In its work programme for 2009, TEPSA will be focusing on the following priorities:
• Active European citizenship: participation and democracy in Europe, especially with regard to the EP elections and to institutional developments.
The European elections provide the possibility for a direct linkage between the citizens and the European institutions and require therefore high attention during 2009. TEPSA will focus on the critical analysis and assessment of selected policy areas of the European Union with a special emphasis on the elections to the European Parliament. Regarding the topic of Active European Citizenship, a priority will be placed upon monitoring and accompanying the ongoing ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty, not only in the countries which have not (yet) ratified the Treaty, but also with regard to the discussions within the European Institutions, the other Member States and civil society.
• The future of the European Union and its basic values
TEPSA and its member institutes wish to contribute to the High Visibility events envisaged by the European Commission in the framework of its Communication Plan on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the 5th anniversary of the EU-10 enlargement. Moreover, TEPSA will continue its efforts to analyze the effects of enlargement.
Advice and analysis on current issues of the European Union will be provided by TEPSA’s Pre-Presidency Conferences, which in 2009 are going to take place in Stockholm and Madrid. TEPSA will in 2009 continue its newly established project “TEPSA Training” for young researchers from both TEPSA and other research institutes.
• Impact of EU policies in societies
TEPSA will look at the impact of EU policies in the old and especially the new member states. These questions will be addressed by the Brussels-based TEPSA Friends meetings, by TEPSA Guest Lectures, and by focusing upon those topics which provide a clear benefit to the European citizens.
• People’s well-being in Europe: employment, social cohesion and sustainable development
TEPSA’s main point of reference here will be the engagement of citizens in the big social issues which constitute the European Union's political priorities, such as climate change and energy, but also the revision of the Lisbon Strategy and the consequences of the financial crisis, especially with regard to the Stability and Growth Pact. These topics will be part of TEPSA Friends meetings and TEPSA Guest Lectures.
• TEPSA’s involvement in other projects and Networks of Excellence
TEPSA has throughout the last years continued to be involved in the development of projects and networks of excellence. TEPSA will in 2009 continue to participate in the EU-CONSENT Network of Excellence with 52 European partners, for which the TEPSA network has been a driving force. TEPSA will also extend its activities to Turkey in the framework of the project “Strengthening and Integrating Academic Networks” (SInAN), co-ordinated by the Middle East Technical University in Ankara. Still, especially with regard to the project ACCESS-TR, which TEPSA will conduct together with the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, TEPSA will expand its activity to develop closer ties with Turkey. |
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TEPSA benefits from the support of the European Commission.