INDEPENDENCE IN EUROPE – equality for nations in the 21st century –

17th November. Brussels, European Parliament, Room PHS 7C50

Programme

MORNING SESSION

9:00 – 9:30  Registration

9:30 – 11:00  Introduction

Welcome Speech

* Jill EVANS – President of EFA Group and Plaid Cymru MEP

Part 1: Emerging Member States in the EU

Chair: Jill EVANS MEP – Plaid Cymru

Senior EFA party figures

* Helen Mary JONES AM – Deputy Leader of Plaid Cymru

* Angus ROBERSTON MP – SNP Parliamentary Leader (Westminster Group), Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence.

* Pello URIZAR – EA Secretary General

Debate

11:00 – 11:15 Interlude

Chair: Ian HUDGHTON MEP – SNP

11:15 – 13:00 * Guillerme VÁZQUEZ – BNG national Spokesperson

* Geert BOURGEOIS – N-VA Viceminister-President of Flemish government

* Joan PUIGCERCÓS – ERC President

Debate

13:00 – 14:15 Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION

15:00 – 16:00 Part 2: The size of nations and economic integration

Chair: Frieda BREPOELS MEP – N-VA

* Adam PRICE – Former Plaid Cymru MP and Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University

* Klaus DESMET – Professor of Economics, Universidad Carlos III. Author of “The Stability and Breakup of Nations: A Quantitative Analysis”

Debate

16:00 – 16:15 Interlude

16:15 – 17:45 Part 3: Civic nationalism and cultural diversity in nation building projects

Chair: Oriol JUNQUERAS MEP – ERC

* Humza Yousaf – SNP candidate for Scottish Parliamentary Elections 2011

* Zuhal DEMIR MP – N-VA

* Josep-Maria TERRICABRAS, Professor of Philosophy at Girona University

Debate

17:45 – 18:00 Closing Remarks

* Oriol JUNQUERAS MEP – ERC

Followed by a Reception and a Cocktail

Simultaneous translation will be available in Catalan, Dutch, English, French, Galician, Spanish and Welsh.

For registration and more information contact Xavier Garcia

xavier.garciagabalda@europarl.europa.eu

Deadline for registration 11 November