SEMINAR AND BOOK LAUNCH: THESE 30 YEARS

How the fall of Communism and its legacy have marked the development of Europe until today

Organized by Pro Patria Institute and Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

14 October 2022 in Tõllakuur at von Stackelberg Hotel, Tallinn

Peaceful protest meetings in 1989 marked the turning point of the world history, having the fall of the Iron Curtain as the landmark, which brought the Central and Eastern European countries back to the family of democratic European countries The book “These 30 years” is consisted of interviews with like-minded people from twelve European countries that talk about the decisive forces and supporters of these uprisings as much as about the continued effect of their signals. After thirty years of our common journey, we are more divided than united. To move forward together, it is important to look at the past, rediscover a common ground based on values stemming from democracy and rule of law and define our common interests.

Friday, October 14

Welcome and opening words

Trivimi Velliste is Chairman of the Board of the Pro Patria Institute. He is a politician, diplomat and heritage conservationist.  He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia (1992 –1994) and Ambassador to the United Nations (1994–1998).  In 1999 he was elected member of the Estonian Parliament where he served until 2011. He was Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Committe and Chairman of the Estonian Delegation to the Baltic Assembly.  Trivimi Velliste was one of the initiators of the heritage protection movement and the Estonian citizens’ committees movement. He is Honorary Chairman of the Estonian Heritage Society.



         

The brightest memories of the neighbor in 1990s

Valdis Zatlers was President of Latvia from 2007 to 2011. Also, he has chaired the National Security Committee in Saeima for several years and played a remarkable role in the Latvian independence movement. After graduating from university he worked many years as an internationally recognized traumatologist-orthopedist.

Internal and external changes of the EU since 1990

Eoin Drea is a Senior Research Officer for the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and Research Fellow at Trinity College in Dublin. He is specialised in the fields of economic and social policy. Eoin Dea is a regular media contributor, whose opinion pieces have been published in The Guardian, Politico, Euronews and The Irish Times among others.

Yesterday taken to tomorrows EU, reshaping after 2022?

Renata Mieńkowska-Norkiene is an Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Warsaw, who was awarded the scholarship for outstanding young scientists of Poland. European Union policies, integration and institutions are her main research fields.

Discussion: We, 30 years later.

Chaired by Sergei METLEV - head of Postimees Russian editorial office speakers:

Valdis ZATLERS – independence movement activist, President of Latvia 2007-2011.

Eoin DREA – Author and Senior Research Officer of Wilfried Martens Centre.

Renata MIEŃKOWSKA NORKIENE – Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Warsaw.