D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 1 6

Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence - FIU

Newsletter I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E

● MEUCE Roundtable:

A Celebratory Reception and a Discussion on the Death Penalty……..…....1

● Hon.Alan D. Solomont, US Ambassador to Spain: US-Spain Relations today…………………......2 ● His Excellency Karel Schwarzenberg: Through the Lens of the Czech Experience……....3 ● Dr. Robert Ackrill: Creating and Sustaining Biofuels Markets…….…..4 ● MEUCE Roundtable: Future of Nuclear Power in a Post-Fukushima World………………..…...5 ● Euro Challenge 2012 : - Teacher Orientation …...6 - Students Orientation …..7 ● Polish Lecture Series: - Perspectives on the EU Polish Presidency……...8 - Hon. Maciej Pisarski…..9 ● French Week ….…..10-11 ● MEUCE -WSGSA……..12 Conference: Power, Politics and Performance ● Lecture: …………..…..12 EU’s Role in the Mediterranean and Eastern Neighborhood ● MEUCE Roundtable: Perspectives on the Euro Crisis…………........…..13 ● Announcements and Contact Info……….....14

miamieuc.fiu.edu

A Celebratory Reception and a

Discussion on the Death Penalty

The MEUCE kicked off the academic year with a celebration of the renewed grant and a Roundtable discussion on a highly controver-sial topic. The night began with a cocktail reception at FIU’s Law School in honor of the renewed grant cycle. The MEUCE gathered its supporters from within the community to thank them all for their past support and invit-ed them to continue working with the center as we move into the next three years. The reception was attend-ed by the MEUCE co-directors Dr. Rebec-ca Fried-man of FIU, and Dr. Joaquín Roy of UM along with members of the FIU, UM, and wider com-munity. After the reception, students and law scholars poured in for the Roundtable discussion, “The Death Penalty: European and International Per-spectives”. The two panels consisted of FIU Law school’s Professor Megan Fairlie, Pro-fessor Scott Fingerhut, and Professor Noah Weisbord on one side and European Con-suls General in Miami: Hon. Cristina Barrios, Consul General of Spain, Hon. Eva Alexan-dra Countess Kendeffy, Consul General of Germany, and Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France on the other. FIU law school professors gave an historical

overview of the death penalty and related subjects, including evolving standards of de-cency, constitutional analysis, interpretations and debates, statistics of people on death row, and varying factors that drive the United States to uphold the punishment including retribution and deterrence. Professor and SIPA Fellow Noah Weisbord gave an over-view of the history of the death penalty in Canada and argued against capital punish-

ment. His forceful rea-soning in-cluded the fact that Canada’s murder rate has de-creased since the end of the death penal-ty. The Europe-an Panel provided the necessary historical background regarding the abolition of the death penalty in

Germany, France, and Spain and advocated for a global end to the “cruel punishment.” The Consuls argued that the death penalty is a human rights violation, it is backwards and undemocratic, it did not deter murder, there are risks for racism in sentencing, and other important points. They also shared stories of innocent people on death row and highlight-ed their efforts in helping them. It was certainly a successful and eventful night for MEUCE and a great start for this new grant cycle.

By Michelle Perez

From left to right: Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France; Hon. Cristina Barrios,

Consul General of Spain; Hon. Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, Consul General of the Federal

Republic of Germany; Professor Megan Fairlie, Professor Scott Fingerhut, and Professor Noah

Weisbord, FIU Law School Professors

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 2

The community had the honor of gaining insight into the political relationship between Spain and the United States from a high profile insider. The Honorable Alan D. Solo-mont, the US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra gave a lecture about contemporary Spanish and Ameri-can relations. Solomont covered many issues including the economy and foreign policy. He highlighted economic cooperation between the two countries including trade, business invest-ments, tourism, and student exchanges. While discussing topics of unemployment, the market, and other economic challenges that face both the United States and Spain, Solomont said that “while we may not be in the same boat, we are caught in the same storm.” He also spoke about the different views the two countries have on issues of Foreign policy including notions about Cuba and the Middle Eastern conflict. The lecture was sponsored by the School of International and Public Affairs in collaboration with the MEUCE, the Eu-ropean Studies Program, and was part of the Ruth K. Shep-ard Broad Distinguished Lecture Series. When MEUCE asked him about his experiences as ambas-sador and what he has found to be most enlightening, Solo-mont answered, “It has been a remarkable adventure, I am a non career appointee and I don’t know what I really ex-pected but I think it is the honor of representing our country

to such a close ally at a time when there is very good feeling between Spain and the United States and a to a country that is so connected to American history and contemporary culture. I do have what I call pinch me moments, for in-

stance when presenting credentials to the King, when Vice-President Biden came and we met with Spanish para-troopers that would be deployed to Afghanistan, and actually going to Afghanistan and visiting Spanish troops. The richness of the whole experience has been most rewarding.” He also commented on how happy he was to work with his wife and said that when appointed they said “we are going to this together. Two for the price of one”. When asked about the difficulties that come along with his position, Solomont told MEUCE, “the most trying part has been the enormity of the problems that face the world today. Spain is going through a

tough time economically. The unemployment is incredibly high. It’s not just numbers, but for young people, not seeing opportunity existing is especially frustrating and of course, [Americans] face some of the same stuff. The persistence of terrorism and the difficulty of the missions in Afghanistan. The most difficult part of the job is worrying about how enor-mous the problems the world faces are and how difficult they are to solve, like the middle eastern conflict.”

