Third Annual ValEUs Conference: Civil Society, Political Actors, and Their Struggle with ‘European’ Values

How do civil society initiatives and political actors understand “European” values, and in what ways do they engage with them in practice?

This roundtable explores perspectives on and engagement with ‘European’ values across civil society and the political sphere in different regions of the world. Participants will consider how closely the EU’s internal and external actions reflect its stated values, how ‘European’ values and EU policies are understood in different regional contexts, and where political actors and civil society organisations converge or differ in their interpretations of those values and practical approaches to safeguard them effectively.

The discussion will examine how greater involvement by civil society actors and initiatives can help safeguard and advance fundamental rights and universal principles across diverse political and regional contexts. The tension between the pragmatic pursuit of political goals and value-oriented political action will be a central theme throughout the discussion.

Participants:
Claske Vos (University of Amsterdam)
Christian Johann (Europäische Akademie Berlin)
Mariangela Rueda-Fiorentino (Universidad del Norte)
Daniel Scarborough (Nazarbayev University)
Fanny Bouquerel (University Paris 8)

Moderator: Timm Beichelt (European University Viadrina)