UKPEN.EU

The UK EU reset - what would be an ambitious outcome?
2024-12-10 09:00 - 11:00 (Europe/London) | Scotland House Brussels 6 Rond-Point Robert Schuman 1040 Bruxelles Belgium
Our panel of EU and UK experts will delve into the possibilities and challenges ahead, exploring what an ambitious outcome could include. We will be joined by David McAllister MEP, Vladimir Dlouhy (Eurochambres), Tanja Buzek (Vice-Chair of the EU Domestic Advisory Group, EESC) and Federica di Sario (Politico). Mike Buckley (Independent Commission) will present outcomes from our work. Please join us for the discussion and networking after the event. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Eradicating VAWG; Empowering Europe
2025-01-07 17:00 - 18:30 | Online
A panel discussion on the prevalence of and increase of violence against women and girls (VAWG) across the UK and Europe before YEM’s campaign launch on 23rd January. Panellists will discuss how to mitigate this rise and how eradicating VAWG can empower both women and society as a whole. Followed by Q&A and discussion.
Chair: Cecilia Jastrzembska, YEM President & Co-Director, European Movement Board & National Council.
Speakers:
Dorothy Herson: YEM Vice President, Editor, Cambridge Press, author and former lawyer.
Hannah Phillips: Intersectional gender equality policy expert, Civility Commission Manager, Jo Cox Foundation, former Gender Parity Consultant, United Nations.
Sara Harris: Domestic Violence and Abuse Practitioner at Leeds Women’s Aid. Women’s Night Safe Space Support Worker for ‘Women Friendly Leeds. Former Ask for Angela Leeds Coordinator.

More Chicanery with the Digital Immigration System in Brexit Britain
2025-01-12 17:00 - 18:15
More fun and games from the Home Office! EU citizens in the UK who have been here since before 1989 are now having to apply for an eVisa. Cosi Doerfel-Hill (the3million) provides an update on UK policy on residency rights for EU nationals after Brexit

Europe Calling webinair: ‘Hostile Takeover?
2025-01-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
How tech billionaires are undermining our democracies & what the EU can do about it: We take a close look at the tech billionaires, their platforms, algorithms and strategies in the first Europe Calling webinar of 2025. We will also talk about freedom of expression and censorship and what the EU can and should do in concrete terms now.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvfu6rqDMsGdXsb0rUe-NEim-jYeBbQQnw
2025-01-15 18:30 - 20:00 | Online
Alex Hall Hall will discuss the challenges we face in 2025, but also the seeds of hope that are there to be found and what we can do to help nurture them.

What does a Trump Presidency mean for Europe?
2025-01-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Online
Join the European Movement in Scotland for a timely and thought-provoking webinar just days before the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States. This special event will bring together a distinguished panel of diplomats, academics, and activists to discuss the key challenges and opportunities Europe may encounter over the next four years as it navigates a rapidly changing global political landscape.
Chaired by EMiS Vice President Alyn Smith, this event will feature a keynote discussion with Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, the former British Ambassador to both the United States and the European Union. Lord Kerr brings unparalleled insight into transatlantic relations and the complexities of European diplomacy.
With topics ranging from the future of EU-US relations to pressing global issues like climate change, trade, and international security, this event will provide a platform for meaningful dialogue and fresh perspectives. Additional speakers will be announced soon, promising a rich and diverse exploration of what lies ahead for Europe.

The Erasmus+ Programme: what the UK has to gain by rejoining
2025-01-18 15:00 - 16:30 | Online and in person, Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield, United Kingdom
Erasmus+ provides funding for education, training and sport. It has a particular focus on youth work, but it also provides funding for activities aimed at all ages. It is not just a university exchange programme and we intend to show how valuable it was for communities such as those across Staffordshire, what was lost when the UK pulled out and what we have to gain by rejoining it.
If you want more opportunities for learning, development and sport in your community join us for this talk to find out how Erasmus+ could have helped and join the campaign to get it back.
Speakers – Cecilia Jastrzembska YEM President,
Matt Pointon TUC/WMCA Skills Partnership Lead at the TUC,
Kanika Safiya – EPA working in the education sector,
Klajdi Selimi – former President YEM

