UKPEN.EU

London4Europe Social Event and Quiz
2023-07-10 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | Browns Restaurant, West India Quay, London, E14 4AY
Contact Andy Pye on andy@andypye.com to book

Can the UK & EU survive Great Power rivalry?
2023-07-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
WWW WorldWide Wednesday Zoom gathering: WWW TED-style (1 idea, 5 reasons, 10 minutes) talks followed by Q&A with three speakers:
– George Cunningham
– Roland Freudenstein
– Jeremy Lefroy
chair:
– Patrick Hurley

Online event with Dr Milena Romano, Lecturer in European Politics, ‘Europe Today: Society, Challenges and Questions’,
2023-07-05 18:00 - 19:15 | Online
Dr Milena Romano, Lecturer in European Politics from the University of Bath, will talk about some of the most interesting debates in Europe today, from Brexit to Ukraine, protests to human rights, elections to energy.
Dr Romano’s research interests include European integration and foreign policy, as well as gender, feminism, protest movements and how politics and education can affect everyday life.

Seven Years Bad Luck: Has Brexit cursed Britain?
2023-06-29 19:15 - 21:15 | Union Chapel, 19b Compton Terrace, London, N1 2UN, United Kingdom
Alastair Campbell, Bonnie Greer, Matthew d’Ancona, Patience Wheatcroft and Tanit Koch discuss the damage Brexit has done to Britain

Energy Security and Gas Prices in the UK and Europe: the true costs of fossil-fuel dependence and Brexit, a Zoom seminar with Catherine Rowett
2023-06-25 17:00 - 18:15 | Zoom, United Kingdom
Catherine Rowett, formerly Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, was elected as Green Party MEP for the Eastern Region in May 2019.

Boat Party Summer 2023
2023-06-24 12:45 - 17:00 | Westminster Pier, London SW1A 2JH
As we cruise along the river, we’ll interact with potentially thousands of people on the bridges and walkways, creating an electric atmosphere.
This unique event is a chance to proudly fly our EU flags and celebrate the remarkable achievements we’ve accomplished over the years. From Eurovision triumphs to the hugely successful participation in the first Rejoin the EU march, Last Night of the Proms, our own Europe Day, we have a lot to celebrate. Let’s continue this momentum and make this boat party a testament to our shared passion to rejoin the EU.

Webinar: Our Star - Choosing Our Future
2023-06-22 18:45 | Online
When the UK left the European Union in 2021, Members of the European Parliament, led by Terry Reintke, expressed their sorrow, but also their determination that UK MEPs would return to the European Parliament in the future. They expressed this by promising to “keep our star safe” until the UK again becomes a member of the European Union. Now, with increasing evidence of changes in public opinion and more active discussion of the consequences of Brexit, the time has come for Our Star to rise, and shine some light on the UK’s future.The “Our Star” sculpture is currently planned to move up through Kent and then settle in London where it will appear in the National Rejoin March in September 2023. Subsequently, it will ‘orbit’ the UK, providing a visual focus for public debates in many cities, hosted by local pro-EU groups. This opening webinar will discuss the schedule of events in the UK from 23 June 2023 (the 7th anniversary of the 2016 Referendum) up to the end of 2023 and into 2024; where they may be held and who might be involved; how both individuals and ‘common interest groups’ can be a part of the campaign; and how the campaign is financed.
Register to attend via the Zoom link below.
The image above shows the creator of the satirical floats in the Dusseldorf Karnival that appeared in anti-Brexit marches in London, Jacques Tilly (sculptor of “Our Star”), alongside (L to R) Phil Jeanes, Terry Reintke MEP, Peter French and Charlie Grosvenor.

Where is Global Britain? Is the UK on the world stage?
2023-06-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
WorldWide Wednesday Zoom gathering: Our WWW will examine the human, economic and political costs of Brexit in a TED-style format, followed by a Q&A with the three speakers:
– Cosi Dörfel-Hill
– Stewart Fleming
– Nick Hopkinson
chair:
– Dirk Hazell

The Human Cost of #Brexit and its impact on those who exercised EU treaty rights
2023-06-04 17:00 - 18:15 | Zoom, United Kingdom
Cosima Doerfel Hill will be giving an account of the In Limbo project, https://www.inlimboproject.org, which has published two books of personal testimonies about the impact of Brexit, one from EU citizens in the UK and one from British citizens in the EU.

Dancing For Ukraine - A Fundraising Event for Swindon's Ukrainian Community
2023-05-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade, Swindon SN1 1BA
Swindon’s Eurovision Dance Extravaganza
Journey with us through dances of our continent… Hear the story of these dances… From Ukrainian Cossacks to English Sailors… From Ancient Folk to Electro Balkan! Maybe even try a few steps for yourself!

