Second Global Conference  " REDEFINING EUROPE "

Federalism and the Union of European Democracies
EU Enlargement, One Year Later
Prague , Czech Republic
April 29 - May 2, 2005

The Ashburn Institute (AI) supports the expansion of the European Union by which it will enhance the development of newly democratic nations and further cooperation within the region. In March of 2004, AI began its series of annual international conferences in Prague , Czech Republic . The aim of these conferences is to bring together students, academics and professionals to share their perspectives and ideas in order to contemplate and find solutions to the challenges and opportunities of democracy and cooperation in an ever changing world.

As last year's theme was entitled Redefining Europe , Federalism and the Union of European Democracies , participants were able to immerse themselves in the unique history of a learning democracy. Participants from around the world who submitted their papers on this issue deliberated and discussed the opportunities and implications of EU accession and the impact it may have on the relations with the United States . In addition to the experience of the city itself, activities for the conference included analytical discussions on the academic papers presented and educational workshops with notable scholars and diplomats.

In our second part series of this conference, we will focus on the evaluation of European Union expansion and what it means for the future of the organization itself and for international relations in general. Specifically, the conference participants will set out to investigate the opportunities and implications of a growing European Union and the development of an EU constitution with federalist and democratic principles and ideals. Additionally, the need to address the impact of an enlarged EU on its relations with the United States is equally important.

In order to produce a full successful study, we are instituted a CALL FOR PAPERS in gauging the EU enlargement. Participants selected to present their paper at the conference are published in an ISBN e-Book. Selected papers are developed and published in a second themed volume on Redefining Europe .

In the end, AI hopes to build a roadmap for a stronger Euro-Atlantic partnership so that newly accessed members of the EU can play a key role in the decision-making process as well as relations within and outside this growing international institution.

The conference was held in Prague , "the window showing the light of freedom between east and west", between April 29th and May 2nd , 2005 .