How to protect a Post-Growth Europe? (Sofia)

About the event

Green policies that respect planetary boundaries and allow the Global South to develop seem incompatible with unlimited economic growth in the EU. We need a realistic scenario for a future in which we consume more sparingly but live better together, a scenario that concepts of degrowth and post-growth can offer.

The war in Ukraine completely changed the global landscape. Today, the idea of ending GDP growth in the EU encounters new and important geopolitical impediments with power and wealth being measured in military capacity. Can a degrowth Europe build strength and resilience in this context?

To tackle this issue, the Green European Foundation is organising a series of expert meetings across Europe, including the present one with the support of BlueLink in Bulgaria. Outcomes from these expert meetings and further research and interviews will feed into a final publication to be launched in autumn 2023.

We invite Bulgarian researchers, activists and policy makers with an interest in green policies and geopolitics to present papers and/or engage in an analytical discussion defined by the following analytical framework:

• What are the tensions and synergies between managed degrowth within the EU and the EU’s ability to achieve its geopolitical objectives, such as promoting security in a broad sense?
• Can tension be mitigated? If so, how?
• How would it be possible to optimize the possibilities that degrowth offer?

Not every question has a definitive answer and we promote creativity, analytical thinking and fresh approaches to the challenge.

Project background

This event is part of GEF’s Geopolitics of Post-Growth project, which explores the tensions between degrowth/post-growth and geopolitics. The project aims to ignite a conversation between critics of economic growth and progressive thinkers on foreign and security policy, who now often operate in separate circuits. It aims to find solutions beyond naïve anti-militarism and convenient belief in green growth. 

Speakers and Programme 

Further details to be announced. 

Practicalities

Date and Time: April 28th, 14:00 – 17:00 CET

Location: House of Europe – 124, 1000 Sofia Center, Sofia, Bulgaria

Language:  The seminar will be held in Bulgarian, but presentations in English are acceptable.

Registration: Researchers, experts, activists or politicians wishing to join the discussion with academic or conceptual contributions, opinions and opinions, or as discussants on the subject, are invited to register for participation via this link. Only registered participants will be admitted to the event.

If you have any further questions or wish to discuss your potential contribution, please reach Pavel Antonov, PhD at tel. 0888 704 661 or by e-mail at office@bluelink.net. 

This expert seminar is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of BlueLink and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.