'Spain and the European integration process: converging pathways' project
Conferences
Highlights
The research project ‘Spain and the European integration process' includes a series of milestones towards its full development and the diversification of its research and teaching potentialities. The first of these milestones was the project launch conference in 2010, which was followed by a research conference in 2012 that aimed to enhance the visibility of the project results and to encourage scholarly debates among experts in the field. This series of events will culminate in the public presentation of the project results after its publication at the end of 2013.
Launch conference
As Spain held its fourth Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the CVCE launched its research project on ‘Spain and the European integration process' at the Diplomatic School of Madrid, an event which enjoyed the support of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic School of Madrid and the Complutense University of Madrid. The project launch took place on 25 May 2010 during a ceremony attended by the Luxembourg Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn, the Special Ambassador for European Integration Projects, Carlos Carnero, the Rector of the Complutense University of Madrid, Carlos Berzosa Alonso-Martínez, and the Director of the Diplomatic School, José Antonio Martínez de Villareal Baena.
Research conference
The project research conference aimed to improve the visibility of current scholarly debate in the field, with a particular focus on the proposed research clusters as well as on enriching and complementing the project outputs. This international conference, entitled ‘Spain and the European integration process', was organised by the CVCE in collaboration with the European Academy of Yuste Foundation, and was held on 16 and 17 April 2012 at the Royal Monastery of Yuste. The conference began with a keynote speech by Carlos Closa (IPP-CSIC, Global Governance Programme RSCAS-EUI) and also included a round table with Spanish figures who have played a major role in the European integration process, such as José María Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado and Enrique Barón Crespo. These two former Presidents of the European Parliament have also granted interviews to the CVCE as part of its ‘Oral history of European integration' project. The conference reflected and expanded the project's main lines of research by means of the following themed panels, which were followed by a debate: A cross-comparison of Spanish and European views on Spain's European dimension; the European integration process in Spain and Portugal: parallelisms and divergences; Spain's impact on and contributions to the European integration process; the modalities of Europeanisation in Spain; Spain and Europe: feedback circuits and Spain's global influence: evolution, trends and strategic areas.
The research papers presented during the conference constituted an example of interdisciplinarity within the field of European integration studies, with contributions from experts in contemporary history, European Union law, economics and political science. The event offered experts and young researchers alike an opportunity to exchange ideas, thus enhancing the development of new initiatives in this domain. This event represents a contribution to research and debate in this field, providing valuable feedback for the project results, which will be made available via the publication of the conference proceedings and the dissemination of other content on the CVCE website.
Other conferences
- Participation of the CVCE at the Jean Monnet International Conference ‘The European Communities and the World' at the University of Bologna
On 20–21 June 2013, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies at the CVCE, took part in the Jean Monnet International Conference ‘The European Communities and the World', organised by Prof. Giuliana Laschi, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair ad personam at the University of Bologna and Visiting Researcher at the CVCE in April and May 2013. The conference, which was held at the Centro Residenziale Universitario di Bertinoro (University of Bologna), explored the changing meaning and evolution of the EU's international relations and the links between European and national foreign policy lines. Cristina Blanco Sío-López presented her research paper ‘Instrumental bridges or fruitful ties? Spain's role in the consolidation of a EU-Latin America partnership', as part of the ongoing results of the CVCE project on ‘Spain and the European integration process'. The conference was also the closing event for the MA in European Studies at the University of Bologna.
- CVCE Conference ‘The Triangle EU-Spain-Latin America after the Santiago Summit'
On 24 June 2013, the CVCE held a conference entitled ‘The Triangle EU-Spain-Latin America after the Santiago Summit', by Prof. Roberto Domínguez, Associate Professor in the Government Department at Suffolk University, Boston.
- CVCE conference on Spain and the European integration process at the University of Luxembourg
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Studies at the CVCE, gave a lecture entitled ‘Démocratisation et homologation européennes: Les enjeux de l'adhésion de l'Espagne' as part of the University of Luxembourg's Master's in European Contemporary History, directed by Prof. René Leboutte. Her presentation focused on the parallel and mutually influential processes of Europeanisation and transition to democracy in Spain, which she compared with the case of Portugal and with the current enlargement processes, including the accession debates in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey and the Balkans.
