Club Lunch: Will Unity Last? The EU After the Invasion of Ukraine

LUNCH TALK Will Unity Last? The EU After the Invasion of Ukraine

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 12:30pm for 12:45pm – Lunch 1:10pm – Address First Floor

Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine prompted a remarkable show of unity among the 27 countries of the European Union. EU countries swiftly banded together to impose tough economic sanctions on Russia, to provide humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, and to accept millions of refugees fleeing the conflict. But as the war grinds on into its ninth month, there are signs that the unity is starting to fray, with disagreements over additional sanctions, over sharing the refugee burden and whether the eventual outcome should be a peace deal or a Ukrainian military victory. And at some point, the war will end, and the question is whether the EU’s newfound unity can hold. Did the war just temporarily paper over long standing differences, or has the EU entered a new more united chapter? Our panelists will discuss the future of the EU following the invasion of Ukraine. Moderated by FCC President Keith Richburg.

Speakers:

Aleksander Dańda has been Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong and Macau since 2019. He is Associate Professor at the Department of Public Administration in Cracow University of Economics and served as Director of the Department of Science at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education from 2016 to 2019. In the years 2009-2012 he was Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at the Tischner European University in Cracow. His main research areas include Anglo-Saxon countries-related topics such as: public administration, contemporary political systems, geopolitics and problems of contemporary international security. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Jagiellonian University (the Faculty of International and Political Studies).

Stefan Auer is Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong. Twice named Jean Monnet Chair in EU Studies, he has published an award-winning monograph, Liberal Nationalism in Central Europe (London: Routledge 2004), and articles in Government and Opposition; International Affairs; the Journal of Common Market Studies and West European Politics, among others. He also writes occasional opinion pieces for The Financial Times, Politico, The South China Morning Post and The Australian newspaper and comments on European politics in the media, such as ABC News 24 (based in Melbourne), CNBC and RTHK. Most recently he published, European Disunion; Democracy, Sovereignty and the Politics of Emergency (London/New York: Hurst/OUP, 2022).

Stefan Bredohl is Deputy Consul General of the Germany’s Federal Foreign Office in Hong Kong. Prior to that, he was Head of the EU Internal Politics Division in the German Foreign Office in Berlin from 2014 to 2021. From 2011 to 2014, he was Spokesperson of the German Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels. In addition to over a decade of work in the German Foreign Office in Berlin, he also served in the German Embassy in Warsaw and Bogota.

Thomas Gnocchi started his assignment as Head of the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao on 1st September 2020. Prior to that, he was Deputy Head of Division for Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific and Deputy Head of Division for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the European External Action Service in Brussels. He served as Deputy Head of Office and Head of the Political, Economic and European Integration Section at the EU Office in Kosovo between 2012 and 2017 and as Head of the Political and Information Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia between 2008 and 2012. Between 2003 and 2008, he worked at the European Commission in Brussels as desk officer for a number of Asian countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. From 1994 to 1996 and from 2001 to 2003 he was posted in Beijing, P.R. China and between 1996 and 2000 he served in the Delegation of the European Commission to Vietnam. Ambassador Gnocchi was educated at the London School of Economics, Yale University and Tianjin University, P.R. China. His native languages are Italian and English and he also speaks French, Chinese and some Serbian.

Club Lunch Speakers: Aleksander Dańda, Stefan Auer, Stefan Bredohl, Thomas Gnocchi Tuesday, November 8, 2022 12:30pm for 12:45pm – lunch 1:10pm – address First Floor Menu Quinoa and Kale Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette Sweet Corn Kernel, Chickpeas, Diced Tomatoes, Diced Carrots and Bell Pepper Julienne Gazpacho Tandoori Chicken Breast with Mint Sauce Salad, Coriander and Garlic Naan OR Pan-fried Atlantic Cod Fish Fillet with Balsamic Reduction Sautéed Bell Pepper, Mashed Potatoes and Thai Asparagus Strawberry Napoleon Coffee or Tea Vegetarian Menu Quinoa and Kale Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette Sweet Corn Kernel, Chickpeas, Diced Tomatoes, Diced Carrots and Bell Pepper Julienne Gazpacho Baked Vegetable Roulade in Filo Pastry Sautéed Bell Pepper, Thai Asparagus and Balsamic Reduction Strawberry Napoleon Coffee or Tea *Please inform us if you have any food allergies or intolerances