A one-day conference being organised by the WYNDHAM PLACE CHARLEMAGNE TRUST in conjunction with the Polish Institute for International Affairs (PISM), Warsaw with the generous support of the Polish Embassy London on Wednesday 15th September, 2010 in the Polish Embassy, 47 Portland Place, London
PROGRAMME
9 am Arrival
9.30 – 9.45 Opening HE Barbara Tuge-Erecińska, Polish Ambassador London; Dr Maciej Zaborowski (Director of the PISM); Canon Guy Wilkinson (National Inter-religious Affairs Adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Chairman of the WPCT)
9.45 – 11.00 Keynote Lecture Religion in today’s political world Dr Scott M Thomas (International Relations, University of Bath) Followed by discussion
11 – 11.30 Coffee break
11.30 am – 1.00 pm Panel of short interventions followed by discussion
– UK: a multi faith or no faith society? How does government see it? John Battle KC (Former MP for Leeds West and Prime Minister’s Envoy to the faith communities)
– Concordats between the Holy See and EU member states. A case of Poland? Rafał Kownacki (PISM)
– EU: the Lisbon Treaty and an “open transparent and regular dialogue” with religions and philosophical convictions: opportunity or alibi? David White (former Director, European Commission, Brussels)
– Possible accession of Turkey to the EU – a cultural or a religious challenge? What is Europe? Prof. Krzysztof Szczerski (Jagiellonian University, Krakow)
– Freedom of movement into and within Europe – necessary or undesirable? Philippe Legrain (London School of Economics’ European Institute)
1.00-2.00 pm Lunch break
2.00-3.00 pm Continuation of short interventions as listed above
3.00 – 4.00pm Closing keynote speech with final discussion: Future perspectives: Further EU enlargement – is this still Europe? What star will the forthcoming Polish Presidency steer by? Konrad Szymanski MEP
4 – 4.30 pm Conclusions by Professor Ryszard Stemplowski (Former Director PISM and Patron of WPCT)
The Polish Embassy in London is generously hosting this event (including lunch) and there will be no admission fee, but prior registration is required. A donation to the WPCT (which is a charity and has no subsidies or other substantial forms of income) to contribute to its administrative and publicity costs for this and its other activities would be most welcome.
To register, please contact Mrs H W Burton, WPCT Secretary, 134 Main Road, Long Hanborough, Witney, Oxon OX29 8JY, Tel 01993 881 366, Email [email protected], website www.wpct.org