By Michelle Perez

Hon. Alan D. Solomont, US Ambassador to Spain

FIU’s Dr. Felix Martin, pictured asking Hon. Alan Solomont a question Full audience at FIU Frost Art Museum

Hon. Alan Solomont answering FIU’s students questions From left to right: Javier Pagalday, Ruth Shepard, Hon. Alan Solomont,

Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, Mario Buisan, Dr. Rebecca Friedman

Lecture: US-Spain Relations Today

The Honorable Alan D. Solomont,

US Ambassador to Spain

Through the Lens of the Czech Experience:

The Arab Spring and other Narratives of Transformation

His Excellency Karel Schwarzenberg

The FIU community had the honor and the privilege of hearing about the revolutionary wave of demonstrations in the Middle East know as the “Arab Spring”, through the lens of the Czech experience by a distinguished and inspiring individual. His Excellency Karel Schwarzenberg shared his per-spective on the Arab Spring and on revolutionary movements in general and also reflected on the demonstra-tions and protests that had lead his country of birth to democracy. He ar-ticulated the excitement he felt about the movements in the Middle East and his belief in the power of the peo-ple. Schwarzenberg asserted that non-violent protesting, motivated youth, and innovation and technology, were key in bringing about change. “In Iran,” said Schwarzenberg “a mes-sage changed the masses and now new technologies allow for infor-mation to be exchanged around the world” . He also shared his perspective on Brazil, Indo-China, India, and Russia and more in regards to the race to world power. Schwarzenberg re-marked that China was a “special case” and that its success will lie in the “communist party’s ability to re-form itself”. In regards to Cuba, Schwarzenberg said that there would

soon be a “biological solution [the inevitable death of Fidel Castro] but there will be a lot of work to do. A to-talitarian regime leaves its impres-sions and vestiges on its people. It will take time to change the way of thinking of the people exposed to the-se regimes”. Schwarzenberg has lead an extraor-dinary life and possess a monumental list of accomplishments and achieve-ments. In spite of this, when asked about his achievements in retrospect, Schwarzenberg most humbly told MEUCE, “I never considered myself outstanding. I have had a lot of luck and surprises. If twenty five years ago somebody would have told me when I lived in Austria, that in a few years I would be Chancellor of the President in Prague and one day become the First Deputy Prime Minister and Min-ister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, I would have said that they were perfectly cuckoo”. The event was hosted by the School of International and Public Affairs in collaboration with the MEUCE, the Embassy of the Czech Republic, and Honorary Consulate General of the Czech Republic. A reception was held after the lecture in honor of His Excel-lency Schwarzenberg in the Frost Art Museum.

His Excellency Karel

Schwarzenberg is First Depu-

ty Prime Minister and Minister

of Foreign Affairs of the

Czech Republic. He and his

family were forced to leave his

birthplace in Prague for Aus-

tria when he was only eleven

years old. While in Austria,

Schwarzenberg studied law

and silviculture at the Univer-

sity of Vienna and Graz. He

was also trained at the Uni-

versity of Munich in then West

Germany.

He served as President of the

International Helenski com-

mittee for Human Rights. In

1989, Schwarzenberg received

the Human Rights Award of

the Council of Europe. He was

also able to return to his birth

country. In 1990, Schwarzen-

berg was appointed a member

of President Vaclav Havel’s

Collegium of Counselors and

then Chancellor to President

Havel. He was awarded the

Order of Tomas Garrigue Ma-

saryk 3rd Cass for his out-

standing contributions to the

development of democracy,

humanity and human rights in

2002. Since then, Schwarzen-

berg served as Senator of the

Parliament of the Czech Re-

public, as Minister of Foreign

Affairs, and elected to the

Chamber of Deputies. Dr. Markus Thiel, Dean Nicol Rae , Dean Kenneth Furton, and others at the reception after the lecture.

By Michelle Perez

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 3

Dr. Douglas Wartzok, His Excellency Karel Schwarzenberg, and Dean Kenneth Furton at the reception after the lecture.

