The European Union Centre of Excellence project housed at CCGES is pleased to present a lecture by Nikos Skoutaris (Assistant Professor, International and European Law, Maastricht University) entitled “Federalism: The European Union’s Uncommon Principle”. The talk will be held on Tuesday, March 6th, in Leith Room (004), Atkinson College (building #33 on the map found here) from 12:30 to 2:00 pm.

An abstract for this lecture is found here.

Nikos obtained his LL.B. from the University of Aberdeen, his LL.M. from Maastricht University and his Ph.D. from the European University Institute (Florence). He has worked at Amnesty International, the Council of the EU, the Academy of European Law and Tilburg University. At the moment he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International and European Law of Maastricht University where he teaches EU External Relations law and comparative constitutional law. He is an academic expert in the fields of EU constitutional law, EU external relations, comparative federalism and conflict resolution theory.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Date: Tuesday, March 6th
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Leith Room (004), Atkinson College

The European Union Centre of Excellence project housed at CCGES is pleased to present Prof. Nikos Skoutaris (Assistant Professor, International and European Law, Maastricht University). Prof. Nikos Skoutaris will deliver a lecture in the series “Whose (De)Fault is it Anyway? – The E.U. Crisis in Historical and Comparative Perspective” on Thursday, March 8th from12:30 to 2:00 pm in room 2003 Ignat Kaneff Building/Osgoode Law School (building # 32 on the map found here). Entitled “On Sovereign Debt Crisis and Sovereignty: A Consitutional law perspective”, this lecture will be the fourth contribution to a highly-successful lecture series which is intended to explore the intimidating dimensions of the European financial crisis from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

Abstract: Legal theory often differentiates between external and internal sovereignty. The former denotes state’s power to act independently from an external or higher authority while the latter is usually understood as “the ultimate source of authority within a state”. In this talk, I will argue that while signing the Memorandum has been nothing more than a voluntary act made by a sovereign state that failed to effectively meet its economic obligations by reference to the markets, still, the ratification and implementation of the Memorandum impedes the very foundations of popular sovereignty as described in the Greek constitution. In order to achieve this, my analysis will focus on the legislative procedures used to ratify the relevant treaties that undermine the Greek Rechtsstaat and the implications of the signing of the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the EMU.

Nikos obtained his LL.B. from the University of Aberdeen, his LL.M. from Maastricht University and his Ph.D. from the European University Institute (Florence). He has worked at Amnesty International, the Council of the EU, the Academy of European Law and Tilburg University. At the moment he is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International and European Law of Maastricht University where he teaches EU External Relations law and comparative constitutional law. He is an academic expert in the fields of EU constitutional law, EU external relations, comparative federalism and conflict resolution theory.

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Date: Thursday, March 8th
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Room 2003 Ignat Kaneff Building/Osgoode Hall Law School

The European Union Centre of Excellence project at York along with York’s Centre for Refugee Studies and CERIS – The Ontario Metropolis Centre are pleased to present Stefan Kok of the Legal Commission of Ontario (formerly Senior Policy Officer, Dutch Council for Refugees). The lecture will be held at York’s Keele campus on Thursday, February 16, 2012 from 12:30 to 2:00 in room 519 York Research Tower (building #95 on the map found here). Subject of his lecture will be “Europe’s Borders and Refugee Protection”.

Abstract: European border management raises many humanitarian and human rights concerns.  In 2011, almost 2000 people died in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe.  Detention practices, asylum standards and return practices at the EU’s external borders have been widely criticized.  Yet, the Dublin II-system, which allocates the responsibility for dealing with an asylum request to the states of entry (often the EU-states at the external land and sea borders), remains the basis for the Common European Asylum System.  Is there a ‘Fortress Europe’ and what are its effects on refugee protection in the EU?

This event is presented by York’s Centre for Refugee Studies, CERIS – The Ontario Metropolis Centre and the European Union Centre of Excellence at York.
All are welcome and refreshments will be served:
Date: Thursday, February 16th
Time: 12:30 to 2:00 pm
Location: 519 York Research Tower

The European Union Centre of Excellence project housed at CCGES is  pleased to present a lecture by Dr. Rosa Fernández (Applied Economics, Distance Education University of Spain) on the subject of Corporate Social Responsibility practices and regulation in Europe, entitled “The Uneven Progress of CSR Practices in Europe: A Window for Public Intervention?” on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. In this talk, Dr. Fernández gives an overview of CSR practices in a number of European countries and considers the possibility of public intervention to regulate CSR strategies.

To listen to Dr. Fernández’ lecture along with the response of discussant Prof. Andrew Crane (George Gardiner Professor of Business Ethics, Schulich School of Business), please click on this link:

All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.

Date: Wednesday, February 8th
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: room 305 York Lanes

The European Union Centre of Excellence project housed at CCGES is pleased to present the EU Affairs Seminar “Exploring the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Between Canada and the E.U.” As negotiations between Canada and the European Union for a comprehensive trade and economic agreement (CETA) enter what may well be a decisive phase, the European Union Centre of Excellence at York has partnered with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Toronto (EUCOCIT) to organize a one-day seminar on CETA for Wednesday, February 29th (10am – 5pm) at the Ontario Investment & Trade Centre (250 Yonge St., 35th Floor).

This event will bring together key players in the negotiations, academics and representatives of a variety of stakeholder
groups including labour, agriculture and industry for a day of panel presentations and discussions examining CETA from a variety of perspectives. Details of the program are being confirmed and will be posted here as soon as they are available.

CETA Program – Final