Mrs. Maria Popescu, Executive Director

European Cultural Centre, Bucharest

49-51, Sf. Voievozi St., apt. 16

Bucharest-1, Romania

Tel./fax:+4021-3198145;tel.:+4021-3193280  

E-mail: cti@clicknet.ro

The Luxembourg Institute for European and International Studies is a forum of intellectual discussions and research as well as a platform of training and upgrading for undergraduates and young professionals from both western and eastern countries.

 

One of the Institute’s constant themes of research and debate has been the European integration viewed as a particularly dynamic and challenging process. The topic has been explored for the last 12 years under the form of summer schools organized by the Institute in cooperation with the Black Sea University Foundation and later on with the European Cultural Centre, Bucharest at Mangalia and Vama Veche in Romania.

 

The 2006 seminar looks into the question whether there are, can and should be common values for the upcoming Europe, i.e. the European Union and beyond. Should the Europeans strive for a common ethos giving the continent a genuine impetus in its political, economic and social endeavours? How far will these values be different from those in other places of the world and how far will they be compatible with those? To what degree is the past of any guidance? Is it wise to have such a debate on values or might such an effort even prove counterproductive in the longer term? How far can a value debate contribute to the shaping of a common identity and thus also to the definition of a possible future role for Europe in the international system?