This year’s Europe-Days on 6th to 7th May, organized by the Haifa Center for German and European Studies, the University of Haifa and the School of Political Science, University of Haifa, in cooperation with FES Israel, took up the issue of The Idea of Europe.
Welcomed by Eli Salzberger, Director of the Center for German and European Studies, the attendees had the chance to follow panels on topics like “Democracy, and the Rule of Law”, “Political Economy of the EU”, “Perspectives on Security and Defense” and “Europe’s External Relations” by keynote speakers from the scientific, political and diplomatic fields.
Simon Gledinning, from the London School of Economics, talking about Europe’s Nations and their Union and a historical reflection on the influence of language on remembrance by Jay Winters were received with high interest.
Mark Gallagher, working with the EU-Delegation in Israel, offered the audience an insight into and prospects of the European Neighborhood policy, while the Director of FES Israel, Werner Puschra, discussed the implications of political and economic stagnation in Europe. Looking on European literature in Israel, Fania Oz-Salzberger turned to an Israeli view on Europe’s past and present. Being daughter of European immigrants, who escaped Nazi-terror and found refuge in Israel, Fania concludes that she belongs to Europe’s defining past not to its present. Europe’s present is now influenced by other people and cultures.
The Europe-Days also offered interested students the European Market Place. There, people had the possibility to learn more about European countries and institutions, scholarships and study programs.
Program of “Europe Day Celebrations“.
