Congratulations Dr. Klose | New publication: Metals for a Climate Neutral Europe | VUB's first Europe Day

New publication out now: Metals for a Climate Neutral Europe

Europe’s energy transition will require higher quantities of metals. Non-ferrous metals represent the building blocks of every conceivable climate technology including batteries, clean mobility, energy-efficient buildings, solar panels, and wind turbines. In this respect, IES Senior Researcher Tomas Wyns and IES Doctoral Researcher Gauri Khandekar have authored “Metals for a Climate Neutral Europe: A 2050 Blueprint”.

VUB's First Europe Day focuses on EU's biggest enlargement anniversary

On 16 October, the VUB International Relations office organised its first Europe Day. The theme of the day was the 15th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement, when 10 countries joined the European Union. Part of the EU day programme was an academic panel debate, organised in cooperation with the Institute for European Studies, the Jean Monnet Chair and International Relations Office with opening comments by IES’s Vice Dean for Research, Prof. Alexander Mattelaer and Dr Rado Genorio, Ambassador of Slovenia to Belgium. The panel debate was chaired by Prof. Florian Trauner, Jean Monnet Chair at the IES.

Successful EDGE Research Day on long-term challenges to democracy

On 18 October, the IES organised a full day of presentations, discussions and conversations on long-term challenges to democracy, in the context of the EDGE programme. The agenda included many activities to foster research creativity and intellectual exchange, from an academic speed-dating to the launch of the first ‘EDGE Book’, i.e. the edited volume on ‘The Edges of Political Representation. Mapping, Critiquing and Pushing the Boundaries’.

Ilke Adam proposes background note on how to move forward with EU immigration policies

On 24 October, IES Prof. Dr. Ilke Adam gave a keynote speech at the landmark European Conference ‘From Tampere 20 to Tampere 2.0. Towards a new programme (2020-24) for EU migration and asylum policies 20 years after the Tampere conclusions’. This conference brought together high-level policy makers, experts, academics and civil society leaders reflecting on the 20 years of European immigration policies and the way forward.

Luk Van Langenhove delivers keynote address at 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Wall in Berlin

On 9 November, the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and all eyes were on the German capital. Around this historical event the city hosted an international Summit from 6-10 November. On the evening of 9 November, world-renowned singers and bands performed a peace concert, paying tribute to the past 30 years without the Wall. Former IES Academic Director Prof. Dr. Luk Van Langenhove delivered a keynote address to this Summit. He spoke about “The Psychology of Walls and the need for Windows of Dialogue”.

IES hosts launch of UNDP Research report ‘Scaling Fences. Voices of Irregular African Migrants to Europe’

Irregular African migrants are higher skilled and have more financial means than the average population in their countries, shows the report by UNDP-Africa ‘Scaling Fences. Voices of Irregular African Migrants’ to Europe’, presented at the IES on 14 November. The report was presented by Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Mohamed Yahja, research director of the Scaling Fences project. The presentation was introduced by IES Prof. Ilke Adam.