This discussion with political scientist Ivan Krastev will explore how European integration – understood as Europe growing together politically, economically, socially and culturally – can involve the continent as whole.

After many years of neglect, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has shifted the EU’s attention beyond its own boundaries and has led to a new (or renewed) commitment to fostering a united Europe that includes the East and South East of the continent. Yet, despite the EU’s self-image and ambition to stand for and speak in the name of Europe, strongly diverging realities across European countries and societies persist that cut deeply into the very foundations of the European project – democracy and rule of law, economic prosperity, and ultimately peace and security.

In this discussion with political scientist Ivan Krastev, we will explore how European integration – understood as Europe growing together politically, economically, socially and culturally – can involve the continent as whole. How much equality is needed to achieve a united Europe or, put the other way round, how much inequality can it bear? Do the EU and the ‘European way of life’ still have a force of attraction for citizens in candidate countries? And what can the EU, for its part, learn from the countries and societies in the East and South East of the continent?

The discussion will integrate contributions by the artists and researchers participating in the project #EUmeetsEurope who explored different dimensions of (in)equality in Europe with their own means of expression.

To participate online via Zoom, please register here.

To participate in person at the ERSTE Foundation, please register here

In Partnership with the Genshagen Stiftung

Supported by: ERSTE Foundation, German Federal Foreign Office