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Self-Determination Processes in the EU. The Case of Catalonia
25 October 2013, 12:00 am
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25 October 2013
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When: Where: In cooperation with Supported by |
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In recent years, several EU Member States have faced claims from one of their constituent regions to be granted the right to decide on their separation from the state - most prominently Scotland, Flanders and Catalonia. In each case, what is at the forefront of political debate is not only the constitutional possibilities that exist in each state for such a separation to come into effect in the first place. Equally at stake is the question of the putative new state's status vis-à-vis EU membership. This half-day conference will assess both implications by concentrating, albeit not exclusively, on the case of Catalonia. Public figures from the Catalan media and academia, representing different standpoints in the debate, will discuss recent efforts in Catalonia that have sought to argue for the legitimacy of a public referendum on separation. Constitutional and political experts will then assess what possibilities and constraints exist domestically for attempts at separation, not least in comparison with other cases in the EU, and the issues which arise under EU law where these are constitutionally possible within the Member State.
Download the programme (pdf)
| Programme: | |
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9am: |
Welcome |
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Professor Mary Fulbrook Director, UCL European Institute |
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Mr Albert Royo General Secretary, Public Diplomacy Council of Catalonia |
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Session 1 |
The Case of Catalonia |
| Chair |
Sir Stephen Wall Chair of UCL Council |
| 9.10am |
Introduction to Catalonia |
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Mr Geoff Cowling Former British Consul-General in Barcelona |
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9.20am |
Catalonia's self-determination process: a bottom-up movement? |
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Professor Miquel Strubell Chair in Multilingualism, Open University of Catalonia (UOC), co-founder of the Catalan National Assembly followed by Q&A |
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| 9.50am |
What has been happening in Catalonia recently? |
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Mr Xavier Vidal-Folch Journalist and former deputy editor of the Spanish newspaper El País, and correspondent in Brussels (1994-2000) followed by Q&A |
| 10.20am | Open discussion with the public |
| 10.30am | Coffee Break |
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Session 2 |
Self-determination processes in the EU |
| Chair |
Dr Uta Staiger Deputy Director, UCL European Institute |
| 11am |
Professor Robert Hazell, Director, UCL Constitution Unit |
| Professor Montserrat Guibernau, School of Politics and International Relations, Queen Mary, University of London | |
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Mr Graham Avery, C.M.G., Senior Member of St. Antony's College,
University of Oxford, and Honorary Director-General of the European
Commission |
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Professor Sir David Edward Professor Emeritus at the School of Law, University of Edinburgh, and former Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Communities |
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| followed by discussion | |
| 12.45pm |
Closing session |
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Mr Roger Albinyana, Secretary for Foreign and European Union Affairs, Government of Catalonia |
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| Sir Stephen Wall, Chair of UCL Council | |
| 1pm |
Lunch for all participants |
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