Break The Silence / End The Violence
2025-01-23 18:00 - 20:30 | Europe House, 32 Smith Square, SW1P 3EU London
Join YEM for our much anticipated campaign to raise awareness of, destigmatise discussion of and combat gender based violence (GBV) and champion gender equality. With GBV declared a national emergency in the UK and levels rising in several EU member states, this discussion comes at a pivotal time. An expert panel will examine the implementation of the Istanbul Convention across the EU and performance against Labour’s pledge to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the UK.
Followed by discussion and Q&A as well as a networking reception.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore materials from the official Break The Silence exhibition, a joint venture with multi-award winning artist Ally Zlatar.
Chair: Emma Nelson, Presenter, journalist, podcaster and broadcaster. Currently reporting for Monocle 24 and former BBC reporter.
Speakers:
🎤 Frances Fitzgerald: former MEP and Vice President of the EPP Group, Co-Rapporteur of the EU Directive Criminalising VAWG ratified earlier this year, and member of the Gender Equality Advisory Board. Prior to her election to the Dáil, Frances served as Chair of the National Women’s Council of Ireland (1988-92) and Vice President of the European Women’s Lobby, as well as serving as Tánaiste (2016-17).
🎤 Cecilia Jastrzembska: YEM President & Co-Director. Senior Policy Advisor with six years experience in central UK government,
🎤 Sanna Lepola: gender equality expert and Director-General for Parliamentary Democracy Partnerships, European Parliament, which fosters cooperation and legislative dialogue with national parliaments by providing advice and expertise to political bodies, members and administrative entities.
NB 🪪 Bring ID and arrive at 5:45 to clear security and avoid disruption. Latecomers will have to wait for the current speaker to finish. If you cannot attend please email Europe House ASAP. This event is already 75% subscribed.

Will the Brexit headache ever end?
2025-01-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Most of Britain might have expected Brexit to be a phrase of the past by now, buried in our pre-Covid subconscious. But, as we approach the eighth anniversary of the referendum, Brexit-related issues are just as prominent and divisive as ever. Critics of Brexit are more vocal than ever and concerns abound about food imports, tightened rules for EU holidaymakers and security.
Join The Independent’s Chief Political Commentator John Rentoul as he discusses all things Brexit past, present and future with a panel of experts.

The urgency of now: what can and should we do to bolster European security and defence
2025-02-12 18:00 - 19:30 | London School of Economics and Political Science Houghton Street London WC2A 2AE
Donald Trump’s return to the White House accelerates an historic shift in the nature of transatlantic relations since 1945, with an urgent need for Europe to provide much more effectively for its own security and defence in a disrupted and dangerous world. A major international academic and a leading EU policy practitioner will discuss what needs to be done. (This is an in-person AND online public event)

Erasmus+: what schools need to get back
2025-02-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
Ray Kirtley, Chair of the UK Global Learning Association for Schools (UKGLAS), will talk about everything that our schools have lost as a result of the UK’s withdrawal from Erasmus Plus, the world’s largest and most diverse programme of educational and youth opportunity – and the benefits they would get if we re-enter the programme. We will share knowledge about the few remaining educational links and partnerships between the UK and other European countries, what can be done to rebuild, and what the prospects may be for regaining access to Erasmus Plus.

Grassroots Conference 2025
2025-02-15 10:30 - 17:00 | LSE Centre Building (CBG) Houghton St, London WC2A 2AE
The event will feature workshops, panel discussions, and speeches from a range of great speakers including the following:
Caroline Lucas – Co-President of EMUK and former MP
Dominic Grieve KC – Co-President of EMUK and former MP
Michael Nicholson – Head of UK Environmental Policy at IEEP
Stephen Gethins – MP for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, and Vice President of EMUK
Emma Knaggs – Deputy CEO of EMUK and Chair of Bath for Europe
Sir Nick Harvey – CEO of EMUK and former MP
Yvonne Wancke – Local Groups Chair
Ellie Glass – Local Campaigns Manager at EMUK
Please note: To attend the event you must be either a member / representative of an affiliated local group, or a member of the European Movement.
Also available online.

Germany’s election – what does it mean for the EU?
2025-02-19 10:30 - 11:45 | Online
The snap election on 23 February 2025 comes at a turning point for Germany and Europe. What is likely to change under a new government and how will the election result affect EU policies and the future of Europe? What are the European issues that a new governing coalition in Berlin will have to address?
Speakers
Ditte Brasso Sørensen, Senior Analyst and Vice Director, Think Tank Europa
Almut Möller, Director for European and Global Affairs at the European Policy Centre (EPC), Brussels
Valentin Kreilinger, Senior Researcher at the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS), Stockholm
Chair
Göran von Sydow, Director of the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS), Stockholm

In Conversation With Young European Movement (YEM) President Cecilia Jastrzembska & Vice President Lea Rattei
2025-02-20 19:30 - 20:30 | Online
The meeting will address:
YEM’s activities: Youth Champions Award, plans for the European Youth Event 2025, the EU-UK Stronger Together Network + more
– YEM’s Break The Silence / End The Violence campaign in partnership with European Parliament & Europinion
– Historic (!) Launch of the European Movement Women’s Network 7th March
Questions and comments welcome.
Moderated by Don Lodge, Chair of York For Europe

Reset or Rejoin? The choice for Brexit Britain
2025-03-02 17:00 - 18:15 | Online
With Brendan Donnelly, a former Conservative MEP who left the Conservative Party in protest against its anti-European policies. In 2024 he helped found The Rejoin EU Party.
(NB To prevent ‘Zoom bombing’, the link for the Zoom meeting will only be posted on the day of the event itself. Please register for your free ticket via the TicketTailor page below, and follow the link in the ‘ticket’ email to access the meeting.)

