35 years of a unified Germany in the EU: From Iron Curtain to integration challenge​​​​​​​​​​​

Tuesday 29 October 2024 | 18:30 - 21:00| Muziekgieterij

The fall of the Berlin Wall

Thirty-five years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe stands at a crossroads. Once a driving force behind European unity, Germany now faces questions about its role in the EU’s future. While the Maastricht Treaty and the expansion of the EU in the 1990s and early 2000s marked a period of rapid integration, recent years have seen a notable slowdown. Economic challenges, political divergences, and the rise of Euroscepticism are testing the union's cohesion. Traditionally, the Franco-German alliance has propelled Europe forward, but today, Germany’s cautious stance and the growing influence of far-right political forces raise critical questions about the direction of European integration.

Image courtesy of BBC - The Berlin Wall

Studio Europa Maastricht and the Duitsland Instituut Amsterdam are organizing a public program to explore Germany’s evolving role in the EU and its impact on European unity. Join us on October 29 in Maastricht for a thought-provoking conversation with leading European experts: Aline Sierp (Maastricht University), Hanco Jürgens (member of the academic staff at DIA and a fellow at the Montesquieu Instituut), and Georgi Verbeeck (Professor of History at KUL and Associate Professor of Political Culture at UM). Moderated by POLITICO’s chief Europe correspondent based in Berlin, Matthew Karnitschnig. Together, we will try to answer the question: "Is Germany slowing down European integration?”

Is Germany slowing down European integration?

Join us to find out!

Only a limited amount of seats available

Confirmed speakers

Programme

Venue

Muziekgieterij - de kleine zaal

Boschstraat 5, 6211 AS Maastricht