"Europe in crisis: the challenge of winning citizens' trust"

Seminar organised by the European Ombudsman

24 April 2012, 10.00-12.30
followed by a reception
Room P1A002 (Place du Luxembourg entrance of the Altiero Spinelli building), European Parliament, Brussels

The most important current issue at both the EU and the Member States levels is undoubtedly the economic and financial crisis and its implications for the future of the European Union. Citizens in many Member States of the EU are not only losing trust in their national governments, but are also increasingly sceptical of the EU's ability to find solutions to the worst crisis in its history.

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, is most concerned about this situation, especially since an important part of his mission is to increase trust between European citizens and the EU institutions. He has therefore convened a high-level public seminar to explore what concrete measures European and national institutions can take to (re)gain EU citizens' trust. Participants will be able to share their views with the following keynote speakers:

10.00 - 11.00:

• José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

11.00 - 12.30:

• Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament
• Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark, President of the Council of the EU

Shirin Wheeler, the BBC's EU correspondent, will chair the event.

The event will be web-streamed live at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/home.faces

Video On Demand (VOD)

• European Ombudsman: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/press/videos.faces
• European Parliament: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/ep-live/en/other-events/video?event=20120424-1000-SPECIAL

Registration

The registration form is available at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/shortcuts/document.faces/en/11318/pdf.bookmark

Please submit the completed registration form by 13 April 2012.