European elections 2024: Development opportunities for the European Parliament

The European Parliament now has extensive legislative, supervisory, budgetary, electoral and system-shaping powers. Nevertheless, the voices of those who doubt the efficiency, usefulness or even the legitimacy of the Parliament and deny it the status of a "full parliament" are not becoming any quieter. On the other hand, disputes over the supply chain directive, the renaturation regulation, the EU-Mercosur agreement or the "car combustion ban" show that Parliament has considerable decision-making power. What prospects can be outlined for the next Parliament? Droh a party-political fragmentation, the self-blockade and thus "home-made" weakening of our European representation? What opportunities for development, what breaking points in integration do MEPs face? We would like to discuss these and other questions in connection with the European elections with two former Presidents of the Parliament who have had a decisive influence on its work and played a key role in steering major European projects such as the eastward enlargement or the treaty reforms.
Participants
Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, former MEP, President of Parliament 2007-2009, CDU
Prof. Dr. Klaus Hänsch, former MEP, President of Parliament 1994-1997, SPD
Sophia Kircher, 1st Vice-President of the Tyrolean Parliament, ÖVP candidate for the EP elections
Eva Steibl-Egenbauer, Head of Office MEP Theresa Bielowski, SPÖ candidate for the EP elections
Prof. Dr. Annegret Eppler, Jean Monnet Chair on European Integration Studies, Kehl School of Public Administration
Prof. Dr. Andreas Maurer, Jean Monnet Chair for EU Integration Studies, University of Innsbruck
Prof. Dr. Michael Gehler, Jean Monnet Chair for Comparative European Contemporary History and History of European Integration, University of Hildesheim
Program
Welcome and introduction: Prof. Dr. Annegret Eppler
Lecture I: Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering
Lecture II: Prof. Dr. Klaus Hänsch
Panel discussion with all participants, moderated by Floo Weissmann (Tiroler Tageszeitung TT)
Closing remarks: Prof. Dr. Michael Gehler