Europe is the Future; Europe is the solution
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:30 | HYBRID EVENT – Online AND In Person, St Peter's Methodist Church, Canterbury, CT1 2BE
A New World Order? Trump or Europe?
East Kent for Europe are pleased to host Brendan Donnelly, Leader of the Rejoin EU Party, former Director of the Federal Trust and a former MEP. He has an immense wealth of experience, of connections and insight into a theme which is much in our hearts and minds particularly in these turbulent, horrendous times. Join us at this event to discover Brendan’s views on a positive future. The political ‘big picture’ has changed drastically, so be bold, register for this inspiring talk ( ONLINE or IN PERSON) and see you there!
Click on the Ticket Tailor link below, scroll down, and select the guest list for either the ONLINE or IN PERSON event.

Issues Facing Brits in Spain and Europe Post Brexit, with Lisa Burton (Bremain in Spain)
2025-04-13 17:00 - 18:15 | Online
Bremain in Spain campaigns to protect the rights of British migrants living in Spain and across Europe. As an organization founded by British migrants living in Spain, we, above all, understand the incredible opportunities freedom of movement can bring and the damage and difficulties its loss has brought to so many Brits living in the EU and the UK.

Europe Day with Marsha de Cordova
2025-05-08 18:00 - 20:00 | The Omnibus Theatre 1 Clapham Common North Side London, Greater London SW40QW United Kingdom
Come to our strategy session and discuss how to best to focus our campaigns in these critical times for Europe and the EU.
Marsha de Cordova, MP for Battersea and Vice-President of EMUK, will open the meeting with a keynote speech.
We will then view a new EMUK film featuring interviews with a WWII veteran, the Mayor of Lviv, a Deputy from President Zelensky’s cabinet and ordinary Ukrainians affected by current events.

uropean Dreams: Two films about Europe
2025-05-10 14:00 - 17:00 | The Fellowship Inn, Randlesdown Road, Londn, SE6 3BT, United Kingdom
We are showing two films in an afternoon open to the general public as well as Selfe and European Movement supporters and members. Tickets are free, and can be booked via the website below.
The first is a short 10 minute film with moving visuals and interviews from Ukraine, following Mike Galsworthy’s recent visit there.
The second is the 2017 documentary “Postcards From the 48%”, a film which will reignite the fires of frustration and anger that we all feel about Brexit being the first populist victory that led to so much else.

Film Screening - Flags in the Wind
2025-05-14 18:30 - 21:00 | Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AA, United Kingdom
A short film by European Movement UK exploring the humanitarian impact of the Ukraine-Russia war on the people of Ukraine. The documentary parallels the United Kingdom’s struggles in the Second World War with the ongoing experiences of the Ukrainian people, questioning whether the lessons of history have been heeded, and delivers a sobering message at a time when Europe celebrates 80 years since Victory in Europe Day.. The screening will be followed by a discussion.
Tickets available via the Eventbrite link below.

The Expert Factor Live!
2025-06-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AA
Hannah White, Paul Johnson and Anand Menon will be reunited on stage to record a special live episode of The Expert Factor.
Nine years to the day since the UK voted to leave the EU, as the directors of three of the UK’s leading think tanks – the Institute for Government, the Institute for Fiscal Studies and UK in a Changing Europe – get to together to discuss, explore and explain the big questions facing Keir Starmer’s Labour government and Britain’s opposition parties in an increasingly unpredictable world.
Also available online.

Why Reform will win the next general election - and what that means for Brexit, with Nick Tyrone
2025-06-29 17:00 - 18:15 | Online
Nick Tyrone is a journalist who has published articles in The Spectator, Daily Express, New Statesman and The Independent, where he has been described by Jon Rentoul as a ‘waspish writer and natural troublemaker’. He is currently an Associate Fellow at the think tank Bright Blue, and publishes the Substack newsletter ‘Neoliberal Centrist Dad’ (formerly ‘Today in Brexitland’).

Rejoin Roundtable: The Impact of Brexit on Students with Sam Johnson (student, UCL)
2025-07-01 19:00 - 22:00 | Holy Saviour Church Hall, Radcliffe Rd, Hitchin SG5 1QG
The Rejoin Roundtable will include a short talk from Sam Johnson about how Brexit has impacted students, with particular emphasis on the issue of studying abroad where Brexit has severely limited opportunities. This discussion will be informed by his current experience of trying to organise a student exchange at the University of Warsaw. He will also discuss the broader loss to students that Brexit represents, especially culturally. The talk will be followed by an opportunity to socialize over a buffet.

