UKPEN.EU

The EU Election Special
2024-04-25 18:30 - 19:30 (Europe/London) | Online
More people than ever are going to the polls this year. And the EU Elections, coming up on June 6th, are a pivotal moment for Europe as 400 million voters will decide the make-up of the European Parliament for the next 5 years.
Whilst the UK is of course not taking part in these elections, it is essential that we have an understanding of the likely outcomes and potential impacts of this election, that of our closest neighbour and biggest trading partner, and grapple with what these mean for the next stage of the UK-EU relationship.
The speakers:
Stephanie Luke is a Research Associate based in the Department of Politics and International Relations at The University of Sheffield. She is also a Seminar and Lecture Tutor at Durham University, teaching modules on European Politics and Democratic Political Systems. She is currently working on a European Commission funded project on “data-driven” election campaigns. She has also researched European politics, Euroscepticism, far-right parties and party politics.
Dr Garvan Walshe is a Brussels-based political strategist, with almost twenty years’ experience working in political strategy and communication technology focusing on policy development. Since the Brexit referendum, he has concentrated on strengthening democratic governance in Europe. Garvan chairs the pro-democracy NGO Unhack Democracy, which works on strengthening civil society in East Central Europe, and is a Director of Communications at the European Policy Centre, as well as a research associate on defence policy at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and an affiliate at the Central European University Democracy Institute. He writes a regular column for Conservative Home in the UK.
Jacki Davis is a Brussels-based journalist, broadcaster and editor and a Senior Adviser to the European Policy Centre (EPC) think tank. She was previously Communications Director of the EPC; Editor-in-Chief of E!Sharp magazine; and launch editor of European Voice, the Brussels-based weekly newspaper then owned by The Economist (now POLITICO).
Chaired by Richard Morris, EM UK’s International Officer

What could a Labour government do to repair relations with Europe? Discussion with Peter Foster
2024-04-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Friends Meeting House 12 Jesus Lane Cambridge CB5 8BA
As the polls point towards a new Labour government in the next 12 months, Peter Foster of the Financial Times discusses how Brexit has contributed to widespread public disenchantment with politics in the UK in general and the current Conservative government in particular. He will discuss what can be done to improve the situation, and what a Starmer government might — or might not — do to repair relations with Europe.
Doors open at 6.10 PM, and the talk will begin at 6.30 PM.
The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A. Please note that to encourage free discussion this event will not be recorded.

Support Steve Bray on May Day!
2024-05-01 12:00 - 15:00 | Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3BD, United Kingdom, Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3BD, United Kingdom
10.20 meet Leatherhead station (for 10.40 train to Waterloo)
From 12.00 midday meet Parliament Square and move to near FCDO, Whitehall.
Do join us with your flags and placards to rally with other pro-Europeans in Parliament Square re local elections and PMQs

Britain's future relationship with the EU - a German perspective.
2024-05-07 17:45 - 19:45 | Online
Julian Priestley Memorial Lecture 2024. This year’s lecture will be given by Annette Dittert, senior correspondent of the German public broadcaster ARD, with the title Britain’s future relationship with the EU – a German perspective. The lecture will be chaired by Mike Galsworthy, Chair of the European Movement.

Young European Movement: In Conversation with Neil Kinnock
2024-05-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
To celebrate Europe Day 2024, the Young European Movement will be hosting a webinar with former Labour Party leader, Neil Kinnock.

Europe Day Festival 2024
2024-05-09 16:00 - 21:00 | St John’s Smith Square, London, SW1P 3HA, United Kingdom
Come along and take part in quizzes and games, taste European delicacies and take a souvenir photo while meeting staff of the European Union in the UK and of European diplomatic bodies, cultural institutes and civil society organisations. Stay with us for the evening reception and enjoy the performance of musicians and artists from all corners of Europe. Free, but registration required.

