About this Event

Since its inception, the EU has been a resounding success story. The European unity project has created an enduring foundation for prosperity and above all, democratic peace. However, for the past decade, Europe has faced significant challenges to its geopolitical, social and economic foundations. This has led analysts and policy-makers to argue that Europe is indeed 'at a cross-roads’, prompting questions about Europe's future trajectory and its capacity to continue to act coherently, autonomously and in accordance with its founding principles. The European Commission President-Elect von der Leyen recently signalled the vision of " a stronger Europe in the World". This lecture will reflect on where Europe is headed and how it is placed to deliver on this vision. Questions of strategic sovereignty, external and internal socio-political and economic cohesion, as well as capability to preserve, and even enhance multilateralism will be the focus of this lecture.

As the longest serving member of the European Parliament (EP), for almost 40 years, Elmar Brok is widely credited for his significant contributions to EU foreign policy and constitutional matters. Over the course of his distinguished political career, Mr Brok held a variety of key roles, including leadership of the Foreign Affairs Committee (from 1999-2007 and 2012-2017), as EP representative preparing the Treaty of Lisbon (2007), the EU Constitutional Treaty (2003/2004), the Treaty of Nice (2000), Treaty of Amsterdam (1996/97), and the Maastricht Treaty (1994/1995) as well as serving on the Parliamentary Brexit Steering Group. Following his retirement from Parliament in June this year, Mr Brok was appointed Special Adviser to the outgoing EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on relations with Ukraine.

Registration will open at 5:00pm

Lecture will start promptly at 5:30pm

Cocktail reception to follow

The Konrad Adenauer Lecture Series is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Europe and Germany in Australia and the wider region. The initiative is the culmination of a longstanding partnership between the ANU Centre for European Studies and the Konrad Adenauer, a German political foundation with regional representation in Canberra.

For any further queries, please feel free to contact us at:

Konrad Adenauer (Australia) | E karin.klaus@kas.de

In partnership with the ANU Centre for European Studies.