The Schengen system is one of the core achievements of the European integration process. This system, which permits persons present in any of the Schengen States to cross the borders without being checked, assumes a considerable degree of harmonization and mutual trust among those states. That trust has occasionally been challenged when individual Member States have reintroduced internal border controls. The principles governing the Schengen co-operation have therefore been under review and in 2013 the EU institutions agreed on new rules. This seminar will discuss this new set of rules and their significance for the free movement in the EU.

Speakers:
Steve Peers, Professor of Law, School of Law, University of Essex
Anna-Carin Svensson, Director-General for International Affairs, Ministry of Justice
Peo Hansen, Assistant Professor, REMESO (Institute for Research on Migration, Ethnicity and Society), Linköping University

Moderator:
Pernilla Bäckman, Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Monday, 25 November, 14.30-16:00. Registration/coffee from 14.00.
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

Register no later than 24 November

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

At the turn of the year, any remaining restrictions to the free movement of Bulgarian and Romanian citizens will have to be removed. This has raised fears of “social tourism”, among other things, in a number of member states.

At this seminar, SIEPS presents a new report which examines the Swedish experience of applying no restrictions with regard to the free movement of persons from Central and Eastern Europe. The report is presented by the two authors, Eskil Wadensjö and Christer Gerdes of Stockholm University. With a view to giving a European outlook, Tina Weber of ICF GHK presents a new study carried out on behalf of the European Commission. The study examines the extent to which “benefit tourism” has been a problem in a number of member states. Finally, Shahamak Rezaei of Princeton University broadens the perspective and discusses the effects of immigration on welfare regimes and society at large.

Speakers:
Eskil Wadensjö, Professor of Economics, Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University
Christer Gerdes, Doctor of Economics, SOFI, Stockholm University
Tina Weber, Technical Director, ICF GHK
Shahamak Rezaei, Associate Professor of Economics, Princeton University and Roskilde University

Moderator:
Monika Hjeds Löfmark, Senior Researcher in Economics, SIEPS

Time: Wednesday, 20 November, 9:00-10:30. Registration/coffee from 8:30.
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

Register no later than 19 November.

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

The fundamental task of the European Council – consisting primarily of the heads of state or government in the EU member states – has been to define the EU´s general political direction. Its influence and scope of intervention, however, is gradually increasing. With the Lisbon Treaty it was given a status of an EU institution and its meetings are since chaired by a permanent president. The European Council has been playing a pivotal decision-making role during the euro crisis, and it now emerges as the EU´s new power centre.

At this seminar, Uwe Puetter, Professor of Political Science, will provide a background to those developments and will analyse the implications of an increasingly stronger position of the European Council. What consequences does it have for decision-making in the EU, and how does a stronger European Council correspond to increasing demands for transparency and democratic control? 

Speaker:
Uwe Puetter, Professor of Political Science, Central European University, Budapest, Hungary

Commentators:
Jonas Tallberg, Professor of Political Science, Stockholm University
Katarina Areskoug Mascarenhas, State Secretary to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt 

Moderator:
Pernilla Bäckman, Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Tuesday 8 October, 14.30-16.00. Registration/coffee from 14.00 
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm 
Language: English

Register no later than 6 October

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

On 22 September, Germany goes to the polls. But although the country plays a crucial role in the European cooperation – not least in trying to solve the euro crisis – EU topics have hardly been present in the election campaign. The campaign has instead focused on domestic issues such as pensions, statutory minimum wage and childcare benefits.

At this seminar, the German elections will be discussed from a number of angles. The domestic political situation and its influence on the elections and the significance of their outcome will be analysed. The media coverage of the election campaign will also be discussed.

Speakers
Julian Rappold, Program Officer, Alfred von Oppenheim Center for European Policy Studies, German Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin.
Mai-Brith Schartau, Associate Professor, Political Science, Director for former German Studies Research Unit, Södertörn University. 
Anders Mellbourn, Adjunct Professor and Head of Department, Department of Media Studies, Stockholm University. Formerly Editor-in-Chief, and Director, Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

Moderator
Sverker Gustavsson, Professor, Political Science, Uppsala University. Member of the Steering Committee, Forum for German Studies at Uppsala University.

Time: Tuesday 17 September, 14.00-16.00. Registration/coffee from 13.40 
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

Register no later than 16 September.

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publications presented.

