ISES Reflections on The European Trail Project - XVI International Summer University
On 30 June 2011 the XVI International Summer University welcomed speakers from the University of Gent and Barcelona Centre for International Affairs who presented the European Trail project and stimulated an interesting discussion among the participants.

The audience became so engaged in the debating of the issues raised that it was decided to continue the discussion the next day as well.

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Above: Ghislain Verstraete from the University of Gent speaking at XVI International Summer University.

View more photos on our ISES blog

By Regina Bakhteeva, (MA student) University of Bologna

Ine Pisters from the University of Gent introduced the major concept that lied behind the European Trail Project. This project is a product of cooperation in research on Europe between the University of Gent, Europe of Cultures Forum, ISES-Kõszeg, research centers in Barcelona and Brussels. At the core of the program is an attempt to imagine Europe in a different way. As Ine Pister noted, this program is a program with a lot of questions. What is important is that questions are not only raised and discussed but also serve as a basis for a further debate. Meetings within the European Trail Project build on the analysis, results from the previous discussions. Thus, steps in the direction of re-thinking realities and making Europe as an Agora of Interactions are made.

Ine Pisters’s presentation was followed by the talk of Yolanda Onghena from the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs. The speaker outlined the key questions that Europe has to find a response to such as – do we need a European identity? We in Europe, who are we? What can we do to bring the understanding of Europe as belonging and make it publicly known? As Ms Onghena stressed, with societies changing, Europe should also change. The idea of Europe should be broadened while Europe itself needs to learn to speak with one voice.

Ghislain Verstraete from the University of Gent continued the topic by considering the issues of social security and citizenship. At the beginning of his presentation Mr Verstraete made some observations concerning democracy. First, democracy is not natural, we have to work for it. Second, democracy is not a heaven, it is not inclusive. Third, democracy is not only harmony but also a conflict. In this context he offered three perspectives on citizenship: juridical, social, and citizenship as in practice. The latter implied that when one does not have juridical or social citizenship, one still can act as a citizen. Ghislain Verstraete also considered the issue of solidarity and problems in connection with that, in particular when it comes to the vision of solidarity in Europe.

Presentations by all three speakers generated a lively discussion in the audience. Questions ranged from how Europe should be defined to whether the EU should be more active in promoting democracy in Belarus. As the debate has demonstrated, issues of identity and identification, future of solidarity in Europe offer no easy answers but as long as we have our “ears tuned”, challenges are to be overcome.