- Participation of the CVCE in the Jean Monnet Seminar 2013 ‘Europe from outside — The Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean' at the University of Siegen
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies, and Penelope Frangakis, Scientific Collaborator at the CVCE, presented their respective research papers ‘Expanding singularities: The evolving relation between the European Union and Latin America under the prism of comparative regionalism' and ‘Australian and EU political relations in the management of immigration' at the 2013 Jean Monnet Seminar ‘Europe from outside — The Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean', organised at the University of Siegen by Prof. Raphaela Averkorn (ad personam Jean Monnet Chair) on 22 and 23 February 2013. The main objective of this international conference was to bring together international experts in this area and to promote problem-oriented research on the interaction, cooperation and debates between the EU and other world regions, countries and organisations, thus mapping EU interconnections in the global arena and enhancing comparative analysis in the field. The main audience of the conference was made up of students on the international and interdisciplinary MA programme ‘Roads to democracy(ies)', directed by the University of Siegen in cooperation with the University of Uppsala and the University of Coimbra. The conference programme can be consulted here.
- Lecture by the CVCE at the University of Bologna's Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies in Forlì
On 27 November 2012, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Studies at the CVCE, gave a lecture at the University of Bologna's Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies in Forlì entitled ‘A more Mediterranean Europe: Spanish accession to the European Community'. She also took part in various other activities with students and lecturers from the MA in European Studies at the ‘R. Ruffilli' Faculty of Political Science and the Europe Direct Centre — Punto Europa in Forlì. These included a presentation for the university's radio programme on European studies, ‘Spinelli 4 breakfast', on the subject of the EU's enlargement policy. You can listen to this radio broadcast here.
- Participation of the CVCE in the Academy of Global Governance at the European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS-EUI)
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, was selected to take part, as a junior academic specialising in comparative regionalism studies in the EU and Latin America, in the Academy of Global Governance (AGG), in particular in the Executive Training Seminar ‘Regional Integration Beyond the European Experience: Latin America and Asia', which was held at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence from 3 to 5 October 2012. The AGG is part of the Global Governance Programme of the EUI's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS). It constitutes a unique executive training programme by the world's leading experts in the field of global governance targeted at ‘leaders of the future': young executives and policy-makers, public sector officials, private sector professionals, junior academics and diplomats. The role of the Global Governance Programme in this context is to share knowledge, develop new ideas on these issues and serve as a bridge between research and policy-making. Participants in this Executive Training Seminar comprised experts and representatives from the United Nations, the European Union and from different universities and research centres in the United States, Latin America, Asia and all over Europe, including the CVCE. All participant institutions have been invited to become part of the Global Governance Network, a platform for leading global governance institutions, scholars and policy experts to exchange research results, analysis and commentary.
- The CVCE takes part in the summer school of the Italian University Association for European Studies
On 12 and 13 July 2012, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies at the CVCE, took part in the summer school run by the Italian University Association for European Studies (AUSE). This year's edition of the summer school, held in Venice and supported by the European Community Studies Association (ECSA), was entitled ‘Crisis and relaunch of the EU. Perceptions and interdisciplinary approaches'. Cristina Blanco Sío-López presented her research paper ‘The key to consensus: Crisis, challenges and overcoming in a Spain in transition', based on the research results of the CVCE's project ‘Converging pathways: Spain and the European integration process'. Notable participants at this summer school in European studies included Harald Hartung, Head of the Multilingualism Unit at the European Commission, Enrique Banús, President of the European Community Studies Association (ECSA), and José María Gil-Robles, President of the European University Council.
- The CVCE takes part in the Eurochange Project workshop at the University of Luxembourg
On 21 May 2012, Susana Muñoz, Research Coordinator for the CVCE's European Integration Studies (EIS) Department, and Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies at the CVCE, took part in a workshop organised in connection with the Eurochange Project at the University of Luxembourg entitled ‘From the 1970s to the new millennium: a series of crises or a shift in society?' The presentation ‘A return to democracy and Mediterranean enlargements: Spain and Portugal' was based on a key theme of the CVCE's research project ‘Spain and the European integration process'. The workshop, organised by Professor René Leboutte, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in Contemporary European History at the University of Luxembourg, also enjoyed the participation of Professors Paolo Tedeschi (University of Milano-Bicocca) and Thierry Grosbois (University of Luxembourg), who analysed the European impacts of Greece's accession, German unification and the collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Participation in the Academy of Global Governance at the European University Institute's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, was selected to take part, as a junior academic specialising in comparative regionalism studies in the EU and Latin America, in the Academy of Global Governance (AGG), in particular in the Executive Training Seminar ‘Comparing Models of Regional Integration: Experiences from the Latin American Region', which was held at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence from 5 to 7 October 2011. The AGG is part of the Global Governance Programme of the EUI's Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS). It constitutes a unique executive training programme by the world's leading experts in the field of global governance targeted at ‘leaders of the future': young executives and policy-makers, public sector officials, private sector professionals, junior academics and diplomats. The role of the Global Governance Programme in this context is to share knowledge, develop new ideas on these issues and serve as a bridge between research and policy-making. Participants in this Executive Training Seminar comprised experts and representatives from the United Nations, the European Union and from different universities and research centres in the United States, Latin America and all over Europe, including the CVCE. All participant institutions have been invited to become part of the Global Governance Network, a platform for leading global governance institutions, scholars and policy experts to exchange research results, analysis and commentary.
