Scholars from across Europe and the United States with expertise in European history, politics, and cultural studies will meet in Nashville for an international symposium. Hosted by the Max Kade Center for European and German Studies, the symposium “Imagining Europe: Turning Points in the Evolution of a Continent” takes place at Vanderbilt University Nov. 1-4.
Attendees will be marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, a turning point in efforts to unify Europe. Achievements including a European Economic Union, a common currency and a common foreign and security policy will be analyzed, as will challenges such as the 2005 rejection of a common constitution, various mappings of Europe over the centuries, unease at the rapid enlargement of the European Union, and the rise of ethnic tensions.
The symposium is free and open to the public. Christian Leffler (Head of Cabinet, EU Office of Intergovernmental Relations in Brussels), Lutz Görgens (Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Atlanta Ga.), and Alberta Sbragia (Jean Monet Professor and Director of the European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh) will deliver keynote addresses that will focus on the current state of the European Union Constitutional Reform Treaty in the Board of Trust Room of the Student Life Center on the Vanderbilt campus on Thursday, Nov. 1, 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday sessions will be held in Rand Function Room 220 in Sarratt Student Center.
Video of selected presentations and panels will be podcast live at VUCast, the website of Vanderbilt News Service, at www.vanderbilt.edu/news/.
For a complete schedule for the symposium see the website of the Max Kade Center for European and German Studies: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/euro/home.
Media Contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu