A Conference Looking at the Future of European Democracy

This is a critical period for democracy in Europe, with numerous risks and obstacles emerging both within the European Union and in other parts of the continent, including the UK. Hosted by the European Movement in Scotland, this conference gathers prominent experts from Scotland and various European regions to address the ongoing crisis affecting European democracy and to explore potential solutions to these pressing issues.

Key topics for discussion in this session include:
– The scale of the far-right’s danger to democratic principles in Europe and the appropriate countermeasures the EU should adopt
– The role of citizens and civic organizations in countering threats to democracy in Europe
– The potential for renewal and reform within the European framework
– Actions that individuals, grassroots movements, and political figures can take to address these challenges

The lineup of confirmed speakers for this session includes:
– **Tanja Bueltmann**: A German-British historian and academic, Tanja holds the position of Professor of International History at the University of Strathclyde. Her expertise lies in migration and diaspora history, with a particular focus on immigrant communities, ethnic associations, and collective actions by immigrants. She is also an advocate for citizens’ rights and the initiator of the EU Citizens’ Champion campaign.
– **Mark Leonard**: As co-founder and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Mark also serves as the Henry A. Kissinger Chair in Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. His areas of interest encompass geopolitics, geoeconomics, China, and EU political structures. He previously held roles as director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform and as director of the Foreign Policy Centre.
– **Sophie Pornschlegel**: Serving as Deputy Director at Europe Jacques Delors, a think tank based in Brussels, Sophie is also a Policy Fellow at Das Progressive Zentrum in Berlin. A Franco-German political scientist, she focuses on European issues, specializing in democracy, EU governance, rule of law, and sustainability policies including green trade, agrifood systems, and environmental diplomacy.
– **Alyn Smith**: Alyn represented Scotland as an SNP Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2019 and later as the SNP MP for Stirling from 2019 to 2024. He acted as the SNP Spokesperson for Europe and EU Accession from 2022 to 2024. Before entering politics, he practiced law in London and Edinburgh. During his time in the European Parliament, he contributed to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee as well as