EU – WHAT NOW?

The EU is facing the biggest crisis since World War II – with war in Europe, skyrocketing energy prices, inflation and impending recession. Unlike previous crises, this one is characterized by the fact that Germany is also in crisis and is led by a relatively untested chancellor, Olaf Scholz. While the EU must maintain unity internally, it is increasingly challenged externally, not least by China, but also by a US that is increasing demands for the EU to pay more for its own defense. On top of external problems, the EU is also struggling with members, such as Poland and Hungary, suddenly questioning a pillar of Western democracies, the separation of powers. The new government in Italy could become an alliance partner for Poland and Hungary.

Based on her role as an EU and Germany expert, Lykke Friis puts the latest developments into perspective and gives her take on where Europe is heading – all spiced with anecdotes from her many meetings – including as climate, energy and gender equality minister – with top politicians and international figures.

EUROPE OF TEARS

A Russian invasion of Ukraine, gas pipeline sabotage, an energy crisis, a fear of World War III – add to that Brexit, authoritarian movements, pandemic and a confident China. The hope for a free and peaceful world that emerged when the Berlin Wall fell has finally been laid to rest over three decades later. The world order we in Europe thought we knew is becoming something completely different. But which one? And what does it mean? And how certain is it that Europe can hold together in the fight against Putin? Lykke Friis answers these questions in her latest book The Europe of Tears, which is the starting point for this lecture.

Lykke Friis has always focused on Europe, first as a political science student, researcher, minister, correspondent and now as director of Think Tank Europe. In this lecture, she takes the audience on her personal journey of European discovery – from Moscow and Rome to London and Kyiv, to the new Iron Curtain in Narva and central Germany, where Putin lived in Dresden in the late 1980s and where Angela Merkel failed in a number of areas. Anecdotes and points are illustrated with personal photo material.