Dancing for Ukraine - a Eurovision dance extravaganza!
2023-05-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Swindon Hub, 36 The Parade, Swindon SN1 1BA
A community dance project between Ukrainian refugees living in Swindon and local residents.
See our Ukrainian community perform national dances, alongside the local dance team “Dance Europa”. Journey with us through dances of our continent. Hear the story of these dances, from Ukrainian Cossacks to English sailors, from Ancient Folk to Electro Balkan. Maybe even try a few steps for yourself!
This is a fundraising event for Swindon’s Ukrainian Community – please see Eventbrite page for ticket/donation information:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dancing-for-ukraine-swindons-fundraising-eurovision-dance-extravaganza-tickets-618422848387

SORT THE SYSTEM - Lobby for Equal Votes
2023-05-24 12:00 - 17:30 | Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA, United Kingdom
This Rally for PR organised by Make Votes Matter and the Electoral Reform Society will bring hundreds of people to Westminster on 24 May to demand that our MPs back a change in the voting system – so that everyone has a vote that counts equally. Our political system is out of touch because Parliament doesn’t fairly reflect how we vote. We need Proportional Representation so everyone has a voice that counts. If you want to attend, sign up at the link below.
(NB: To prepare for this event, Action Network are holding an online virtual rally on Zoom on the evening of 18 April – please see separate listing on UK-PEN Key Events Calendar.)

National Rejoin March @ Eurovision
2023-05-13 14:00 | Keel Wharf, Liverpool. L3 4FN
NRM will be meeting up near the Eurovision venue in Liverpool at 2pm, where we’ll give two audiences of Eurovision (rehearsal show and final live show) – including many Ukrainian people who fled the war – a positive, friendly, pro-EU welcome. Wear blue, bring your flags and placards! We will be showing off our new banner, giving out flags with “Thank EU for the Music”, as well as Rejoin EU balloons, and flyers promoting National Rejoin March II in London. All are welcome, please come along – let’s make our ‘crew’ as big as we can! More details are on the website – and, if you can, please let the organisers know you are planning to be there.

Building Bridges between UK & Germany
2023-05-11 18:00 - 20:30 | Online
A joint hybrid event with EMUK members, hosted by East Kent for Europe and Pulse of Europe Würzburg/Germany. PoE-WÜ holds monthly discussion meetings; the May topic is Brexit: What is the actual position, what would we wish for and how can we improve the situation.
The aim is to have positive ideas for intercultural cooperation, interaction and exchange. The emphasis is on discussion.
Format: Three principal groups will be participating: 1. In Person in Würzburg town hall. 2. Online in UK. 3. Online PoE grps in Germany
There will be two sections for all groups:
A: 18-18.50 BST Each group discusses the topic among themselves, producing a resume or summary of key points.
B: 19-20.30 BST all groups join hybrid Zoom meeting to share their ideas and discuss the topic.
Join us for this different style of event, across borders. Language is not a barrier, so please do join us!

Julian Priestley Memorial Lecture - "What one generation does, so the next can undo" by Alastair Campbell
2023-05-11 18:00 - 19:30 | European Parliament, Liaison Office, 32 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3EU, United Kingdom
The 5th Annual Julian Priestley Memorial Lecture

Julian Priestley was one of the first generation of British EU Civil Servants, rising to become its Secretary General from 1997 to 2007.
After his premature death in 2017, a number of his friends decided that a fitting way to mark his European commitment would be to establish an annual lecture in his honour. This lecture is designed to provide an opportunity for prominent speakers to contribute to the ongoing debate about the European Union in the United Kingdom.

European Thoughts , Ideas, Citizens, Global Placement
2023-05-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
At this Worldwide Wednesday Zoom gathering, Roger Casale and David Henig will be talking about “Europe of the Citizens” and “Why we must defend trade (starting with our neighbours)” – responding to the barriers that have been growing in recent years”.

For more details and to reserve a free slot to attend this online session, please click on the link below.

The Failure of Remain - Adam Fagan and Stijn van Kessel
2023-04-27 18:45 | Online
Studies of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (“Brexit”) have largely focused on the role of politicians and political parties or the characteristics of Leave and Remain voters.
The Failure of Remain offers the first comprehensive study of the UK’s grassroots anti-Brexit movement. Emerging in the weeks and months following the June 2016 referendum, this movement was the most significant and wide-scale mobilization of proEuropean support that the UK had ever witnessed.
In The Failure of Remain, Adam Fagan and Stijn van Kessel assessed participants’ ideologies, arguments, and strategies. Drawing evidence from first-hand interviews, an original survey of anti-Brexit activists, and an analysis of their campaign materials, Fagan and van Kessel conclude that, while the anti-Brexit movement was successful in mobilizing a large number of pro-European citizens, its impact was limited by weak links to political elites and institutions, divisions between organizations and activists, and the absence of a clear stance on the UK’s relationship with the European Union.
The Failure of Remain reveals the difficulties of formulating effective pro-European arguments. What lessons for the future can be gleaned from past experiences? What can be learned for campaigns for an ever-closer relationship with the EU and ultimately to Rejoin it?
Adam Fagan – Professor of European Politics at King’s College London and senior editor of East European Politics. Stijn van Kessel – Reader (Associate Professor) in European Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary University of London.

