The ‘European Union in International Affairs’ (EUIA) Conference provides a major forum for academics and policy-makers to debate the role of the EU in the turbulent realm of international affairs. After a postponement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the seventh edition of this event will take place from 26 to 28 May 2021 and focus on the theme ‘Assessing the EU’s Capacity to Act’. For more information or to register, please don't hesitate to visit our conference website.
Podcast 3: Conflicts of sovereignty in the EU - insights from Brexit and international trade agreements
The concept of sovereignty was initially coined in the Middle Ages in the context of the wars of religion in France. Sovereignty was defined as absolute and perpetual. New developments such as the emergence of polities beyond the state – like the EU – have challenged its meaning. By establishing supranational institutions, EU member states have agreed to limit part of their sovereign rights in order to cope with various transnational problems. In recent years, however, claims to sovereignty have multiplied and seem to become more divisive than ever. Within the EU and beyond, parties and citizens seek “to take back control”.
This EUIA podcast presents the findings of the project “Conflicts of Sovereignty in the EU”. Funded by the Wiener-Anspach Foundation, it is a collaborative project between the University of Cambridge and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB). Ramona Coman (President of IEE-ULB, a #EUIA21 co-organising institute) discusses conflicts of sovereignty regarding international trade (notably CETA) and Brexit with Christopher Bickerton (University of Cambridge); Julia Rone (University of Cambridge); Nathalie Brack (ULB); and Amandine Crespy (ULB).
Would like to hear more? Check out our other podcasts, here.
