;
- Euro-scepticism as a by-product of political (un)accountability and poor delivery of EU institutions, enlargement fatigue of EU members and transitional fatigue of would be members;
- Western Balkan countries between domestic reform inertia and distracted EU;
- Social cohesion, marginalized human resources and gender aspects in the time of crisis.
Comparative case studies and research-based policy recommendations are encouraged, including but not limited to those concerning the countries of South East Europe.
By tradition, key speakers and high level officials from the country and from abroad are invited to address the conference.
Accommodation expenses will be covered by the University American College Skopje on as-needed basis only for a limited number of selected presenters who need to submit a bursary form.
For abstract & paper guidelines, conference programme and other updates please visit our web page: http://www.uacs.edu.mk/conference
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