The seminar is arranged in collaboration with the quarterly journal Baltic Worlds – published by the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University – and Forum for German Studies at Uppsala University

Fundamental rights have been increasingly in focus in Europe over the last few years. Issues about respect for and promotion of fundamental rights have been highlighted not only in the context of candidate countries wishing to join the European Union, but with regard to EU Member States as well. What is the current status of fundamental rights in Europe then, and why is it such a delicate question for the EU?

At this seminar, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will present its 2012 annual report, which examines the topic of the EU as a community of values and the means of safeguarding fundamental rights in times of crisis. Insights on the broader development of fundamental rights in the EU, as well as on the Swedish perspective, will be shared by invited speakers.

Speakers
Jonas Grimheden, Head of Sector Access to Justice, Freedoms and Justice Department, FRA
Christophe Hillion, Senior Researcher in Law, SIEPS
Erik Ullenhag, Minister for Integration

Moderator
Anna Stellinger, Director, SIEPS

Time: Thursday 27 June, 13.00-14.30. Registration/coffee from 12.30
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

The seminar is arranged in collaboration with the Government Offices of Sweden. 
It is free of charge and open to the public.

Register no later than 25 June.

The financial and economic crisis has had a considerable impact on European integration. As a result of the stress inflicted not least on the common currency, the euro, we are now experiencing a deliberate movement towards enhanced economic and political cooperation. At the same time, several Member States are asking themselves to what extent they want to be part of these new forms of cooperation. Some countries are even questioning fundamental aspects of the EU membership.

What does this imply for Sweden? What are the implications when it comes to maintaining influence in the EU and upholding national democracy? At this seminar, these issues will be discussed by researchers, politicians and opinion-makers.

Speakers
Sverker Gustavsson, Professor in Political Science, Uppsala University
Magnus Jerneck, Professor in Political Science, Lund University
Daniel Naurin, Associate Professor in Political Science, University of Gothenburg

Commentators
Marie Granlund, Member of Parliament, Social Democrats
Karin Petterson, Political Editor, Aftonbladet
Annika Ström Melin, Editorial Writer, Dagens Nyheter
Oscar Wåglund Söderström, State Secretary, Prime Minister´s Office

Moderator
Göran von Sydow, Senior Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Wednesday 12 June, 13.00-16.00 (including coffee break). Registration from 12.30 
Venue: Kungliga Myntkabinettet, Slottsbacken 6, Stockholm
Language: Swedish

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publications presented.

Register no later than 10 June.

What triggers growth? How can the EU Member States ensure conditions that have a proven positive effect on growth? These questions are relevant, not least considering the recent financial and economic crisis which represents the deepest downturn in world economy since Second World War. How important are institutions – that is to say, formal rules and capacity to enforce those rules – for the economic performance of a country?

At this seminar, the authors of the new SIEPS report Institutions, Policies and Growth in Europe: Quality versus Stability will present their findings. Together with invited commentators, they will discuss the relation between the quality of institutions and economic growth.

Speakers
Niclas Berggren, Associate Professor of Economics, Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Stockholm, and University of Economics, Prague 
Andreas Bergh, Associate Professor of Economics, Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Stockholm, and Lund University
Christian Bjørnskov, Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Economics and Business, Aarhus University

Commentators
Kristina Nyström, Associate Professor of Economics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
Daniel Svensson, Deputy Director, Acting Head of Section, EU Coordination Secretariat, Prime Minister´s Office

Chair
Jonas Eriksson, Researcher in Economics, SIEPS

NB: NEW VENUE!
Time: Monday 10 June, 9.00-11.00. Registration/coffee from 8.30
Venue: Sieps, Fleminggatan 20, 5th floor Stockholm
Language: English

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

Register no later than 6 June

The economic crisis has revealed a number of weaknesses in the structures of the EU and the EMU. The measures taken in order to thwart the crisis have been introduced at a pace that has sometimes made it difficult to keep up with developments. In order to facilitate a discussion about the most important of those measures, SIEPS has produced a report where they are divided into two groups: those aimed at strengthening economic governance and those aimed at restoring financial stability. 

At this seminar, the various measures – such as the Euro Plus Pact, the Six-pack and the Banking Union – will be presented. A number of speakers will then give their respective views on the topic and analyse the developments from a Swedish and European perspective.