Professor of European Economics and Policy at Nottingham Trent Uni-versity in the UK and Jean Monnet Chair in European Economic Stud-ies, Dr. Robert Ackrill, presented a lecture at FIU on creating and sus-taining biofuels markets. The event was sponsored by the MEUCE in collaboration with the European Studies Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies. Dr. Ackrill discussed his work and offered a comparative analysis of policy in the EU, US, and Brazil. He present-ed the FIU community with unique public administrational insights into the complexities of environmental policy integration and the ability to achieve sustainability goals. Ackrill discussed the challenges that come with policy making, policy imple-mentation, and the transferring of policy to other countries. According to Dr. Ackrill, problems of transfer-ring policy included technological, political, and country specific is-sues. He relayed that there “needs to be the capacity to understand

that there will be divergence of poli-cy as implemented then intended” which needs to be taken into con-sideration into the policy making processes.

MEUCE asked Dr. Ackrill about the nature of his research and he re-layed that although the interviewing process was time consuming to say the least, most of the politicians and people he interviewed were very cooperative. When question on the difficulties involved in not only the making and implementation of poli-cies on biofuels but in researching these policies, Ackrill told MEUCE, “It is an ongoing process. It is the shear complexity of this policy and the policy making processes. It is a relative new policy that overlaps a lot of existing policies. In the EU, there will be a lot of discussion be-tween the member states before they put together their legislation. There will be a lot of compromise. It is trying to understand how all the different threads come together to actually create this policy and then maintain the policy and take it for-ward, given that markets change, policies change, and importantly, politicians change.”

Lecture: Creating and Sustaining Biofuels Markets:

A Comparative Analysis of Policy in the EU, US, and Brazil

Dr. Robert Ackrill Professor of European Economics and Policy,

Nottingham Trent University, UK

By Michelle Perez

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 4

From left to right: FIU Student, Dr. Roderick Newmann, Dr. Kenneth Lipartito, and Dr. Mahadev Bhat

From left to right: Dr. Gail Hollander, Dr. Robert Ackrill, and Dr. Rebecca Friedman

The Future of Nuclear Power in a Post‐Fukushima

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 5

From left to right, our panelists: Dr. Jerry Brown, Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve, Consul General of France; Hon. Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, Consul General of Germany; Mark Holt, Energy Specialist, Congressional Research Service,

and Kiichiro Sato, President, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) New York

The disaster in Fukushima shocked not only those in Ja-

pan, but the international community as a whole. Not sur-

prisingly, it also had an effect on the way countries looked

at their policies on nuclear energy. In October, the

MEUCE, Asian Studies Program, and the Global and Soci-

ocultural Studies invited four guest speakers to FIU in or-

der to discuss how the Fukushima catastrophe has impact-

ed policies on nuclear energy in their country. The partici-

pants of the panel, “The Future of Nuclear Power in a Post

‐Fukushima World” consisted of Consul General of

France, Gaël de Maisonneuve, Consul General of Germa-

ny, Hon. Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, Energy Spe-

cialist, Congressional Research Service, Mark Holt, and

Kiichiro Sato, President, Japan External Trade Organiza-

tion (JETRO) New York.

Sato began the presentation by discussing the impact the

disaster has had in Japan. “Japan is clean now” said Sato.

He explained how good leadership and speedy recovery of

infrastructure has lead to the high moral in the country.

New technologies are being researched which he hopes

will bring safer energy possibilities. “Solar energy is most

promising in Japan.”

Holt explained how there had been improvement in emer-

gency procedures, however “the Obama administration

continues to support nuclear power as part of ‘clean ener-

gy. Fukushima did not significantly affect nuclear energy in

the US”. In Germany, “Fukushima has made a huge im-

pact” say Kendeffy. Germany has already close down eight

power plants and plans to be “nuclear free” in eleven

years. It “hopes to contribute to global human health” re-

marked Kendeffy. Maisonneuve went over France’s ener-

gy policies and explained how “France is the world leader

in nuclear energy” .France is the largest exporter of ener-

gy in Europe and has enhanced nuclear safety after Fuku-

shima but will continue to have plants in the country.

By Michelle Perez

From left to right: Mark Holt, Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, and Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve

From left to right:

Dr. Steve Heine, Christy Busch, and Nicole Lindsay

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 6

The Delegation of

the European Com-

mission to the Unit-

ed States in Wash-

ington DC hosts a Nation-wide competition, the Euro

Challenge. The Euro Challenge invites high school 9-

10th grade students who are enrolled in classes that

include global studies, economics, world history/

geography or European studies to participate. The

competition provides an opportunity for students and

teachers to learn about the European Union, its econo-

my, and the euro. In the competition students pick one

member country of the EU in order to examine or apply

its policies to a modern economic problem. The win-

ning team earns cash prizes made possible by The

Moody’s Foundation and paid trips to New York and

Washington D.C. for the final rounds of the competi-

tion.

The Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excel-

lence, FIU, is the main recruiter and organizer in Flori-

da. On October 21st, the FIU MEUCE hosted its the

annual Teachers Orientation in order to coach partici-

pating South Florida teacher in how to successfully

prepare their students for the competition as well as

introduce them to important information about the EU

in general. Teachers from fifteen different high schools

will be participating in this year’s competition. A tele-

phone conference with the Delegation of the European

Commission in Washington D.C. was also held during

the orientation in which Amy Medearis, Senior Econo-

mist for the Delegation, welcomed the teachers and

thanked them for their participation in the competition.

The teachers were also able to introduce themselves

and their schools.

MEUCE Associate Director, Christine I. Caly-Sanchez

gave a PowerPoint presentation and showed a video

on the details and the mission of the Euro Challenge

Competition, along with student testimonials about

their experience. FIU Professor of Political Science and

International Relations, Dr. Markus Thiel then gave an

introductory presentation on the European Union, the

Euro, and the European economy.

The orientation served to educate the teachers not only for their enhancement as mentors for the students par-ticipating in the competition, but as educators of Eu-rope in general. Teachers will be invited back along with their students for the student orientation on De-cember 6th in order to further prepare them for the 2012 Euro Challenge competition

By Michelle Perez

2012 Euro Challenge Teacher Orientation

Euro Challenge competing teachers and Associate Director of the MEUCE, Christine I. Caly-Sanchez

Dr. Markus Thiel with South Florida Euro Challenge Competing Teachers

South Florida high school teachers from Miami-Dade, Broward, and St Lucie counties at the Euro-Challenge Orientation

2012

Euro Challenge Student Orientation

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 7

By Michelle Perez

The Miami-Florida European Union Cen-ter of Excellence welcomed south Florida students and teachers from a different schools representing Miami-Dade and Broward counties for the Euro Challenge student orientation at FIU. The day long event is organized for students who are participating in the 2012 Euro Challenge Competition. The orientation prepares the students for the competition. The most challenging aspect of the competi-tion is that these bright high school stu-dents, in their teams composed of three to five, will suggest solutions to Europe’s most pressing economic problems. A jury of experts ranks the teams on the basis of their presentation, knowledge,

and the ability to answer questions. The orientation began by Dr. Friedman welcoming the students followed by MEUCE’s Christine Caly-Sanchez outlin-ing the details of the competition. She showed a video that not only detailed the rules but also included student and teacher testimonials. Palmetto Senior High School teacher, Daniel Corradino, told student about his experience in the competition. “If you do your research well you are going to learn about economics. My students last year loved it. You have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain” he remarked. Kasper Zeuthen, Senior Press and Me-dia Officer for the Delegation of the Euro-pean Union to the US in Washington D.C, began his presentation by ensuring student that, “This is the year for Florida to take it all the way.” He went on to ex-plain the “never ending Euro Crises” including the way the debt crises has effect the entire European Union and the global market as a whole. Zeuthen ex-plored the complex ways in which the European Union continue to negotiate with its member countries. “We have the longest period of peace in Europe. We don’t call ourselves the United States of Europe. We are a union of countries” said Zeuthen, who had flown in from Washington D.C.

Kasper Zeuthen is the Sen-ior Press and Media Officer for the Delegation of the European Union to the Unit-ed States in Washington, DC. Originally from Danemark, Zeuthen has worked for the Delegation and has served as a judge for the regional and semifi-nal rounds in the Euro Chal-lenge Competition in New York. The MEUCE asked Zeuthen about his experi-

ence with the competition.

MEUCE: How is the Euro Challenge significant and what is its mission? Zeuthen: I usually deal with reporters in my day to day job. This is a real pleasure to go out to see the stu-dents and to experience first hand that their knowledge

and performance is at such high level. I enjoy just see-ing how fun it can be for them and the enjoyment they can have. For me, the best part is the enjoyment of seeing students really getting into a competition. We started this competition with an eye to see the im-portance of financial literacy, especially in today’s world. You only have to open the newspaper to see the dominance of stories of financial crisis and the im-portance of understanding a variety of economic con-cepts such as the GDP, monetary policy and fiscal policy, and other basic terms. And of course we also want to teach about the European Union. We must admit that the European Union is difficult for Europe-ans to understand. Our hope is that through a contest like this, we will facilitate students’ understanding of how our EU works and what the Euro zone is. In addi-tion, we encourage the team-work skills that the stu-dents inevitably develop. I think this is a big part of what the students get of from this competition.

