The the EMI Member Organisation Centre International de Formation Européenne (CIFE) invites you to its next lunchtime debate on "Memory and Policies: Reflections on the Eurozone Crisis and the Greek Case" at the University Foundation in Brussels on 28 March 2012.
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Background:
Memory matters. Ever since the European Communities’ beginning political actors and social scientists have questioned whether a shared sense of political identity could develop among the EC’s member states and their citizens. Political actors chose to bet on common institutions and policies rather than the shared but negative memories of European wars to foster the formation of a new European identity. The situation has changed since, and recalling the intents of known and lesser-known actors at important historical junctures of European integration, by examining their memoirs, interviews and policy texts, helps outline more positive recollections of the European recent past. This interpretative approach has political relevance as shared memories contribute to the formation of collective political identities.

It provides insights into current dilemmas also. Political theorists who shared some of the concerns of European founders offer helpful concepts to interpret initiatives for European integration. Thus Hannah Arendt’s discussion of power as action in concert rather than domination is relevant to an interpretation of the Treaty for the Coal and Steel Community and the Rome Treaties’ negotiations. These negotiations illustrate the ambiguities of power politics in the EU from the start; but also that power as action in concert requires carefully thought through institutions and policies that take into account the interests of all member states. Turning points such as the signatures of the Rome Treaties are celebrated today; but how actors got there and how they implemented has been largely forgotten. This presentation will explain why a failure of memory and self-understanding must be part of the explanation for the erratic management of the Eurozone crisis by EU leaders, with special consideration to the Greek case.