- Public presentation of the book 'Spain in the European Union: the First Twenty-Five Years (1986–2011)' in Luxembourg by Dr Joaquín Roy, Jean Monnet Chair and Director of the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Miami
On 27 June 2011, Dr Joaquín Roy, Jean Monnet Chair and Director of the European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Miami, presented the book he coordinated, Spain in the European Union: the First Twenty-Five Years (1986 –2011), at an event organised by the CVCE, the Spanish Embassy and the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg. The book was produced to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Spain's accession to the European Union and is prefaced by Joaquín Almunia and Enrique Barón. It focuses on the first twenty-five years since the accession of Spain and Portugal to the EU from a historical, political, legal and economic perspective. This volume also analyses the relations of the two countries with key players such as Latin America, the United States and various international organisations. Dr Roy's presentation was followed by that of Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the CVCE's research project ‘Spain and the European integration process', who contributed to this volume as co-author. The event enjoyed the participation of the Spanish Ambassador to Luxembourg, Miguel Benzo Perea, and those attending the presentation included a number of eminent figures from diplomatic and cultural circles. The event culminated in the announcement of the conference due to be held in the framework of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, to be organised in collaboration with the European Academy of Yuste Foundation and scheduled to take place in 2012.
- Workshop on methodological issues concerning the ‘Spain and the European integration process' project as part of the ‘Digital Humanities Luxembourg' project run by the University of Luxembourg and the CVCE (DiHuLux)
On 16 May 2011, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, gave a presentation at the University of Luxembourg on ‘Critical discourse analysis (CDA): Principles, approaches and methods. The case of Spain's historical role as mediator between the European Union and Latin America' at the workshop entitled ‘The DiHuLux research project: The challenges of writing contemporary history in the digital age', coordinated by René Leboutte. The presentation was part of the research project ‘Digital Humanities Luxembourg (DiHuLux): The future of research in humanities and social sciences', managed by the CVCE and the University of Luxembourg. The workshop also included a presentation on the theme ‘Critical reflections on the dissemination of violent images on the Web' by Serge Noiret, History Information Specialist at the European University Institute, Florence.
- Participation in the First International Congress of the Research Network on Latin American Integration (REDILA) entitled ‘The challenges of integration in the 21st century', held at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) in Santa Fe, Argentina
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, took part in the First International Congress of the Research Network on Latin American Integration (REDILA), entitled ‘The challenges of integration in the 21st century', organised by the Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) in Santa Fe, Argentina, from 9 to 13 May 2011. She gave a presentation on the theme ‘The digital research corpus "Spain and the European integration process": The development of relations between Latin America, Spain and the European Union' as part of the panel ‘Processes of Integration, Information Society and Education'. She also took part in the workshop organised by the UNL's oral history study group in the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, with a presentation on ‘Challenges for European integration history in the digital age: Principles and methods concerning oral history sources and digital research corpora. Experiences and perspectives from the Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe (CVCE)'. This first international REDILA congress also involved various other events, such as the annual meeting of the European Community Studies Association — Latin America (ECSA — AL), the annual meeting for the region's young researchers in European integration studies, and the meeting for Jean Monnet Actions in Latin America. The CVCE signed a framework partnership agreement with the European Studies Programme at the Universidad Nacional del Litoral.
- Participation in the 7th International Conference of the History of European Integration Research Society (HEIRS) entitled ‘The European integration process in the eyes of others: historical perspectives, 1952–1992', held at the Jean Monnet Centre for European Studies at the University of Bologna, Forlì Campus
On 11 and 12 March 2011, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, took part in the 7th International Conference organised by the History of European Integration Research Society (HEIRS), entitled ‘The European integration process in the eyes of others: historical perspectives, 1952–1992', held at the University of Bologna, Forlì Campus. The conference was organised by Professor Giuliana Laschi, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair for European Studies at the University of Bologna, and by Alessandra Bitumi, Researcher at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. Cristina Blanco Sío-López presented the CVCE and the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, as well as her research paper entitled ‘The postcolonial heritage of EU external relations: the historical evolution of Latin America's perception of the European Communities 1957–1992'. She was also the moderator for the panel ‘The European discourse in national and Community spaces'. The conference was attended by experts from the United States, Europe, Turkey and Japan, with a special participation by Luxembourg, represented by the CVCE and the CERE-FNR.
