A dozen political scientists, international analysts, historians, diplomats with expertise in international relations, as well as MEPs and members of the European Commission met this week at the premises of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to discuss the future of peace in Ukraine. The conference was attended by more than 100 in person and online participants over the two days. It was opened by the Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the EU Edita Hrdá and the EC2U Global Coordinator & Coimbra Group Chair Ludovic Thilly.
The conference, under the academic supervision of Professor Ilaria Poggiolini (University of Pavia), was an initiative of the Coimbra Group Social Sciences and Humanities Working Group co-organised with EC2U Alliance, the University of Pavía and the University of Salamanca. Speakers have focused on mediation scenarios between the two countries involving both the protection of victims and ways to shape a comprehensive process towards a truce. International peacekeeping actions and the opening of diplomatic channels between all parties involved, were also discussed.
Analysts also concluded that the most possible way forward would be to secure a durable peace in the region with the continued support of Western countries, including Europe.
Further information
Organising committee of the conference:
Ilaria Poggiolini (University of Pavia)
Raúl Sánchez (University of Salamanca)
Mikhail Minakov (University of Pavia)
Benjamín Martínez (Coimbra Group)
Jorge Hernández (University of Salamanca)
The conference, which was attended by a large number of professors, researchers and students from several European universities, had the following programme:
First session: ‘Ukraine and Russia: History of Conflictive Narratives’ |
-Raúl Sánchez (Session chair), Rector’s Delegate for International Networks and Coordinator of the EC2U Alliance at the University of Salamanca.
-Vladislav Zubok, Professor of International History at the London School of Economics. -Vivian Walker, Executive Director of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy at the US Department of State. -Pierre Allan, Visiting Professor of International Relations and Ethics, Charles University (FSV), Prague. Senior Research Affiliate University of California. |
| Second session: ‘De-escalating disinformation’ | -Ilaria Poggiolini (Session chair), Chair professor of International History, University of Pavia; Member of the Scientific Committee for the publication of Italian Diplomatic Documents (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Rome).
-Corneliu Bjola, Associate Professor in Diplomatic Studies at the University of Oxford and Head of the Oxford Digital Diplomacy Research Group. -Mikhailo Minakov, Senior advisor at the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute on Ukraine. -Vasyl Filipchuk, Ukrainian diplomat. Senior advisor at the International Center for Policy Studies (ICPS), Ukraine. |
| Round table: ‘How to bridge the gap between war –on the ground of narratives – and a truce leading to peace-building’ | -John Lloyd (Moderator), Journalist, senior research fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (University of Oxford), and contributing editor to the Financial Times. Winner of The British Press Award, The Granada Award and The David Watt Prize.
-MEP Viola Von Cramon-Taubadell, Vice-Chairman of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee. -MEP Urmas Paet, Vice-Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. -Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General at DG NEAR of the European Commission, as Deputy DG and Head of Support Group for Ukraine |