Development Office Newsletter: Issue N°3 2010
Column
Prof. J. Pelkmans, College of Europe:
“The measures, not the money,
must keep the euro credible”
Prof. Pelkmans, considering today’s financial and economic situation in Europe – have you seen more troubling times?
The current crisis is very severe. Nonetheless, we have conveniently forgotten a number of previous crises, which, at the time, were maybe perceived as even more dramatic. It is true that today we consider this crisis as terrible, but the level of prosperity is much higher than twenty years ago. We are actually doing well in Europe.
So you see the situation more positively. But from your experience of working with the students: is there not a risk that the younger generation is loosing its confidence in the EU and the euro?
If you put it as broad as this – no. Every young generation has gone through some of the things I described in my previous answer. I think people will now understand much better that if you refuse to work together on the euro and its credibility, the financial markets will get out of control.
Based on this pressure from the market, at the beginning of the month, EU leaders have agreed on a rescue mechanism worth about €750 billion to protect the euro. Do you think this was a step in the right direction?
It should never have come so far. But given the circumstances, I am in favour of the rescue mechanism. First, we have made the crisis worse by waiting too long – which was not necessary. And second, the mechanism cannot only be seen as a pot of money. On the contrary, it is about the measures to be taken by the relevant Member States – harsh measures that were introduced at a very high speed. The pot of money is there to increase the credibility of the rescue mechanism...
Announcements
‘From Early Warning to Early Action’
From 15-16 June, a workshop entitled ‘From Early Warning to Early Action – Skills-building programme on Conflict Prevention for the European Union’ will take place at the College of Europe’s premises in Bruges. The workshop is organised for some 30 participants from the Folke Bernadotte Academy, a Swedish agency dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of international conflict and crisis management.How competitive are the European railways?
‘Competitiveness of the European Railways’ is the title of the 48th edition of a postgraduate course for staff at the European Training Centre for Railway (ETCR) taking place from 28 June till 9 July in Bruges.Open Registrations
» Intensive Seminar on the EU: Register now!
All you need to know about EU decision-making and policies! Choose from one- to three-week courses tailored to your level of experience.
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» European External Action Service training
A new specialised training programme for national diplomats and European officials who are joining the EEAS, including tailored lectures and interactive workshops.
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- Registration open till 15 Juli 2010.
» EU Fact Finding
A half-day fact finding mission to guide you through the ‘labyrinth’ of EU-related websites.
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» EU Negotiations in Practice
The principles and practice of EU decision-making including a two-day simulation exercise.
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- Registration open till 5 November 2010.
Announcements
Registration open for first
European External Action Service training
A new specialised training programme for national diplomats and European officials who are joining the European External Action Service (EEAS) will be organised at the College of Europe premises in Bruges from 30 August to 3 September.