Kasper Zeuthen answering a student’s question

Zeuthen presenting on the “never ending crisis”

By Michelle Perez

Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Kasper Zeuthen, and

Christine I. Caly-Sanchez

Teacher Raphaelle Caneele (at the right) with students of International Studies Charter HS

2012

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October’s roundtable discussion, “Perspectives on the EU Polish Presiden-cy” brought together expert scholars from three universities in order to discuss meanings and share knowledge about the Polish Presidency of the European Union. The event formed part of the Blanka

Rosenstiel Polish Lecture Series. The panel consisted of Dr. Michael Bernhard, Raymond and Miriam Ehr-lich Eminent Scholar Chair of Politi-cal Science at the University of Flori-da ,FIU’s Associate Professor of Pol-itics and International Relations, Dr. Tatiana Kostadinova, and Dr. Jan Kubik, Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Political Science at Rutgers University. The scholars discussed the Europe-an Union, its institutions, and the functions and details of the presiden-cy. Bernhard highlighted problems in the EU especially the crises in the Euro zone and it’s impact on the way Poland would lead. “The Polish pres-idency would be dominated by finan-cial issues.” remarked Bernhard Kostadinova outlined reasons for optimism naming a growing econo-my, energy independence

”Europhilia,” and other fac-tors .“Poland has risen to the occa-sion,” she remarked. Kubik covered topics including the Euro, complexi-ties of energy security, eastern poli-cy, identity issues, and some of the difficulties Poland faces. He dis-cussed

the significance and the benefits of the presidency for both the Europe-an Union and Poland. “The six month Presidency is a good start. Continuity will be extremely im-portant” concluded Kubik.

Blanka Rosenstiel:

Lecture Series on Poland

Roundtable Discussion: Perspectives on the EU Polish Presidency

By Michelle Perez

Students pack room 107 in the Frost Art Museum for the discussion

Our three panelists, from left to right: Dr. Jan Kubik, Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Political Science at Rutgers Universit;y; Dr. Tatiana Kostadinova, Associate Professor of Politics & International Relations, FIU; and Dr. Michael Bernhard, Raymond and Miriam Ehrlich Eminent Scholar Chair of Political Science at the University of Florida

Hon. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel

Honorary Consul of the Republic

of Poland

Our three panelists, from left to right: Dr. Michael Bernhard, Dr. Tatiana Kostadinova, Dr. Jan Kubik

P A G E 9 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

Blanka Rosenstiel:

Lecture Series on Poland

Lecture: Perspectives on the EU Polish Presidency: The Hon. Maciej Pisarski

As part of The Blanka Rosenstiel Polish Lecture Series, the European Studies program in collaboration with the School of International and Public Affairs, The American Institute of Polish Culture, and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Poland, organized a presentation by the Hon-orable Maciej Pisarski on “Poland’s Role in Europe: The Presidency and

Recent Developments.” Pisarski is Deputy Chief of the Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington D.C. and has spent a significant amount of his professional career working on Polish-American relations. Pisarski began by summarizing how Poland came to be part of the Euro-pean Union, and the road to Europe-an integration. “We found ourselves on the wrong side of the Iron curtain. At last, we were given the opportunity to achieve our dreams and join the European community. For Poland, the [the Presidency] is a big deal.” He gave explained some of the major EU institutions and outlined priorities Poland had for the presidency. “We need to stop the crises” said Pisarski, “but we also need to make the market grow again.” Other priorities he dis-cussed were working towards keep-ing Europe secure and expanding the EU in order to foster an open eco-nomic relationship between countries. “I would argue that the new country

are not part of the problem but part of the solution.” remarked Pisarski. In highlighting points like how Poland has the fastest growing economy of the EU, is an important and experi-enced representative for its Eastern Neighborhood, and how it is one of the most Euro-enthusiastic nations, Pisarski expressed optimism for the future of Poland, it’s role as what he said could be “the heart of Europe”, and for the EU in general.

By Michelle Perez

From left to right: Dr. John Stack, Dr. Rebecca Friedman, Beata Paszyc, Hon. Tomas Abreu, Hon. Cami Green Hofstader, Hon. Victoria London, Dr. Nicol Rae, Hon. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel, Hon. Maciej Pisarski, Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, and Paul Landrum

Hon. Maciej Pisarski and Hon. Lady Blanka Rosenstiel

Hon. Maciej Pisarski , Deputy Chief of the Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Washington D.C.

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 1 0

This November, FIU students once again had the exceptional chance to experience French culture right here on campus. “French Week,” which in actuality lasted three weeks, began November 3rd and continued to the 23rd . It featured a multitude of events that celebrate French culture and his-tory through food, art, music, film and more. FIU’s French week was spon-sored by the Modern Languages De-partment, Le Cercle Francais/ Pi Delta Phi, the Astronomy Club, the Council for Students Organizations (CSO), the Frost Art Museum, the Consulate General of France, the France Florida Foundation for the The French Ameri-can Chamber of Commerce of Flori-da, the MEUCE and is also part of the larger city wide “Miami French Week”. According to Dr. Maria Antonieta Garcia, “The mission of the French week for me is to expose the FIU community to as many aspects of French culture, since not everyone can go to France.” Dr. Garcia is Pro-

