Op 27 september organiseerde Studio Europa Maastricht de conferentie Euro at 20: shifting paradigms? om te reflecteren op het twintigjarig jubileum van de euro en de EMU. In deze blogpost vind je alle foto’s, video’s en uitgeschreven lezingen van deze dag.
Over Euro at 20
Tijdens Euro at 20 gingen economen, politici, journalisten en centrale bankiers in gesprek met elkaar en de vele aanwezigen. De conferentie bestond uit keynote-lezingen en diverse panelsessies over thema’s rondom de euro en de economische en monetaire unie (EMU).
Enkele conclusies
De algemene consensus van de wetenschappers was dat de euro en de structuur van de EMU die hiertoe als fundament dient, ver zijn gekomen in de afgelopen dertig jaar. Echter, er gingen ook kritische stemmen op, die erop wezen dat er nog steeds veel uitdagingen moeten worden overwonnen. Een veelgenoemde oplossing voor deze uitdagingen, kan worden samengevat in één woord: solidariteit. Of het nu gaat om fiscale transfers, EU-herstelfondsen of Eurobonds: solidariteit is onontbeerlijk in het beschermen en onderhouden van het unieke doch fragiele equilibrium van de EMU.
De diverse constructieve visies op de toekomst van de euro die de verschillende groepen aanwezigen tot uiting brachten, waren inspirerend. De vraag-en-antwoord-sessies die op de panels volgden, boden ruimte voor een bewogen debat tussen experts en toehoorders over welke acties kunnen worden ondernomen om deze toekomstvisies te realiseren.
Highlights
Wil jij meer weten over de verschillende ideeën over de toekomst van de euro; de uitdagingen en de mogelijke oplossingen? Kijk dan naar de video’s en uitgeschreven lezingen van de verschillende keynotes en sessies.
- Keynote-lezing door Mathieu Segers
- Keynote-lezing door Joachim Bitterlich
- Sessie 1: Rethinking European economic policy in the EMU met Graham Bishop, Benedicta Marzinotto en Mathieu Segers
- Sessie 2: The challenges of European monetary and fiscal policy met Maria Demertzis, Erik Jones en Rolf Strauch
- Keynote-lezing door Klaas Knot
- Sessie 3: The EMU and finance in Europe met Klaas Knot, William de Vijlder en Linda Zeilina
- Programmaboekje
Keynote-lezing Mathieu Segers
“This autumn war is colouring European history for the umpteenth time. This autumn we will commemorate that World War 1 ended a hundred-four years ago.
According to the great British historian Norman Davies, the outbreak of the First World War marks the beginning of a period of seventy-five years: the period during which Europe ‘was divided by’, what Davies has called, ‘the longest of Europe’s civil wars’ – lasting from 1914 until 1990.
The longest of Europe’s civil wars only ended in 1990 with the peace treaty with, and regarding, Germany. It was this treaty that put an end to the order of Yalta and Potsdam, and re-united Germany. But there was more to it. The peace treaty of 1990 also laid the foundations for the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Europe. And that historic reunification of Europe was facilitated by the process of European integration, and re- enshrined in the Treaty on European Union, signed in this city, the city of Maastricht, now almost 31 years ago.”
Keynote-lezing Joachim Bitterlich
“The political and economical agenda of autumn 2022 has four main components:
First : the ongoing Russian war against the Ukraine and its consequences
Second : the deep global economic change, with a downturn towards recession, not only due to this conflict and raising energy prices, but probably even more to the change of Chinese economic policy and to its conflict with the US.
You can add the major errors of our economic and business leaders in the last years, they have been waiting and sleepwalking for a too long time, two catch-words illustrate best the situation „in time“ and „supply chain“. Our European economic design is not dead, but needs real reforms !
Third : The risk of an Euro-crisis due to the Italien elections and potential developments there – and the risk of the debt of Italy and France
Fourth : The US midterm elections early November”
Sessie 1: Rethinking European economic policy in the EMU met Graham Bishop, Benedicta Marzinotto en Mathieu Segers
Sessie 2: The challenges of European monetary and fiscal policy met Maria Demertzis, Erik Jones en Rolf Strauch
Keynote-lezing door Klaas Knot
“Hello everyone. And happy birthday! Happy thirtieth birthday to the Maastricht Treaty. What better place to celebrate this birthday than here – in the Statenzaal – the very room where the Maastricht Treaty was signed. I remember this historic event vividly.
Just like I vividly remember what happened only a few years before: the fall of the Berlin Wall. In a sense, the fall of the Berlin Wall led to the rise of the Economic and Monetary Union.
Because after 1989, Germany once again wished to become a unified nation. But other European nations, principally the French, were hesitant. A unified Germany would de facto set the economic and monetary tone for a lot of other European countries. And so those countries were keen to ensure that a reunified Germany would remain embedded in a united Europe. That is why discussions on the economic and monetary union gained momentum – eventually leading to the deal between Mitterrand and Kohl: unification for you – the euro for us.”
Sessie 3: The EMU and finance in Europe met Klaas Knot, William de Vijlder en Linda Zeilina
Programmaboekje
Download of bekijk het hele programmaboekje hier:
Wat nu?
De dag na Euro at 20: shifting paradigms? organiseerden we een academische conferentie, genaamd: 30 years Maastricht Treaty: the past, present, and future of European integration, met keynote-lezingen door Thomas Piketty en Paul De Grauwe. Lees onze blogpost over deze conferentie inclusief video-opnames van de keynotes, hier:
