On 1 May this year, not just a page, nor even a chapter, but an entire volume of 20th century European history will come to an end. Throughout a good deal of that century, especially the latter half, Europe was divided not only politically, militarily, ideologically and economically, but also to a very great extent psychologically. To Western Europeans, the term “Europe” meant “our” Europe, not that beyond the frontiers of the Iron Curtain.
A new volume does not mean, of course, that the legacies of the previous volume will be erased. Some multi-volume epics are strangely, distressingly, repetitive. The reaction among many of the established European member states seems to be more “how can we keep the new members out of our yard”, rather than “how can we embrace our new members and create a dynamic, open and outward looking democratic European space, committed to enhancing and spreading 21st century European values?” Thus, the question the coming generation of European and world leaders must face is: “How can one ensure that a bigger Europe will be outward-looking and inclusive, not inward-looking and exclusive?”
This is the task to which OWI seeks to contribute in a meeting to be convened in August, with an emphasis on global, lateral and long-term analytic thinking.
In association with the IEDC - Bled School of Management, one of Europe’s most dynamic, innovative, outward-looking and creative knowledge-building institutions, with the support of the European Commission, Mercator and PWC, and with the collaboration of the European Business Forum, The Evian Group’s Open World Initiative will be holding a roundtable meeting in Bled, Slovenia, from 27 to 29 August, aimed at reflecting upon the global challenges facing “Greater Europe”, as well as the challenges posed to the wider global community by “Greater Europe”, and fashioning appropriate responses and directions.
The roundtable meeting will include both plenary sessions addressed by political, industry and opinion leaders, and group work centred on specific themes. The summary of the group reports will feature in European Business Forum, with full and more detailed reports appearing on the Evian Website and possibly in published form.
Thanks to the generous sponsorships of our partners, fees and local expenses are waived. A limited travel budget will be made available to participants from developing countries (upon request)." Completed applications are due by July 15, 2004 In colaboration with:
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