The European Union has mobilised multiple tools of its external action in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, most notably a multitude of sanctions. These restrictive measures, currently five sanctions packages, are “designed to weaken Russia’s economic base, depriving it of critical technologies and markets, and significantly curtailing its ability to wage war”.

At this first ENGAGE roundtable, Ana Hernández Sierra, Viktor Szép and Jan Wouters will discuss how the EU uses sanctions to respond to violations of international law and threats to European security. The panellists will shed light on the sanctions’ rationale, their place in EU foreign policy and the question of their impact and effectiveness as well as the challenges of the Union’s decision-making processes and the coordination with its international partners. The panel will be moderated by Gustavo Müller.

The war in Ukraine has shaked the EU and its geopolitical ambitions.

How should we understand this ‘Whatever It Takes’ moment and what is to be expected? As Secretary-General of the European Parliament and guest professor at the Social Sciences Faculty, Mr. Klaus Welle, will share his views on the current state of affairs in Europe.

Programme

14.00 Guest lecture by Klaus Welle 14.30 Discussion with Els Van Hoof (President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives) and Dumitru Malcoci (KU Leuven Master of European Studies alumnus from Moldova)

15.00 Q&A with the audience

15.30 Coffee and cake

The event is open to everyone - particularly students, staff and alumni of the KU Leuven as well as donators of the Wilfried Martens Fund – but registration is obligatory. Attendance is free of charge. In return we kindly ask participants to support the students’ Ukraine solidarity campaign www.student4student.be.

More info here on SG Klaus Welle and the Wilfried Martens Fund.

Organisers: The Centre for European Studies and the America Europe Fund of KU Leuven

Welcoming Words (18.00-18.10)
Prof. dr. Kolja Raube, Director of the Centre for European Studies and Senior Member Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, KU Leuven

Opening Remarks (18.10-18.30)
H.E. Ambassador Willem van de Voorde, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union

Panel Discussion (18.30-19.30)
Dealing with Immediate and Long-term Security Crises in Times of Global Contestation

Moderation: Ambassador Dirk Wouters, former Ambassador of Belgium to the United States of America, Co-Chair America Europe Fund, KU Leuven

• Ms. Ruth Bajada, Head of Unit United States and Canada, European External Action Service

• Dr. Gerrard Quille, Head of Unit, Secretariat Sub-Committee on Security and Defence, European Parliament

• Prof. dr. Garret Martin, School of International Service, Co-Director Transatlantic Policy Center, American University

• Prof. dr. Tom Casier, Director of the Global Europe Center, University of Kent at Canterbury

• Prof. dr. Karolina Pomorska, Jean Monnet Chair, Institute of Political Science, Leiden University

Debate, Question and Answers (19.30-20.00)

Reception (20.00-20.45): Lobby Arts Faculty