ABOUT EPPC

Since 2008, the EPPC has addressed today’s most challenging issues and tomorrow’s future disputes. With support from the IPLI Foundation, students from the Hertie School have continued the tradition of bringing together students, academics, policymakers, and practitioners to facilitate a range of lectures, keynotes, panels, workshops, and discussions to foster mutual learning on the year’s theme.

Conferences have taken place all over Europe and have explored a diverse range of issues, from migration and climate change to European youth and defense. This year, EPPC will return to Madrid to delve into the topic of EU Integration and Disintegration, building on the topics covered over the past fifteen years. 

Explore the past fifteen years of EPPC below! Conference reports are available for most years. 

Past European Public Policy Conferences:

EPPC 2023: Europe in the Face of Crisis (Vienna)
European Public Policy conference 2023 with CEU in the background
EPPC 2022: EU Defense at a crossroad

“The 2022 European Public Policy Conference covered EU positions regarding other states, relations against Russia, NATO, complementarity, and much more. From April 1st to 3rd, the 24th edition of the EPPC welcomed its participants to the Hertie School in Berlin. The panels, keynotes, and workshops, rooted in the real-life experiences of individuals, exposed the impacts that games of power have on people’s lives. Our goal was to organize a thought-provoking conference that sparked new ways of thinking in our participants.
On February 24th, 2022, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia confirmed the importance of our topic on the state of European defense. In a context of rising tensions around the globe and changing geopolitical landscapes, the EU is obliged to seriously examine its defense strategy as its values become threatened.”

EPPC 2021: Coming Full Circle

“In 2021, the European Public Policy Conference dived deep into the topic of Circular Economy. From April 23 to 25, 2021, the 23th edition of the EPPC was streamed from Berlin to the world.

Following up on the previous year’s topic – focused on climate and sustainability – and wanting to expand on it, the team decided for the circular economy to be this year’s overarching topic. The purpose was to investigate this popular – yet sometimes misunderstood – concept, to define it and to find out how and to what extent it can be implemented in practice. In order to answer these questions, experts from different sectors, who shared their thoughts and knowledge about the circular economy, were invited.

Given the breadth of the topic, the conference was divided into three main sub-topics: Digitalisation, Global Trade, and Circular Cities. 

The keynotes, discussions, and workshops at this first online EPPC inspired roughly 170 people over the three conference days.”

This conference was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you can read more about the conference plan below. 

EPPC 2020
EPPC 2019 Position Paper

In 2019, the European Public Policy Conference sought to understand the double-edged sword that is technology. We must work towards coexisting with technology, and that can be done best by understanding areas where there is an intersection between technology and society.

The problem was addressed by focusing on three areas:

Social Inequalities: Tech- disrupting or reinforcing inequalities?

Smart Cities v Gentrification: Who has a right to the city? 

Policy & Government: Is the rise of tech changing the state as we know it?

Being divided into keynote speeches, presentations, panels, and discussions, solutions to problems that were not even on the agenda beforehand were created, which made the event an excellent opportunity for tech and policy enthusiasts alike.

“The conventional notion of borders as existing between nation-states has its roots in the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia. However, recent political, technological, and societal developments have made it clear that this conventional definition of borders and its impact on policy-making requires rethinking and reevaluation. The migrant and refugee crisis in Europe has raised questions regarding stability; technological advancements have removed borders in both communications and the financial sector; and within nations and communities, societal boundaries have profound political implications. In essence, borders are bifurcating — simultaneously being built up in certain areas, while being removed or broken down in others.

Europe, in particular, has been at the forefront of these issues. Through the removal of national borders, the free flow of labor, the single-market economy, and the Common Security and Defense Policy, the European Union defy the classic understanding of borders. Recent events have found Europe challenged by both conventional and unconventional border issues. The secessionist movement in Catalonia, for example, and the right to self-determination more broadly, make it clear that the discourse surrounding traditional notions of borders is still very much in contestation. At the same time, Europe must also be prepared to address newer, more abstract border issues such as internet privacy and how to govern borderless spaces.”

“The 2017 edition of the European Public Policy Conference (EPPC) explored the topic of Democracy in the Digital Age. Nowadays, nearly every aspect of life is making its way towards digitalization. Both political and societal events have demonstrated
the tremendous impact of new technology on domestic and international affairs.

As a result, democracy faces new challenges and opportunities. While citizens are determined to use the internet and social media to engage in the political process, their trust in political parties and democratic institutions is waning. Voter alienation and anti-establishment sentiments have considerably risen, leading to a surge of support for populist, anti-establishment movements in Europe and across the Western World. Furthermore, social media has created distinct echo chambers, where individual users have a tendency to be in contact with those who share similar beliefs, polarizing political discourse. The now undeniable relationship between digitalization and democracy calls for a discussion about finding ways for this new engagement to be expressed positively in the political sphere. “

With the title From Russia With Love? Eastern Europe between Integration, Cooperation & Confrontation, the EPPC 2015 focused discussion on the presence and risks of Western and Eastern influences in the region.

2014 : Left Behind: New Realities for European Youth

“The sixth European Public Policy Conference focuses on the question “Left Behind? New Realities for European Youth”. The young generation in Europe faces grave challenges. Youth unemployment rates in Spain have risen to 60 per cent, Greece faces similar numbers. In Italy between 30 and 40 per cent of the people that are 25 years and younger are unemployed, in France around 30. This crisis undoubtedly is the greatest challenge the European Union has faced since its establishment.”

The conference “Breaking the Cycle: Rethinking Poverty in the Developed World” was a response to the problems faced by the most vulnerable in society. The austerity measures, adopted in the wake of the financial crisis, continue to push an ever-greater number into poverty whilst worsening the predicament of those already in need. Organised entirely by students of public policy, the conference aimed to address this pressing challenge that we continue to face in the 21st century.

 

“The EPPC 2012 was held at the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI) on 18-20 April 2012. The school served as an superlative venue and IBEI staff was instrumental in assisting conference organizers to ensure that the conference ran smoothly. The world class city of Barcelona served as an excellent backdrop for EPPC and in between proceedings, conference participants had the opportunity to visit many of the cultural highlights that the city has to offer. Barcelona provided many opportunities for the participants, many who had never met one another prior to the event, to network professionally and establish new relationships.”

The third annual European Public Affairs Conference took place in Budapest on April 18-19, 2011. Students from multiple Master in Public Affairs programs throughout Europe attended two days of events featuring experts on migration in Europe, and on the difficulties and advantages it poses.

More information to come! 

More information to come!

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