European University College Association

European University College Association

The European Political Identity and Its New Challenges

EUCA Summer School - 2nd edition

NewnhamCollege, University of Cambridge,

30 August – 14 September 2011

Introduction:

In his first State of the Union 2010 before the European Parliament, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, said “Over the last year, the economic and financial crisis has put our Union before one of its greatest challenge ever. Our interdependence was highlighted and our solidarity was tested like never before.” Mr. Barroso continues saying that the EU has withstood the test, but warns that “we either swim together, or sink separately. We will only succeed if, whether acting nationally, regionally or locally we think European.”

This recognition of the monetary and economic interdependence of the European states and at the same time of the weakness of the solidarity that keeps them together in the Union, brings into question what are the foundations on which to build and rely on for a truly European Union capable of swimming with or against, if necessary, the tide of challenges that lie ahead.

If we cannot rely only on economic calculations to build the Union, how can we develop our identity to naturally think across borders?

EUCA Cambridge Summer School

To answer this question, EUCA organizes once again a two week seminar devoted to an exploration of topics of interest in the future development of the European Union and its neighbors, including the evolution of the European legal system to present, the future of the euro and European economic governance, the relevance of the Arab spring for Europe, etc. Three seminars per day will be given by faculty who are specialists in political theory, European affairs, sociology, law, moral philosophy, Islamic affairs, and economics (topics and faculty that have confirmed so far are listed below).

There will also be a number of broader liberal arts offerings, with talks by a leading young British composer on classical composition and its challenges at the beginning of the 21st century, a talk by one of Europe’s venerable conductors and music historians on the history of orchestral conducting, and a concert by a world-class Russian-American piano trio on September 11.

Students and faculty will be housed on the stately grounds of NewnhamCollege, where the seminars will be given and meals will be taken in common. There will be opportunities on the weekends to tour the University of Cambridge and its many historical Colleges and the chance for cultural trips to London’s museum, galleries, and many historical sights.

The seminar will conclude with a Formal Dinner in Newnham’s famous Victorian Dining Hall.

Faculty and seminar topics

Ms Sabrina Amirat, UN High Commission on Refugees, Algiers - “The Arab spring and human rights: prospects and dangers”

Dr Maria Cahill, University of Cork - “Civil rights, the rights of conscience, and the European Courts”

Dr Thomas D’Andrea, University of Cambridge - “The European social democratic project: philosophical and theological foundations”

Prof. Andreas Kinneging, University of Leiden - “The case for a federal Europe: lessons from the American founding”

Mr. Riccardo Ribera d’Alcala – Director-General for Internal Policies of the Union, European Parliament – “Multi-speeded and multi-layered: the European Union at crossroads”

Ms Naema Tahir, Dutch-Pakistani author, broadcaster, and expert in Islamic affairs - “Muslim integration in Europe? Contemporary debates in Islam concerning marriage and family”

Dr Harald Wydra, University of Cambridge - “Two Europes? Challenges facing east-west European integration”

Mr. Alessandro Ricci, LUISS University Rome – “From Euro crisis to EU uncertainty: understanding the European economic governance”

Venue

The Summer School will take place at the NewnhamCollege, one of the 31 Colleges of the University of Cambridge.

NewnhamCollegewas established in 1871 as a house in which young women could reside while attending lectures in Cambridge. For more information please visit

Who can participate?

The EUCA Summer School is open to 25 students from EUCA Colleges who will be selected based on their applications containing:

-Letter of motivation where the applicants are required to present themselves and their academic career, explain their interest in the topics of the Summer School, previous knowledge in these fields (if any), and what do they hope to achieve by participating. (between 2500 and 5000 characters without spaces);

-Curriculum vitae (including the average exams grade);

-Proof of fluency in English.

Academic record, personal interest and motivation and the linguistic competence of the candidates will be evaluated by EUCA. The best applications from all EUCA Colleges will be sent to the Director of the Summer School, Dr. Thomas D’Andrea for the final selection. Candidate will be notified of their acceptance by July 22nd.

Participation Fee

The cost of the EUCA Summer School will be covered mostly by grants. However, students are expected to pay a quota of 750,00 Euros. The fee will include also the cultural events scheduled during the week. Proposed weekend trips and activities are not mandatory for students. EUCA will offer advice and assistance in organizing them.

Please, be remindedthat all the costs of the weekend trip and activities are not covered by EUCA as they are not included in the fee.

The participants are also expected to arrange by themselves the travel to/from Cambridge; the participation fee does not include this travel costs.

EUCA asbl – Rue de Trèves 49/51 bte 3 – B-1040 Bruxelles

Tel: +32.2.2806340 – Fax: +32.2.2806338