Brexit in the Celtic fringe
2023-04-26 19:30 - 21:00 | Zoom, United Kingdom
This online webinar hosted by Grassroots for Europe will share information about the state of the pro-EU campaign in Wales, Scotland and NI, and explore the issues that are different in the devolved nations from those in England.
This will be a ticketed free event at 19:30 via Zoom, with donations welcome. Registration required – Zoom link will be sent to those registered 24 hours before the event.
Panellists:
David Clarke: Chair, European Movement in Scotland
Jackie Jones: Chair, Wales for Europe
Jane Morrice: Honorary President, European Movement NI

Get Set To Sort The System!
2023-04-18 18:30
Sort The System – The Lobby for Equal Votes – will bring hundreds of people to Westminster on 24 May to demand that our MPs back a change in the voting system – so that everyone has a vote that counts equally.
To prepare for that, join us on Zoom for a virtual rally on the evening of 18 April to find out why Sort The System is going to be our biggest opportunity yet to make the case for Proportional Representation.
Hear from senior politicians like Stephen Kinnock, Tommy Shepherd and Zack Polanski, and other speakers about why mass lobbies like Sort The System are important – and why now is the time! Together, they’ll be able to answer any questions you may have about Sort The System and provide advice on how to engage MPs of all parties in a conversation about electoral reform.

Labour for a European Future webinar
2023-04-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Zoom, United Kingdom
Richard Corbett will be speaking on how Brexit is impacting the UK, how public opinion on Brexit and Europe is changing and what this means for the Labour Party and the next election.
Richard was a longstanding Labour MEP and is the former Labour leader in the European Parliament.
He is an authority on developments in the EU and on Labour’s post-Brexit policy.

Citizens and the Constitution: education and engagement
2023-04-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Institute for Government, 2 Carlton Gardens, London, SW1Y 5AA, United Kingdom
Do citizens understand – or even care about – how the UK constitution works and the role it plays in making government work for them? If they don’t, then what can be done to ensure that the constitution and constitutional change has public support and legitimacy?
In this event, we will explore the current state of public understanding of – and interest in – constitutional issues. We will look at good practice for citizen engagement. And we will consider what can be done to cultivate an engaged and empowered citizenry for the future. This event is part of the IfG and Bennett Institute Review of the UK Constitution.
To explore these questions, we have assembled an expert panel including:
Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee
Liz Moorse, Chief Executive of the Association for Citizenship Teaching
Alan Renwick, Professor of Democratic Politics at University College London and Deputy Director of UCL’s Constitution Unit
Tatton Spiller, Founder of Simple Politics
The event will be chaired by Rebecca McKee, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government.
This is a hybrid event; follow the link to the event website to find links to register either for in-person or online attendance.

How do we get better MPs?
2023-04-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Nearly everyone agrees that our MPs are not up to scratch. But the path to improving the quality of our legislators is unclear. Some point to changing the conditions inside Westminster itself, while others look to the conditions of becoming an MP, and who chooses to apply for the job.
This event, the first of the Bylines Network’s Debates for Progress, will present a few options of how to improve the quality of our legislators. Speaking at the event will be:
Tom Brake, Director of Unlock Democracy
Tina Bhartwas, Labour and Co-Operative Councillor for Letchworth North
Josiah Mortimer, Chief Reporter at Byline Times
Harpreet Uppal, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Huddersfield
The event will be chaired by Louise Houghton, Director of the Bylines Network.

The 25th Anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement & the Windsor Framework
2023-04-06 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
The event will be opened by Prof. John Doyle (Vice President for Research at Dublin City University – DCU) and will feature an opening keynote speech by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, leading negotiator for Ireland for the Good Friday Agreement. A panel will be then moderated by Mark Landler (London correspondent of the New York Times) and will feature Prof. Christopher McCrudden (Professor of Human Rights and Equality Law, Queen’s University Belfast; William W Cook Global Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School), Dr. Mary Murphy (Senior Lecturer in Politics, University College Cork), and Prof. Federico Fabbrini (Full Professor of EU Law at Dublin City University and Founding Director of the Brexit Institute).

