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Crisis Cascades: Green Responses to Europe’s Polycrisis (Vilnius)
11 November 2024 - 9:30 am - 12 November 2024 - 4:00 pm
About the event:
The term polycrisis has become a central feature of the European public debate. From pandemic and supply chain disruptions to war, cost-of-living, and climate breakdown, today’s compounding crises feed insecurity, instability, and distrust, with significant repercussions for EU integration and democracy. This is felt particularly acutely on Europe’s Eastern flank.
By discussing and connecting (in)security in all its facets – including social, ecological, and geopolitical – this event aims to confront the crisis cascades with equally multiplying solutions. What are the (green) tools and visions that can bolster security and resilience? What does crisis preparedness look like in practice, at local, national, and European level? And what lessons do the Baltic states hold for the rest of Europe in this regard?
We are gathering civil society, academics, activists and others from Lithuania and beyond to exchange on these questions and ideas in a series of lectures, panel debates, and discussion moments. Join us in Vilnius or online to contribute to this effort!
Project background:
Since 2022, GEF has used its unique connector position within and beyond the green movement to feed and define conversations on peace and security in Europe, and to bring diverse and multifaceted angles to the (geopolitical) discussion table. This conference continues those efforts, seeking to develop future-proof politics and policies for a more just, sustainable, and resilient Europe.
Programme and speakers:
Monday, November 11th
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome and opening remarks
with Laurent Standaert (GEF) and Eglė Radišauskienė (Institute of Democracy)
10:30 – 10:45 (Social) Security and Crisis Response: The EU’s Role and Responsibilities
with Julie Pascoet (European Network Against Racism)
10:45 – 11:15 Keynote lecture with Q&A: Putting the “Social” Back in Security
with Prof. Boguslavas Gruževskis (Vilnius University)
11:15 – 12:30 Panel debate: Social Safety in Times of Crisis – Lessons and Impact of the Pandemic and War in Ukraine
with Prof. Boguslavas Gruževskis (Vilnius University), Aistė Adomavičienė (National Network of Poverty Reduction Organizations), Jekaterina Rojaka (DSVL), moderated by Linas Kukuraitis (DSVL)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch and networking
14:00 – 14:30 Keynote lecture with Q&A: Balancing Security and Freedom – The Role of Democracy in Crisis Response
with Vytautas Valentinavičius (Kaunas University of Technology)
14:30 – 16:00 Regional panorama: Geopolitical Greens? Providing Credible yet Critical Responses in Times of Security Crisis
with Elina Pinto (Progresīvie), Klaudia Jachira (Zieloni), Lukas Savickas (DSVL), Michelle Haas (UGent), Indre Vareikyte (communications and gender equality expert, previously at EESC), moderated by Laurent Standaert (GEF)
16:00 – 20:00 Break
20:00 – 21:00 Building Resilience: Tomas Tomilinas and Elina Pinto on Green Lessons from the Baltics
Tuesday, November 12th
10:00 – 10:30 Keynote lecture with Q&A: Geopolitics of a Post-Growth Europe
with Richard Wouters (Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks)
10:30 – 12:00 Panel debate: Security and the Climate Crisis – Common Agendas or Clashing Priorities?
with Karolina Eklow (climate and security expert), Yuliia Melnyk (Ekoltava), Dominika Lasota (climate justice activist), Richard Wouters (Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks), moderated by Tomas Tomilinas (DSVL),
12:00 – 13:30 Break
13:30 – 16:30 Optional cultural programme: Gediminas castle visit
Practicalities:
Date: 11-12 November, 2024
Location: National Library of Lithuania – Gedimino pr. 51, Vilnius, Lithuania. Please arrive on time!
Language: The main language of the conference will be English, but some sessions or interventions may be in Lithuanian as well. In that case, simultaneous translation will be provided.
Participation: This is a hybrid event, so participation is possible both in person and online. Please register in advance via this link. If you have any questions, please email sien.hasker@gef.eu.
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This conference is organised by the Green European Foundation, with the support of the Institute of Democracy and the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.
