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Oxford hosts European Integration Conference

Questions about Europe’s political and financial challenges and the role of states within it were addressed on Friday at Magdalen College in an event entitled ‘The Future of European Integration’.

Co-hosted by the Oxford German Forum Society and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German political organisation associated with the Christian Democratic Union, the conference featured a number of prominent figures.

External events disrupted arrangements, as speakers were affected by heavy snowfall, and Prime Minister David Cameron’s long-awaited Europe speech, around which talks were expected to revolve, was postponed due to events in Africa. Oxford University Chancellor Lord Patten cancelled his appearance at the last minute.

Dr Niblett delivered the keynote speech, in which he said the path that lay ahead for Europe will be “messy but not desperate”, predicting that the UK will remain within the EU.

Discussions with a panel including Dr Robin Niblett, director of leading foreign-policy think-tank Chatham House, and Anthony Teasdale, director for EU Internal Policies in the European Parliament, involved analysis of the history of the European Union and current challenges such as monetary policy and accountability.

Stephane Roux, president of Oxford German Society, commented on the theme of the conference. “This year’s conference looks at internal challenges facing the European Union. Over the last few years, there have repeatedly been concerns about Germany’s dominant position in the handling of the Euro crisis. The UK, in turn, has been criticized for its euroscepticism – both countries are still in the process of finding their position in the European community.”

The Oxford German Forum Society was founded in 2010 by Maximilian Hoell, a former president of the German Society. Its goal is to provide a platform for students engaged in UK-German relationships to discuss current affairs with practitioners and experts. It hosted its inaugural forum ‘Embracing the Shift of Powers’ in May 2011.

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