Dominic Grieve; Where is the UK going? Why do we need Europe?
2023-03-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Online
The Rt. Hon Dominic Grieve is the former Conservative Attorney General, Chair of the intelligence and Security Committee and was the champion in Parliament for the Remain cause from 2016 to 2019. He speaks with great clarity and authority on UK and EU matters.

After Brexit, is UK trade policy maturing? with David Henig
2023-03-26 17:00 - 18:15 | Online
Talk by David Henig followed by Q&A.
David Henig is Director of the UK Trade Policy Project. A leading expert on the development of UK Trade Policy post Brexit, in 2017 he co-founded the UK Trade Forum, which brings together UK trade policy experts to debate and analyse these issues.

London's European Future
2023-03-25 14:00 - 16:00 | Omnibus Theatre 1 Clapham Common North Side London SW4 0LH
As the UK looks past Brexit towards its future relations with the EU, what does London want and need from this relationship and how might we get there?
We will be joined at the Omnibus Theatre by speakers from the worlds of politics, business, the arts and more – including Leonie Cooper, London Assembly Member for Wandsworth and Merton; Carole Tongue, former MEP; Charlie Marsh from Young European Movement; university academics, Isabelle Clark, a business owner affected by Brexit, with others to be confirmed.
As a participant you’ll be able to question our speakers on their areas of expertise and then contribute your own experience and views during a workshop session to help develop new develop ideas and campaigns.

National Day for Rejoin - Swindon
2023-03-25 14:00 - 15:30 | The Parade, Swindon SN1 1BB
Swindon for Europe is taking part in National Day for Rejoin with a dance display and rally with Euro disco and open mic on the Parade in the town centre near the Swindon Community Hub and Wilko.

From 2 till 3.30 p.m. we intend to perform our show ‘Dance Europa!’ and hold a bit of street Euro disco and open mic, leaflet (and engage the public if you like or just be there in support…whatever you prefer).

If there are enough of us, we might do a short March around the shopping centre. Then we will perform our second set of ‘Dance Europa!’. After that we’ll all go for coffee and cakes in the Hub.

Day For Rejoin
2023-03-25
After the successful National Rejoin March in October, the NRM are encouraging all groups in the UK and Europe to host their own events on Saturday 25th March 2023. It can be any kind of event – flag-waving, a march, a rally, a street stall, a Brexitometer, whatever is appropriate to your locality and within your resources. The hashtag is #DayForRejoin. For more information and to join in with what is happening in your area, click on the website. And if there is nothing in your locality, organise it yourself and encourage other to join you!
Click on this link to see a list of events already being organised across the UK:

https://marchforrejoin.co.uk/nrm-day-for-rejoin

If you are organising something for that day, you can fill in a form on the website to let NRM know via this link about your event so it can be added to their map and they can help promote it: https://marchforrejoin.co.uk/dayforrejoin

Does Brexit mean less cultural diversity and weaker creative industries?
2023-03-23 18:45 | Online
Before Brexit and Covid, our creative industries contributed over 4% to GDP and over £100 billion to the economy. They were in surplus with the EU and the rest of world. However, they lost 31% of their turnover in 2020.
Now, because the UK has decided not to rejoin the EU Creative Europe programme and refuses freedom of movement, the end of Brexit transition threatens to destroy touring, performance, partnership and exchange possibilities with our European neighbours. The government seems to want to banish Europe as a special locus for cooperation/partnership and cultural influence. Why have organisations like the Creative Industries Federation made so little fuss?
Brexit has meant that our film industry, which exported more than any other EU country to the rest of the European continent, has lost access to the EU MEDIA programme – an integral part of the Creative Europe programme.
Where is the lobby to re-join this valuable programme? Are our artists, performers and film makers afraid of repercussions? During 2020, arts and cultural networks were told that the government would appreciate more congratulations for the little it was doing for the sector. Has this had a chilling effect on our ability to campaign to re-join Creative Europe?
A Creator’s Council exists to give voice to creators’ interests, from actors through to fine artists, but government doesn’t appear to be listening.

Economic Impact of Brexit
2023-03-22 18:30 - 21:00 | Prospero House, 241 Borough High St, London SE1 1GA
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS FREE, AND YOU CAN ATTEND EITHER IN PERSON OR ONLINE. More details and Eventbrite ticket links are on the event page
There is a widespread view among economists that Brexit has had a substantial negative impact on the UK economy. However, some economists disagree. This event will bring together economists with different perspectives to discuss the widely publicised estimates by the Centre for European Reform, the OBR and others including the BriefingsforBritain website, and to see what common ground if any, exists on what we know about the economic impacts of Brexit to date.