fessor of French language, the faculty advisor for the both the French Club and honor society, and a main coordi-nator of “French week” at FIU. It is her efforts along with MEUCE’s Chris-tine I. Caly-Sanchez and others of the FIU and French Miami community that make “FIU French Week” a possi-bility. French Week activities began with the Exhibition: Tour de France: Florida and Contemporary Artists. In collaboration with the Consulate Gen-eral of France and the France-Florida Foundation for the Arts, the exhibition featured works by renowned contem-porary French Artists from private collections presented to the public for the first time. Some artists included in the exhibition were; Christian Boltan-ski, Sophie Calle, Annette Messager and Bernar Venet. A VIP reception for the exhibition took place in which the His Excellency Francois Delattre, Am-bassador of France in Washington D.C. was an honored guest. (Continued on page 11)

Dr. Carol Damian, Director and Curator of The Patricia

and Phillip Frost Art Museum, relays that the museum

was pleased and honored to have hosted the exhibits for

French Week as well as other events that expose FIU

students to European and international culture. “Our

mission at the Frost is to be a University Museum” says

Damian. “Our students come first. We try to expose our

students to the Museum by holding classes from different

disciplines, student exhibits, professional exhibits, work-

shops, artist presentations and other educational opportu-

nities that enhance the quality of a cultural life. The ex-

hibit schedule is always as international and global as our

University. We try to look for exhibits that are global and

speak to a global society.”

French Student Artists Jorge Fernandez and Andrea Lahoz With Dr. Maria Antonietta Garcia at the exhibition “Voyagers” in the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum Atrium

Master pieces of Artist Orlan

Master piece of Artist Claude Viallat

Dr. Carol Damian and Consul General of France Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve,

French Ambassador François Delattre and Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, Associate Director,

MEUCE, FIU

Christine I. Caly-Sanchez, Mrs. de Maisonneuve, French Ambassador François Delattre, Hon. Gaël de Maisonneuve and guest

French Week at FIU

French Week Cont.

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The Frost Museum was also the venue where a French student exhibition was held that featured the oil paintings by Jorge Fernandez and photography of Andrea Lahoz inspired by their travels around the globe. Destinations visited by Fernandez and Lahoz included London, Venice, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Vietnam, and Japan.

Additionally, French Week at FIU featured different French film screen-ings which included discussions and analysis by several presenters. French Week provided students with opportunities to attend interactive lectures where they participated in quizzes about French culture along with a variety of other French cultural awareness activities for students to choose from. There was even a star-gazing party, “Le Petit Prince,” held in collaboration with the Astronomy Club at FIU’s Astropad.

A scrumptious highlight of the week was definitely, Chef Bob Gilardi sharing his expertise in making

French dishes at the Cooking Class: “A Taste of France”. Students not only learned the secrets to cooking typical French cuisine but were also invited to taste the delicious food for themselves. Finally, French week ended with an information panel, “How and Where to Study in France.” The MEUCE, in collabora-tion with the Consulate General of France in Miami, CAMPUS France, the Modern Languages Department, Le Cercle Français & Pi Delta Phi, organized the final event with a valu-able presentation given by Camille Trzaska from Campus France. Stu-dents were able to hear about the benefits of studying in France, the various educational and financial programs available, applying for a student visas, and other pertinent technicalities. In short, FIU’s French Week was once again successful in its goals of fostering French cultural immersion.

By Michelle Perez

FIU students at “Le Petit Prince” Stargazing Party

French Week Nov. 9-23

Wednesday, Nov. 9 – March 18, 2012 FIU, MMC - Frost Art Museum Exhibition: “Tour de France/Florida: Contemporary Artists from France in Florida’s Private Collections” In collaboration with the Consulate General of France Cultural Services and the France Florida Foundation for the Arts. Thursday, Nov. 10│ 2:00pm - 3:00pm FIU, MMC - Graham Center—GC 343 French Video Analysis of: “Chansons Françaises” Thursday, Nov. 10│ 3:30pm - 4:30pm FIU, MMC - Graham Center—GC 343 French Lecture Series: “A Year with the French” Monday, Nov. 14│ 01:00pm - 3:00pm FIU, MMC - Graham Center—GC 140 European Film Screening French Film Series: “La vie au ranch” Tuesday, Nov. 15│ 12:00pm - 1:00pm FIU, MMC - Graham Center—GC 314 French Lecture and Quizz: “Cultural Awareness Day: France!” Tuesday, Nov. 15│ 7:30pm FIU, MMC - FIU Astropad Le Petit Prince Stargazing Party Wednesday, Nov. 16│ 12:00– 2:00pm FIU, MMC - Frost Art Museum—Atrium Exhibition: “Voyageurs” Thursday, Nov. 17│ 3:30– 6:00pm FIU, MMC - Green Library—GL 220 Exhibition: “The Mendjeli Collection” Tuesday, Nov. 15│ 12:00pm - 1:00pm FIU, MMC - Graham Center—GC 314 Cooking Class: “A Taste of France” Monday, Nov. 23│ 11:00– 12:00pm FIU, MMC - Green Library—GL 220 Presentation: “Campus France

