The European Policy Centre and the Foster Foundation are pleased to invite you to a Policy Dialogue, on 10 July. The maps of the European Union may look different within the next five years. In various EU member states, strong movements promoting secession from their respective nation state and seeking independence have emerged. These movements have gained in strength over the past years. While in Scotland a referendum is set for 18 September 2014, the central government in Spain and the regional government in Catalonia are still debating a planned referendum in Catalonia. In both cases, the regions seeking independence are claiming continued EU membership, once they have seceded. These developments are clearly among the most demanding challenges to the EU in the near future. The event will be chaired by EPC Chief Executive Fabian Zuleeg.

The Conference enabled with a new format the international civil society and local actors from the 14 EUSDR countries to meet, exchange views and perceptions among each other and to meet and discuss in-depth with EU and national decision makers.