On 28 and 29 September, Studio Europa Maastricht organised the academic conference 30 years Maastricht Treaty: the past, present and future of European integration with keynote lectures by Thomas Piketty and Paul De Grauwe. In this blogpost we will look at the main takeaways, and share some photos and the recordings of both keynotes.
About the academic conference
It has been three decades since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. To commemorate this milestone of European collaboration, Maastricht University and Studio Europa Maastricht organised an interdisciplinary academic conference which examined the ‘past, present and future of European integration’. The conference facilitated constructive, critical dialogue on the Maastricht Treaty’s legacy. The sessions covered a wide range of topics; such as solidarity and identity, peace, security and criminology, social and trade affairs, populism and authoritarianism, digital innovation and fiscal sovereignty challenges. Keynote addresses by Thomas Piketty and Paul De Grauwe were highlights of the conference that welcomed more than 50 presenters.
Takeaways
The conference’s participants agreed that the Maastricht Treaty represents an ambitious plan that remains largely unfulfilled. This is mainly due to the long-term neglect of innate architectural imperfections arising from the enlargement rounds and current cross-country heterogeneity. The general consensus throughout the conference was that reform is necessary to chart a unique pathway for a sustainable, equitable and prosperous Europe. Experts and participants alike concluded that the time is ripe to address the structural issues standing in the way of European integration thriving and working for all its citizens.
Keynote lecture Thomas Piketty: ‘Rising inequality and the democratisation of Europe‘
About professor Thomas Piketty
Thomas Piketty is a Professor at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and at the Paris School of Economics & Co-director, World Inequality Lab and World Inequality Database.
Keynote lecture Paul De Grauwe: ‘The fragility of the eurozone: endemic or temporary?‘
Moderator: Prof Clemens Kool
About professor Paul De Grauwe
Professor at London School of Economics and Political Science and professor emeritus at KU Leuven University.
What is the biggest legacy of the Maastricht Treaty?
We asked some of the attendees what they think is the biggest legacy of the Maastricht Treaty.
Photos
Programme booklet
Download or view the full booklet here:
What’s next?
The day before the start of the academic conference, we organised a public conference called Euro at 20: shifting paradigms? with keynote lectures by Mathieu Segers, Joachim Bitterlich and Klaas Knot, and panel sessions with guests such as Graham Bishop, Linda Zeilina and Wiliam de Vijlder. Check out our blogpost on this conference and the recordings of the keynotes and sessions here:
