In 2017, two major milestones for Europe were reached: the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Maastricht. The signing of the Treaty of Rome marked was a watershed moment for European integration, laying the foundations via the development of European Economic Community (EEC), the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC), and the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). While the impetus for such action was based upon developing a common market, an important condition to foster prosperity and free movement of European citizens, the EEC, EAEC, ECSC (collectively the European Communities) and saw that more could be done for a truly united ‘Europe’. A little under four decades later, the Treaty of Maastricht was signed in 1992 by the European Communties, marking the start the European Union. Since then, the EU been both praised and criticised as a project and as Europe is engulfed in a number of challenges in the past decade, from the economic crisis, the refugee crisis, to Brexit, tensions and doubts have risen among members states about the state of the EU.

In his lecture titled “Heroes and villains in European integration: The battle between Jacques Delors and Margaret Thatcher – and its meaning today”, Director General of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), the in-house research centre and think tank of the European Parliament, Mr. Anthony Teasdale will reflect on the current state of European Integration by giving a personal reflection on the historical and institutional development of the EU and current challenges.

The lecture is free but registration for the event is required.