Objectives: The aim of the Summer School organised by the Chair Jean Monnet is to look in depth and examine the impact of the war in Ukraine on the future of the European Union and on its policies and priorities.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, besides its direct toll on human beings and the country’s infrastructure, has enormous geopolitical and political implications for Europe and the world. It has challenged a number of assumptions that Europeans considered as granted: unobstructed provision of energy, the capacity of multilateralism to solve international issues and, in particular, peace as a permanent feature on the European continent. Irrespective of the outcome of the invasion, the war has forced Europe, in particular the member states of the EU, to discuss issues that, up till now were not considered sufficiently urgent to occupy the European debate. Proposals currently abound regarding the enhancement of a European defense identity with the setting up of an EU army as well as the reshaping of relations with NATO, a stronger European foreign policy but also the reinvigoration of the EU efforts to become self-sufficient in terms of energy provision, with an emphasis on carbon-neutral policies.

This crisis, coming on top of the pandemic, challenges the role of the EU, domestically and in the international scene. The outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe will also impact on the discussions about how Europeans see the European enterprise and themselves in it. The Summer School will look at the long-term consequences for the EU of the new questions over integration raised by the Russian invasion and will examine how the EU can raise to these challenges, from a political, institutional, and social angle. Guest speakers will analyse the current issues regarding defense, energy and political leadership in the EU and look into possible solutions. The Summer School will allow participants to discuss these issues and provide them with the tools to understand the various aspects of these developments.

The Summer School will include round tables and working group sessions on the following thematic areas:

• The challenges of a European defense today: the institutions, the economics and the interaction with NATO
• Energy independence and inter-dependence: back to carbon or faster towards renewables?
• Do we need to change the institutions?
• How has the perception of the role of EU changed in the minds of European citizens?

The Summer School is offered in English to students from the Department, the University and international students and practitioners. The event will be hybrid; therefore, participants may choose to attend in person or online. Attendance in person will take place at the School of Aristotle Cultural Center in the city of Naousa (Imathia) to a maximum of 50 participants. Participants attending in person will have to contribute with a registration fee of 70 euros, covering accommodation (2 nights) and board as per the program. Participants attending online will not pay any participation fee.

Those who wish to attend should apply and register before 16 July 2022. See relevant form. For more information, please contact us at: eudem@polsci.auth.gr or ipapageo@polsci.auth.gr