A celebration of Europe Day on 9th May
2024-05-09 18:30 - 21:30 | National Liberal Club,1 Whitehall Pl, London SW1A 2HE.
This event on the National Liberal Club Terrace, the largest private terrace in London, will be the opportunity to come together and embrace the ongoing spirit of unity with Europe and the European Union.
There will be:
Live music performed by the Royal Academy of Music: a range of European national anthems and pieces from some of Europe’s great composers
A range of speakers discussing the UK’s future relationship with Europe and the state of the EU
Cuisine that spans the breadth of Europe, with small plates of food from the coastal countries of the Mediterranean to the mountains of Scandinavia, including nationally inspired dishes from Cyprus, Portugal, Moldova, Republic of Ireland and Sweden
Festive atmosphere with flags of Europe and the European Union bedecking the terrace.

Talking Europe: Scotland's First International Festival of Europe
2024-05-11 09:30 - 2024-05-12 18:30 | Summerhall, Edinburgh
All events are free, but registration is required. Separate registration is required for each event.
Events:
Talking Europe – The big issues facing Europe
Talking Europe – The issues and opportunities facing EU citizens in the UK
Talking Europe – European defence and security
Talking Europe – Practical ways of promoting Scotland – Europe links
Talking Europe – Round table with cross-party MP/MSPs

Eurocafé
2024-05-11 12:30 - 14:00 | RVS Hanley, 29 Charles St, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3JP, United Kingdom
Drinks, chat and quiz

Europe Day walk and BYO Picnic
2024-05-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Denbies Vineyard, Dorking, RH5 6AA, United Kingdom
Meet at 13.00 at Denbies Vineyard, Dorking RH5 6AA. https://www.denbies.co.uk/
Walk a gentle 1 hour uphill to Ranmore hillside,
RH5 6SR, for spread out picnic on the grass, with spectacular views: OR drive to hillside
(limited parking, fee-paying) and meet us there around 2.30pm.
If wet, we will go into Denbies conservatory cafe for a cuppa and chat.
Look out for the Sunflower symbol – national emblem of Ukraine.
All pro-Europeans welcome, especially those with Ukrainian connections.

European Unity Walk in Greenwich Park
2024-05-12 14:00 - 16:00 | Greenwich Park, Charlton Way, London, SE10 8QY
Let’s celebrate European Unity with a spring walk in Greenwich Park. It is a time of new beginnings and growth. Choose between two distances according to fitness level.
We will finish in the Pavillion Cafe between 3 and 3.30 for a refreshing cuppa and a chat.
If the weather allows, we can sit outside.
Family and dog friendly walk.
Parking is available.

EU Strategic Autonomy Two Years into the War in Ukraine
2024-05-14 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
This event will take stock of the evolution of EU trade, investment, and industrial policy in light of the war in Ukraine, and the increased emphasis on economic security ahead of the EU elections.
It will be opened by a keynote address by Her Excellency Dalia Grybauskaitė (former President of Lithuania) who will be introduced by Prof. Daire Keogh, President of DCU. This will be followed by a panel, chaired by Una Mullally (Irish Times) featuring experts in this area, including Prof. Ming Du (Professor in Chinese Law and the Co-Director of the Global Policy Institute, Durham University), Dr. Cécile Pelaudeix (Senior Researcher, Sciences-Po Grenoble), and Dr. Niall Moran (Assistant Professor in Economic Law at the School of Law & Government at DCU & Deputy Director of the Brexit Institute).

Opinion board & street event in Leatherhead
2024-05-18 10:30 - 12:30 | High Street, Leatherhead KT19 8AA, United Kingdom
We’ll be sounding out how local people are feeling about a range of issues with a WHAT DO YOU THINK? question board and raising awareness on our relationship with Europe and with the European Movement. Come and join the conversation highlighting the Benefits of rejoining the EU. Our Street Question Board / Eurometer will be asking the question: Is it Time for a Change in direction?

