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Press and media are cordially invited to attend a public panel discussion on “European identity and values: an exploration”.
Without falling into the trap of ideological self-contained reminiscences, the discussion will explore:
What has contributed to the idea of a ‘European identity’, whether it can be conceived as an existing identity or as one still coming into existence, in what terms it can be described, and what has given rise to the ideal of European unity that can then be expressed in political form. Moving one step further, we shall attempt to draw, out of the historical experience of Europe, values and ideals that could enable us to surmount the present crisis and find a way forward into the future.
Are there any examples and actual projects that are putting into action these values and ideals?
Within a broad minded vision of secularism, what would be a welcome contribution from churches and other religious communities? And, in this context, what is, or could be, the role of Switzerland?
When: 21 April 2016, 17:00-19:00 CET, followed by refreshments
Where: Ecumenical Centre, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Panel discussion with the participation of the general public and:
- Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches
- Eric Ackermann, a member of the Jewish community in Geneva
- Gaelle Courtens, a journalist associated with the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy and the "nev-notizie evangeliche" press agency
- Pasquale Ferrara, a diplomat, and professor at the LUISS University, Rome, and the Sophia University Institute, Loppiano
- Andreas Gross, a former Swiss parliamentarian, and a former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Chair: Marguerite Contat, former head of delegations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, and joint president of the Genevan Constituent Assembly, 2008-12
Interpretation: Simultaneous interpretation in French and English
Hosts: The Focolari Movement in partnership with The World Council of Churches
Livestream: http://www.oikoumene.org/live
Media contact: please contact WCC director of communication Marianne Ejdersten: [email protected], +41 79 507 63 63
Photos of the event will be made available free of charge at photos.oikoumene.org on the following day.