Chefs pictured showing off their cooking skills in in French cuisine on the right and Students enjoying the delicious French food on the left at the event “Cooking Class: ‘A Taste of France”

FIU Student Artist Jorge Fernandez featuring oil painting: Notre Dame de Paris

Campus France ‘s Camille Trzaska and FIU students

P A G E 1 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1

European Union’s Role in the Mediterranean

and its Eastern Neighborhood

University of Miami students had the privilege of hear-ing about the European Union’s role and relationship in both the East and the South by having two speakers visit their class for what Dr. Roy called a special “double feature.” Dina Moulioukova explained the Eastern partnership and Eastern Neighborhood policies and highlighted how the EU’s complex relationship to the different countries of the east demonstrates the “flexibility of the EU as an international actor.” Dr. Astrid Boening high-lighted how the “Southern Neighborhood” involves an active engagement between the EU and its neighbors.

She explained how stability depended on the rein-forcement of a political and security dialogue, the con-struction of a zone of shared prosperity through an economic and financial partnership, the gradual estab-lishment of a free-trade area and the rapprochement between peoples through a social, cultural, and human partnership aimed at encouraging understanding be-tween cultures and exchanges between civil society. Boening stressed that “a new approach should be im-plemented based on mutual accountability and a shared commitment to the universal values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law”.

Dr. Astrid B. Boening received her MA in International Studies at FIU in 2006 and her PhD, University of Miami in 2009. Dr. Boening has studied international economics at the Rome campus of Georgetown University and Latin American economics and marketing in Costa Rica, Chile and Brazil through George Washington University. She has worked

extensively on all continents for several MNC’s in the telecommu-nications, air transport and finance fields. Boening has published several articles on EU security and the EU policy in the Mediter-ranean. She was an EU Center/Jean Monnet Chair Postdoctoral Fellow from 2010 to 2011 . She is now Associate Researcher and coordinator of the EUMED Observatory of the University of Miami European Union Center/Jean Monnet Chair at the Univer-sity of Miami.

Dina Moulioukova is a PhD candidate in International Relations at the University of Miami. She was born in Russia and re-ceived her undergraduate degree in Law from Kazan State University there. She also holds an LL.M. in European Union Law from the University of Cambridge, England, as

well as LL.M. in International Trade and Business Law from the University of Arizona. Her research interests include EU foreign policy and the EU‐Russian relations. Energy policy, and eco-nomic and political integration on post-Soviet space. She is cur-rently involved in US Library of Congress and US Agency for International Development (USAID) projects for the CIS coun-tries. For a number of years she represented the interests of a multinational agency in Eurasia. Moulioukova currently works as a research assistant at the European Union Center at the Univer-sity of Miami and coordinator of the EU East Observatory.

By: Michelle Perez

This November, students packed the Conference room in the Graham Center and even resorted to sitting on the floor, on behalf of the elev-enth annual Women, Sexuality, and Gender Studies Association (WSGSA) Conference. Once again,

WSGSA provided a rich public space for knowledge and discussion to be shared by students, faculty, and oth-ers of the FIU and Miami community. Students presented their work and learned about gender and sexuality studies from a multitude of disci-plines that covered many different regions, including Europe. The conference was a day long event and featured panel discus-sions on a wide array of topics in-cluding: gender and music, struggle and politics, visualization of gender performance, sexuality performance, and more. Posters and paintings on topics of gender and sexuality were also on display at the conference. The Keynote Panel comprised of Dr.

Aurora G. Morcillo, Professor of Spanish History and Women’s Stud-ies, Dr. Jason Ritchie professor of and Founding Director School of Integrated Science & Humanity, and Professor of Psychology and Wom-en's Studies Dr. Suzanna Rose. The panelist discussed many issues per-taining to this year’s topic, “Power, Politics, and Performance,” including activism, forms and definitions of power relations, and the need for new understandings and paradigms in order to tackle contemporary is-sues.

For more information on WSGSA, how to join,

or how to participate in next year’s confer-

ence, please visit: http://www2.fiu.edu/~wsgsa/

11th Annual Women, Sexuality, and Gender Studies

Conference: Power, Politics and Performance

Keynote Panel: Dr. Suzanna Rose, Dr. Jason Ritchie,

and Dr. Aurora G. Morcillo

By: Michelle Perez

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 P A G E 1 3

The Euro crisis is one of the hottest topics in the contemporary political imagination, not only for Europe but for most of the globe. On the last

day of November, The Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excel-lence, The European Studies Pro-gram, and The Department of Poli-tics and International Relations of-fered students, faculty, and others of the Miami community, a deeper un-derstanding of the critical topic and by hosting a roundtable discussion: “Perspectives on the Euro Crises”. Dr. Felix Martin, Associate Professor

and Director of Graduate Studies in

International Relations and Politics

at FIU, began the panel discussion

with a brief introduction of the Euro

zone and outlined three layers of the

problem contributing to the Crises.