The fight for the ECHR: What is at stake?
2024-05-29 18:30 - 19:30 | Online
Now, the people responsible for Brexit want to remove the UK from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the international court set up in the aftermath of the Second World War to protect people from tyranny.
Since the UK became a member of the ECHR, the court has intervened 466 times to uphold human rights against the government.
We are calling on Rishi Sunak to commit to our membership of the European Court of Human Rights because it is the last line of defence of our rights and freedoms. To support this mission, we launched the petition to keep the UK in the ECHR.
To discuss this vital issue, we have brought together three of the leading experts on the ECHR:
Dominic Grieve KC PC – Dominic is a British barrister and former politician. Today, Dominic is Vice President of European Movement UK (Source: Wiki).
Jessica Simor KC – Jessica is recognised as one of the country’s leading specialists in public/regulatory, EU and human rights law. (Source: Matrix Chambers).
Andrew Cutting – Andrew is Spokesperson and Media Officer at the Council of Europe, a role he has held for almost 14 years. (Source: LinkedIn).

Meet the Leaders Forum with Will Hutton and Vicky Pryce
2024-05-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
How would an alternative economic and political philosophy remake a better Britain?
Join author and commentator Will Hutton in conversation with leading economist and Chair of Fellows at Radix Big Tent, Vicky Pryce, about Will’s new book This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain.
Will Hutton’s passionate book gives us plenty to discuss: Capitalism must be repurposed to work for the common good. And our degraded democracy, the necessary means for such change, must be reformed.

Dance Europa! Fundraising dance gala in aid of Ukraine
2024-06-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Commonweal C6 Auditorium, The Mail, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4JE, United Kingdom
Support Ukraine! Come and enjoy a colourful international Dance Gala in aid of Ukraine. Enjoy dances from Ukraine, Georgia, the Balkans, Greece, England, and Spain, plus Dance Europa’s new thoughtful ballet ‘Continental Drift’ about current issues in light of traditions…
All proceeds will be donated to Swindon Welcomes Ukraine and Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership.

Brexit and the UK election, with Chris Grey
2024-06-09 17:00 - 18:15 | Online
The author of the Brexit and Beyond blog https://chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/ and Brexit Unfolded (Biteback , 2nd ed 2023) discusses the ongoing impact of Brexit on UK politics.

Between Putin and Trump: The chance for an UK-EU Reset
2024-06-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Webinar with Professor Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies & Isaiah Berlin Fellow Emeritus at St Antony’s College, University of Oxford & Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
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European Movement Staffordshire at Stoke-on-Trent Pride
2024-06-15 12:00 - 16:00 | Stoke-on-Trent Pride Hanley Park Cleveland Road Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4DX​
The European Movement Staffordshire will have a stall at Stoke-on-Trent Pride

EU|UK Annual Conference 2024
2024-06-17 10:30 - 17:00 | Online
The annual EU-UK Forum conference will address the evolving dynamics of EU-UK relations in a period marked by improved dialogue and cooperation. It will focus on issues such as the development of diplomatic and trade relations, boosting Europe’s economy and competitiveness and the growing importance of security and defence cooperation.
Keynote speaker: Maroš Šefcovic, Executive Vice-President, European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, European Commission

UK in a Changing Europe Annual Conference 2024
2024-06-18 09:00 - 17:00 | 1 Great George St, London SW1P 3AA
Join us in Westminster for the UK in a Changing Europe annual conference. Because most of the political parties aren’t, we will be reflecting on the future of the UK and its relationship with the European Union. Eight years on from the decision to leave the EU and just two weeks out from the general election, we are assembling expert panels of leading academics, policymakers and journalists to discuss the changing economic, political and social landscapes of both the UK and Europe.
It will include a keynote speech from Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London, and an introduction to UK in a Changing Europe’s latest report on UK-EU relations from UKICE Director Anand Menon.

Talking Europe, Ethics & Standards in Public Life
2024-06-24 19:30 - 20:30
with Dominic Grieve KC, former MP and Attorney General, Vice-President of the European Movement
livestream on X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube

After the Elections, Where Now for Relations between the EU and Brexit Britain? with David Henig
2024-07-15 19:00 - 20:15 | Online
David Henig is Director of the UK Trade Policy Project. A leading authority on the development of UK Trade Policy post Brexit, he places this in the context of developments in EU and global trade policy on which he also researches and writes.