Speakers
Jonas Eriksson, Researcher, Economics, SIEPS
Monika Hjeds Löfmark, Senior Researcher, Economics, SIEPS
Annika Lundius, Executive Vice President, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
Ola Pettersson, Chief Economist, Swedish Trade Union Confederation (LO)

Moderator
Anna Stellinger, Head of Agency, SIEPS

Time: Thursday 30 May, 9.00-11.00. Registration/coffee from 8.30
Venue: Kungliga Myntkabinettet, Slottsbacken 6, Stockholm
Language: Swedish

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

Register no later than 28 May.

The European Union is still struggling with finding solutions to the economic crisis. The crisis has affected not only the living conditions for many citizens, but also their attitudes towards the European Union and the euro. As a result, we are now experiencing a rapid decline in public opinion on the European Union across the Member States. In what way has the crisis taken its toll on the support for the EU in Sweden?

In collaboration with the SOM Institute, SIEPS studies the long-term development of Swedish public opinion towards the EU. At this seminar the latest results regarding the Swedish attitudes on the EU and the euro will be presented. The seminar is part of the activities organised in connection with Europe Day 2013.

Speakers
Sören Holmberg, Professor in Political Science, University of Gothenburg
Frida Vernersdotter, Assistant Research Administrator, The SOM Institute, University of Gothenburg

Commentator
Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister for EU Affairs

Chair
Göran von Sydow, Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Monday 6 May, 14.00-14.45
Venue: Europahuset, Regeringsgatan 65, Stockholm
Language: Swedish

Registration not required. For full program information, click here>>

In light of the Europe 2020 strategy, public authorities in the European Union should make better use of public procurement in support of general societal goals such as the protection of the environment and good social conditions. However, the objective of the procurement rules in the Union is primarily to strengthen the single market and the EU’s competitiveness. An important issue, therefore, is the ability of public authorities to make social or environmental demands when purchasing products. The situation is different in the U.S. where American states can encourage, and in some cases even require, public institutions to purchase products manufactured in that state (i.e., a geographic preference) due to the so called Market Participant Exception.

At this seminar, two SIEPS papers will be presented: Strategic Use of Public Procurement – Limits and Opportunities by Jörgen Hettne and the report States as Market Participants in the U.S. and EU? – Public Purchasing and the Environment by Jason Czarnezki.

Speakers
Jörgen Hettne, Senior Researcher, SIEPS, Associate Professor of EU Law, Lund University
Jason Czarnezki, Professor of Law, the Environmental Law Center, Vermont Law School

Discussants
Roberto Caranta, Professor of Administrative Law, University of Turin
Åsa Edman, Principal Secretary, the Public Procurement Committee, Ministry for Social Affairs

Chair
Andrea Sundstrand, Doctor of Procurement Law, Stockholm University
 

Time: Tuesday 23 April, 14.00-16.30. Registration/coffee from 13.30.   
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

Register no later than 22 April.

The financial and sovereign debt crisis has underlined the important role of housing finance in the economy. Risky and short-term mortgage credit contracts as well as securisation were all important causes behind the crisis we are currently experiencing. The volume of housing finance is such that it not only affects individual households and banks, but the stability of the financial system as well. The crisis and falling house prices have also had great effects on housing finance in many countries.

At this seminar, three invited speakers will present various aspects of these developments. Christian König, from Association of Private Bausparkassen e.V. in Berlin, is engaged in EU legislative work and will talk about attempts to establish common regulations for housing finance in the EU. 

König is also the author of SIEPS´ recently published analysis The creation of an internal market for mortgage loans: A never-ending story? Christine Whitehead, Professor at London School of Economics and one of Europe´s most distinguished researchers in the field of housing finance, will discuss changes in installment levels and lending tendencies in EU member states. Alexandra Leonhard, Analyst at The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and an expert on Swedish housing finance, will outline the situation in Sweden.

Speakers
Dr. Christian König, Head of Legal Affairs, Association of Private Bausparkassen e.V., Berlin
Professor Christine Whitehead, Department of Economics, London School of Economics
Dr. Alexandra Leonhard, Analyst, he Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning

Chair
Monika Hjeds Löfmark, Senior Researcher in Economics, SIEPS

Time: Thursday 11 April, 13.00-15.00. Registration/coffee from 12.30
Venue: SIEPS, Fleminggatan 20, Stockholm. NB. New Venue! 
Language: English

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication presented.

Please find below the PowerPoint presentations from the seminar.

On 11 February 2013, a new SIEPS report entitled EEAS 2.0 – A legal commentary on Council Decision 2010/427/EU on the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service, will be presented in Brussels, at the Centre for European Policy Studies.