Grassroots for Europe Round Table: Resisting the Trump Assault: will American democracy survive and what can we do to help? A webinar with Alexandra Hall Hall
2025-07-08 17:00 - 18:30 | Online
Alexandra Hall Hall resigned from her post as Brexit counsellor at the UK Embassy in Washington on December 6th 2019, three days before the UK general election, declaring in a devastating critique of the UK government her unwillingness to “peddle half-truths on behalf of a government I do not trust”. Her action established Alex as a valued public truth-teller of the Brexit era.
In this webinar we are talking to Alex about the state and future of government and democracy in the USA, where she lives and is now a citizen. Alex has a longstanding inside view of US politics, having been seconded by the Foreign Office to serve as an expert in US government during the early millennium.

Webinar: Dr Christina Pagel and Trump Action Tracker
2025-09-09 17:00 - 18:30 | Online
Professor Christina Pagel [UCL], previously known as a prominent contributor to Independent SAGE, initiated in February a project to catalogue and characterise “the actions, statements, and plans of President Donald Trump and his administration that may pose a threat to American democracy, since the start of his second term in January 2025”.
As she reported on August 21st, the total of such recorded acts had by then passed 1000, with their pace accelerating. They are being classified under five major “domains of authoritarianism”:
Undermining Democratic Institutions & Rule of Law; Dismantling federal government
Suppressing Dissent & Controlling Information
Dismantling Social Protections & Rights; Enrichment & Corruption
Attacking Science, Environment, Health, Arts & Education
Aggressive Foreign Policy & Global Destabilisation; Nationalism
An early instalment of the database included a field documenting, for each Trump action, “Any organised actions against? (individuals speaking out against does not count)”. After the first few weeks, just over half the recorded actions had a recorded counter-action.
Professor Pagel has accepted the invitation of the Grassroots for Europe Round Table to brief us in an open webinar session on the Trump presidency and its impact in America, Europe and beyond.

The Sound of Economics Live: The State of the European Union
2025-09-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
In this episode of The Sound of Economics, we discuss the State of the Union address that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, will deliver on 10th of September.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to reveal her vision for Europe’s “once in a generation” opportunity. Join Bruegel’s Rebecca Christie, Simone Tagliapietra, Reinhilde Veugelers and Jeromin Zettelmeyer in a live discussion of whether the EU is ready to meet the moment.

Leo Varadkar – Speaking My Mind
2025-09-18 19:30 - 20:45 | Royal Geographical Society 1 Kensington Gore SW7 2AR
Newly liberated from the constraints of office, the iconic Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar joins us to reveal the story of his life in politics with unusual honesty and frankness.
‘There is so much people know already about my time at the top but almost as much that they don’t. I have the freedom now say things I could not while holding office and I have enough distance to reflect on the mistakes I made as much as what was achieved.’ – Leo Varadkar

South London Social
2025-10-06 19:00 - 22:00 | Old Tigers Head PH, 351 Lee High Road, London, SE12 8RU
Join us for a social get-together and update on Southeast and other London activity, including arrangements for joining National Rejoin March IV under the L4E and SELFE banners.

Brexit at Community Level: What Leaving the EU has Meant for Patients, Pharmacies, and Community Teams, with The Bear
2025-10-13 19:00 - 20:15 | Online
The Bear is a recent arrival to political commentary on X/Twitter @BearlyPolitics, and has a Substack newsletter https://www.bearlypolitics.co.uk/, as well as being the author of Bear Necessities of Politics and Power. His work has been recommended by the LBC presenter James O’Brien. He works as a manager in the NHS.

Trump's ten revolutions: the remaking of politics in the west
2025-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | LSE MAR.1.04, Marshall Building, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, United Kingdom
US President Donald Trump has a massive impact on global politics from potential peace settlements in Ukraine to global tariffs, the military intervention in Iran, the viability of a common climate change agenda and far beyond. At the same time, he is also a highly interventionist president within the United States.
Analysts regularly focus on the ad-hoc character of his interventions and his assumed dependence on last minute influences and sudden mood changes. This creates the impression that actions are largely unforeseeable and therefore cannot be prepared for.
During this talk, it will be argued on the contrary that, behind the seemingly chaotic daily events, there are well reflected strategic changes of US policy that can be known and allow for reflected policy responses: the 10 revolutions of Donald Trump.
Speaker: Klaus Welle, Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE European Institute.
Chair: Kevin Featherstone, Emeritus Professor (European Institute) and Professorial Research Fellow in the Hellenic Observatory at LSE