- Participation in the international conference ‘Twenty-Five Years of Spain's Membership in the European Union (1986–2011)', organised by the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence at the University of Miami to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Spain's accession to the European Communities
Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, took part in the international conference entitled ‘Twenty-Five Years of Spain's Membership in the European Union (1986–2011)', organised by Professor Joaquín Roy at the University of Miami's European Union Center on 25 February 2011. She presented her research paper ‘Spain and the European integration process: The case of the historical evolution of the discourse and implementation of Spain's mediating role between the European Union and Latin America'. The conference benefited from the expertise of scholars from the United States, Spain, Japan, Brazil and Luxembourg.
- Attendance of CVCE representatives at the prize-giving ceremony organised by the European Academy of Yuste Foundation, an academic partner of the CVCE, for the presentation of the Charles V European Award to Javier Solana
On 11 February 2011, in the Basilica of the Royal Monastery of Yuste, Prince Felipe of Spain presented the Charles V European Award to Javier Solana. Several eminent figures from European political, social, cultural and economic circles, including the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, attended the official ceremony held in honour of the prize-winner. The tribute speech was given by the former President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski. This award is given by the European Academy of Yuste Foundation to those who have contributed to the understanding and promotion of Europe's cultural, social, scientific and historical values, as well as to the European integration process in general. As partner of the Foundation, Marianne Backes, Director of the CVCE, Susana Muñoz, Member of the Management Committee and Head of European Integration Studies, and Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' project, attended the prize-giving ceremony.
- Participation in the 4th International Congress ‘History under debate', held at the University of Santiago de Compostela
From 15 to 19 December 2010, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, took part in the 4th International Congress ‘History under debate', held at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The ‘History under debate' international congresses are an ongoing forum for discussion on the methodology, historiography and theory of history; on new research practices and the dissemination of research results; on history teaching at several levels and its relationship with historiographical research and thought and, finally, on the historian's affinity with and commitment to society, politics and culture. In this framework and by exchanging ideas — both digitally and in person —, sharing research results, engaging in a process of reflection and comparing opinions, the coordinators of this initiative are attempting to help forge a consensus that is vital if we are to tackle future historical and historiographical changes. More particularly, for this fourth edition of the congress, historians from Europe, the Americas and Asia met in Santiago de Compostela to analyse history from a global perspective and to identify the challenges of the digital age.
- Workshop on the research and teaching features of the CVCE's research project ‘Spain and the European integration process' at the University of Salamanca
On 24 September 2010, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, conducted an interdisciplinary multimedia workshop at the University of Salamanca's Faculty of History in which she presented the research project and the CVCE website. The workshop was part of the History degree course coordinated by Prof. Josefina Cuesta Bustillo, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in History of European Integration at the University of Salamanca.
- Participation in the study day ‘The building of a Euro-Mediterranean space: Origins, myths and perspectives', organised by the UMR-IRICE, the RICHIE network and the Fondation Pierre du Bois at the University of Paris I–Panthéon-Sorbonne
On 25 June 2010, Dr Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, took part in the study day ‘The building of a Euro-Mediterranean space: Origins, myths and perspectives' as a member of the panel ‘A case study: Spain's Mediterranean policy'. The study day was organised by the UMR-IRICE, the RICHIE network and the Fondation Pierre du Bois and was held at the University of Paris I–Panthéon-Sorbonne, with the support of the CVCE.
- Workshop on the research and teaching features of the CVCE's research project ‘Spain and the European integration process' at the Complutense University of Madrid
On 27 May 2010, Susana Muñoz, Member of the Management Committee and Head of European Integration Studies, and Cristina Blanco Sío-López, Researcher in European Integration Studies and Project Manager of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, conducted an interdisciplinary multimedia workshop at the Faculty of History of the Complutense University of Madrid in which they presented the CVCE website and particularly the research project based on Spain. The workshop was part of the History degree course coordinated by Prof. Antonio Moreno Juste, Professor and Academic Secretary of the Department of Contemporary History at the Complutense University of Madrid.
- Lecture given by Manuel Marín González, Chairman of the Fundación IBERDROLA and former Vice-President of the European Commission, entitled ‘Europa: 25 años' (‘Europe: 25 years'), in connection with the academic activities organised as part of the CVCE's ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project
On 26 May 2010, Manuel Marín González, who was interviewed for the oral history dimension of the ‘Spain and the European integration process' research project, gave a public lecture at the Faculty of History of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). The event was organised by the UCM and the CVCE.