This legal commentary offers an article-by-article analysis of the above 2010 Council Decision on the EEAS, which is currently under review. It is intended to serve as a reference document for practitioners and analysts dealing with the EEAS.

The study has been produced by an independent, multinational and multidisciplinary team of scholars brought together by the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (SIEPS), the European University Institute (EUI) and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

Speakers
Steven Blockmans, Senior Fellow, CEPS
Christophe Hillion, Senior Fellow, SIEPS
Stephan Marquardt, Legal Affairs Division, European External Action Service
Cesare Onestini, Head of the Corporate Board Secretariat, European External Action Service
Hrant Kostanyan, Research Fellow, CEPS
See programme on the CEPS' website for the full list of speakers

Time: Monday, 11 February, 2013 - 13:15 - 16:00
Venue: CEPS Conference Room, 1, Place du Congrès 1000 Brussels
Language: English

To register, please visit CEPS' website>>

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is generally considered to be a key factor in fostering economic growth. In light of the single market programme and the introduction of the euro, studying the determinants of regional FDI is of vital importance in a policy perspective.

At this seminar, professor José Villaverde will present the report Inward Foreign Direct Investment in the European Union: Regional Distribution and Determinants, co-written with professor Adolfo Maza. The report brings important insights to the research on FDI and analyses the regional distribution of inward FDI flows in the EU. It also gives recommendations on how to better attract investments.

Speaker
José Villaverde, Professor, University of Cantabria, Spain

Discussants
Lars Persson, Professor and Vice President, 
Research Institute of Industrial Economics
Magnus Runnbeck, Senior Analyst, The Swedish Trade and Invest Council
Mattias Frumerie, Head of Internal Market Group, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Chair
Anna Stellinger, Director, SIEPS

NB! NEW TIME AND NEW VENUE!

Time: Wednesday 23 January 13.30 – 15.00.
Venue: SIEPS, Fleminggatan 20, 5th floor, Stockholm. 
Language: English

Register no later than 21 January.

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication.

Energy has always had a prominent place in the European integration process. And yet, the establishment of an EU energy policy is relatively recent, particularly in its external dimension. Increasing energy needs, and the imperative to secure supply in a changing geopolitical context may explain this recent development. To be sure, the Treaty of Lisbon has endowed the European Union with an express competence in the field.

At this seminar, Bart Van Vooren will present his report Europe Unplugged – Progress, potential and limitations of EU external energy policy three years post-Lisbon, in which he discusses the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU ability further to develop an external energy policy.

Speaker
Bart Van Vooren, Assistant Professor of European Law, University of Copenhagen

Discussants
Anke Schmidt-Felzmann, Postdoctoral Fellow, Swedish Research Council/Stockholm University
Peter Van Elsuwege, Professor of European Law, University of Ghent

Chair
Christophe Hillion, forskare i juridik, Sieps

Time: Friday 7 December, 10.00 – 12.00. Registration/coffee from 9.30 
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: English

Register no later than 5 December.

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication.

Sweden´s capacity to implement EU law in a swift and efficient way has varied through the years. A sizeable amount of the complaints and lawsuits against Sweden are indeed caused by delays and other shortcomings in implementing EU directives and regulations. This can prove costly, because of the EU´s tightened sanction rules for countries lagging behind.

At this seminar, the report Doing it right and on time – Is there a need for new methods of implementing EU law in Sweden? will be presented. The authors analyse the present situation and suggest ways to make the implementation more efficient and more broadly established. The connection between negotiations and implementation of EU directives, the role of the parliament, the need for committees and inquiry systems, as well as appropriate timing for consultation processes and impact assessments are among the issues discussed.

Speakers
Jörgen Hettne, Senior Researcher in Law, SIEPS
Jane Reichel, Associate Professor in Public Law, Uppsala University

Commentators
Åsa Casula Vifell, Associate Professor in Political Science, Stockholm University
Sara Bratberg, Deputy Director at the EU Coordination Secretariat, Prime Minister´s Office
    
Chair
Pernilla Bäckman, Researcher in Political Science, SIEPS

Time: Tuesday 20 November kl. 14.00 – 16.30. Registration/coffee from 13.30   
Venue: Medelhavsmuseet, Fredsgatan 2, Stockholm
Language: Swedish

Register no later than 19 November.

The seminar is free of charge and open to the public. Each participant will receive a copy of the publication.