[eccr] Conference Announcement: DEMOCRACY AND LEGITIMACY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Oct 11-12, Brussels

Title: Conference Announcement: DEMOCRACY AND LEGITIMACY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Oct 11-12, Brussels

DEMOCRACY AND LEGITIMACY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
A conference organised by the University of Antwerp (UA) and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven,
and sponsored by the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen, the UA Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, and the European Parliament Information Office for Belgium

Brussels, European Parliament
Eastman Building, Rue Belliard 135

October 11-12, 2002

Objective
Globalization has become a hot issue in most Western democracies. With the contestation of globalization and its consequences, criticism on international organizations, including the European Union, has risen.  This criticism and its strong resonance throughout the world necessitates a profound analysis of the legitimacy of international organizations and their possible democratic deficit. This conference brings together both practitioners and academics (political scientists, economists and lawyers) to shed new light on these complex problems. It sets up a dialogue among different disciplines and approaches with the aim of clarifying a problem which increasingly haunts decision-makers, civil society, and the public at large, and of looking at a number of instruments to reinforce democracy and legitimacy of international organisations.

Programme (also see www.internationallaw.be)
Friday, October 11, 2002
The Analysis of Legitimacy in International Organisations

- A political science perspective – Winfried Thaa (University of Trier)
- A legal perspective – Deirdre Curtin (Utrecht University)
- Panel debate with Ambassador Hugo Paemen (Former EU ambassador), Ignacio Ramonet (Le Monde Diplomatique), Bernard Snoy, (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), Ambassador Jan De Bock (Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Floor debate

Shortcomings of International Organisations
- The European Union – Walter Van Gerven (former advocate-general at the ECJ), Christopher Lord (University of Leeds), and Andrew Duff (MEP & European Convention)
- The United Nations – Ian Hurd (Northwestern University), Ramses Wessel (Utrecht University), and Herman Portocarero (Ambassador, UN Desk, Belgian Foreign Ministry)
- The IMF – Erik Denters (Free University of Amsterdam), Paul De Grauwe (K.U. Leuven), and Rudi De Meyer (11.11.11)
- The WTO – Americo Zampetti (UNCTAD), Peter van den Bossche (University of Maastricht), and Kevin Watkins (Oxfam International)

Floor debate

Keynote speech by Pascal Lamy (Member of the European Commission)

Saturday, October 12, 2002

Instruments for Reinforcing Democracy and Legitimacy in International Organisations: Transparency, Civil Society, and Judicial Control
- Transparency – Tony Venables (ECAS)
- Civil society – Bert Klandermans (Free University of Amsterdam)
- Judicial Control – Koen Lenaerts (Judge at the EC Court of First Instance)

Instruments for Reinforcing Democracy and Legitimacy in International Organisations: Regionalisation, the Media, and the ongoing European Convention
- Regionalisation – Michael Keating (European University Institute, Florence)
- The media – Pippa Norris (Harvard University)
-

The European Convention – Anne Van Lancker (MEP, European Convention)

Floor debate

P R A C T I C A L   I N F O R M A T I O N

Organizing Committee: Peter Bursens (University of Antwerp), Bart Kerremans (K.U. Leuven), Johan Meeusen (University of Antwerp), and Jan Wouters (K.U. Leuven)

Conference Price: 200 €  (included: organisation, speakers, reception, coffee breaks, lunch and dinner)

Payments can be made, either on bank account 001-0986467-53 (UIA Rechten/Congressen, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium) (Please mention Reference CBR-02B/5325)
or by Eurocard/ Mastercard or Visa

Please register before September 27, 2002 with:

Mrs. P. Buyck, CBR
Phone 32(0)3/820 29 38
Fax to 32(0)3/820 29 46
E-mail: (pascale.buyck /at/ ua.ac.be)

Venue: European Parliament, Eastman Building – rue Belliard 135, Brussels

Accommodation:

The organizing committee provisionally booked a limited number of rooms at special rates in three hotels in Brussels’ European district. Please contact these hotels directly.

-

 Hotel Leopold, Rue du Luxembourg 35
Tel.: + 32(0)2/511 18 28
Fax: +32(0)2/514 19 39
Reference: n°54386

- Hotel Euroflat, Boulevard Charlemagne 50 
Phone: 32(0)2/230 00 10
Fax: 32(0)2/230 36 83
Reference: “Conference European Parliament”

- Hotel Europa Inter-Continental, Rue de la loi 107
Tel: 32(0)2/230 13 33
Fax: 32(0)2/230 03 26
Reference: UNI1010

For further information on accommodation in Brussels, see www.brussels-hotels.com