Parliamentary Recess
2024-07-30 08:00 - 2024-09-02 17:00

Grassroots for Europe Round Table #48: Brexit and After, Views from Ireland
2024-09-10 17:00 - 18:30 | Online
For this session, involving views from Ireland, we agreed it would be good to talk with friends in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our colleague Jane Morrice, Hon. President of the European Movement Northern Ireland, former Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, and former Head of the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland has kindly agreed to chair.
Registration is free but donations are welcome. We’ll share the Zoom link with all who are registered 24 hours before the event.

Party Conferences
2024-09-12 08:00 - 2024-10-07 09:00

Power-to-the-People Webinar “All aboard! – How can citizen assemblies shape our democracies?”
2024-09-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Online
This next “Power to the People” webinar will introduce the European Peoples’ Assembly, set up by the Democratic Odyssey, which will start on 27th September in Athens. The initiative is supported by a broad coalition that includes Another Europe is Possible, European Alternatives, European University Institute, Europe Calling, Mehr Demokratie, Citizens Takeover Europe, and ECI Campaign.
Speakers are:
Art O’Leary, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission of Ireland who has organized the Ireland’s assembly on abortion rights
Professor Kalypso Nicolaidis, Chair in Global Affairs at the Florence School of Transnational Governance and co-lead of the Democratic Odyssey project
Niccolo Milanese, founding director of European Alternatives, a civil society organisation promoting democracy, equality and culture beyond the nation state
Sarah Händel, Board member of Mehr Demokratie e.V., one of Germany’s leading NGOs for deliberative democracy
Brett Hennig, Co-founder and director of the Sortition Foundation, campaigning to institute the use of democratic lotteries (also called sortition) in government
Alexiane Terrochaire – – Barbançon, Executive Board Member of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
Clare Farrell (tbc), co-founder and spokesperson of Extinction Rebellion
David Van Reybrouck (tbc), writer, playwright, journalist, archaeologist and historian who founded the G1000 initiative, which campaigns for democratic innovation in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
A citizen representative from the EU’s Conference on the Future of Europe (tbc)
The event will be interpreted in English, German, Greek, Italian, French, Czech, Portuguese, Polish, Lithuanian and Bulgarian.

BREMAINERS ASK – SPECIAL ONLINE WEBINAR
2024-09-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
We are delighted to feature our first member of the House of Commons – Labour MP for Walthamstow, and Chair of the Labour Movement for Europe, Stella Creasy.
Stella has suggested a special webinar, hosted by our chair, Sue Wilson. The Zoom call link will be supplied in due course.
We are most grateful to Stella for making herself available for this very special online Bremainers Ask session and we hope you will join us.
Please register your interest in attending by email by Tuesday 17 September to allow for the administration of this event. enquiries@bremaininspain.com

What can Labour really do about #Brexit? with Peter Foster
2024-10-07 19:00 - 20:15 | Online
Peter Foster, author of What Went Wrong with Brexit, and What We Can Do About It (Canongate, 2023), explores how far the recently elected Labour government can reset relations with the EU given the ‘red lines’ set by Sir Keir Starmer ruling out rejoining the EU single market, a customs union or accepting Free Movement.
Peter Foster is the public policy editor of the Financial Times. His current brief covers all aspects of UK policy, including higher education, skills, investment and the implementation of Brexit.

EU-UK relations: Towards deeper cooperation in defence and security
2024-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom, United Kingdom
This online Policy Dialogue will discuss the prospects and options for a deeper EU-UK relationship on defence and security, access to defence markets, and the strengthening of NATO’s European pillar.
With Juha Jokela (Programme Director, European Union and Strategic Competition, Finnish Institute of International Affairs) & Richard G Whitman (Professor of Politics and International Relations, University of Kent)
