Preliminary Conference Programme
First day, 20 November (14.00–20.00)
14.00–15.00 Registration and Coffee
15.00–15.15 Opening Session
15.15–16.30 Keynote Speech
16.30–17.00 Coffee Break
17.00–19.00 Section One: Theories and theoretical approaches to the study of national interests in the European Union
19.30–21.30 Official Conference Dinner
Second Day, 21 November (10.00–19.00)
10.00–11.30 Section Two: The process of national interests’ formation and advocacy in the Visegrad countries
12.00–13.30 Lunch
14.00–15.30 Section Three: Promoting national interests in the EU institutions
15.30–16.00 Coffee Break
16.00–17.30 Round Table with the Members of the European Parliament
18.00–19.00 Cocktail, end of the first part of the conference
Third Day, 22 November (9.00–13.00)
09.00–10.30 Parallel open panels
10.30–11.00 Coffee Break
11.00–12.30 Parallel open panels
12.30 Closing ceremony
Please note that the proposed names of hereinafter listed sections 1-3 are subject to change.
Section One: Theories and theoretical approaches to the study of national interests in the European Union
The contributions should primarily focus on the principal theoretical approaches to the study of European integration (e.g. realism, liberal intergovernmentalism, social constructivism, institutionalism, neo-functionalism, multi-level governance) and their application to the study of national interests and their advocacy in the EU. We also welcome proposals examining the general theories of national and EU interests, their study, modes of formation and advocacy.
Section Two: The process of national interests’ formation and advocacy in the Visegrad countries
The contributions should focus mainly on the development of national interests of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary (also Slovenia) in the EU, possibly on their joint efforts at enforcing these interests at the European level.
Section Three: Promoting national interests in the EU institutions
Contributions in this section should focus on the agenda-setting and decision-making processes in the EU Council including the study of coalitions in the EU, game theory etc. that are directly related to the EU Member States’ national interests. We also welcome proposals examining the various methods used in the advocacy of national interests by large EU countries (Britain, France, Germany, Italy) and sub-regional groupings such as Nordic countries, Benelux, the Mediterranean region, as well as the application of the findings in the negotiations in other EU institutions and European bodies.
Third Day: Parallel open sections
The conference organizers encourage the formation of several open panels that would discuss the development of national interests in individual EU Member States country or sub-regional blocks (e.g. Nordic countries, Benelux countries, Mediterranean countries, Baltic countries) from the national/sub-regional level to the European level. We also welcome proposals that discuss the role of national interest in selected EU policies.