These were changes in govern-

ments, expansion of the EU, and the

global financial problems at large.

Martin asserted that, “at the core of

the political and economic problems,

is that leaders want to be leaders

and want to be reelected. The econ-

omy has its cycles. There are good

times and bad times. Politicians want

the good times all of the time. This

creates tensions between politicians

and the economy.”

EU Center Fellow and Lecturer for

University of Miami Depts. of Inter-

national Studies and Economics. Dr.

Maria Lorca-Susino, gave an over-

view on the situation in Greece. She

explained the “bailouts” given to the

country, and discussed countries

that have also received money or

that were in similar situations. Lorca-

Susino also highlighted some prob-

lems attributing to the crises includ-

ing; trust issues between European

banks and what she called, “the Eu-

ropean liquidity crunch.”

Next, Assistant Professor of Politics

and International Relations, Dr.

Markus Thiel, discussed the political

repercussions of the Euro-Crises for

the European Union. Thiel explained

the political and social upheaval cau-

sed by the Euro crises in the GIIPS

countries and highlighted what he

thought to be the best and worst ca-

se outcomes of the crises. The best

case being improved budgetary sur-

veillance and an increased role of

the ECB as a lender. The worst case

would be that the overly indebted

countries leave the Euro zone resul-

ting in the break up of the EU and

possibly a world-wide recession.

Finally, Dr. Jin Zeng,Assistant Pro-fessor of Politics and International Relations at FIU, discussed the im-pact of the Euro crises on China. Zeng gave an overview on the nega-tive effects the Euro crises is having on Chinese markets and the social unrest it is causing within the coun-try. In spite of this, the fact that the average worker in Greece makes ten times more than the average Chi-nese worker and not even the Ger-mans are coming to the rescue make the Chine question why it is that they should have to bail them out. Zeng ended by suggesting that the Chinese will most likely look into buying European rails and factories rather than bailing them out.

MEUCE Roundtable: Perspectives on the Euro Crisis

From left to right: Dr. Felix Martin, Dr. Markus Thiel, Dr. Jin Zeng, and Dr. Rebecca Friedman

Dr. Maria Lorca-Susino, Dr. Markus Thiel, Dr. Rebecca Friedman, and Dr. Jin Zeng By Michelle Perez

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 1 P A G E 1 4

Florida International University Modesto A. Maidique Campus 11200 SW 8th Street, SIPA 508 Miami, FL 33199

Dr. Rebecca Friedman

Co-Director, MEUCE E-mail: friedmar@fiu.edu

Christine I. Caly-Sanchez

Associate Director, MEUCE Phone: (305) 348-5949 Fax: (305) 348-6562 E-mail: calyc@fiu.edu Web: miamieuc.fiu.edu

University of Miami 101-301 Ferré Building Coral Gables, FL 33146-3010

Dr. Joaquín Roy

Co-Director, MEUCE E-mail: jroy@miami.edu

Astrid Boening Associate Director, MEUCE E-mail: astridboening1@aol.com Phone: (305) 284-3266 Fax: (305) 284-4406 http://www6.miami.edu/eucenter

Jan. 17 Lecture on Immigrant Religion in the EU: From Refuge to Recognition by

Dr. Martin Baumann, Professor for the Study of Religions, University of Lucerne, Swit-

zerland

Jan. 24 Lecture on the future prospect of Germany as part of the West

by Henryk K. Broder, German Journalist and Author

Jan. 31 Lecture on Cooperation and Confrontation: Unions and the Government

in Spain during the Economic Crisis? Dr. Kerstin Hamann, Professor & Chair; Vice President, American Political Science

Association, Dept. of Political Science, University of Central Florida

Feb. 8 Lecture on the UK, the Eurozone and the world crisis by Hon. Kevin McGurgan, HM Consul-General for Florida, Puerto Rico and the US

Virgin Islands—British Consulate General

Feb. 22 Lecture on the Geo-Politics of Energy in Ukraine and the former states of

the Soviet Union by Dr. Oleksandr Sukhodolia, Fullbright Visiting Scholar at the

George Washington University

March 8-9 MEUCE Conference: National Identities in a Global Europe

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Contact the Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence

For details please visit: miamieuc.fiu.edu - Events

or contact Christine I. Caly-Sanchez at MEUCE at FIU

S O M E O F O U R U P C O M I N G 2 0 1 2 E V E N T S

The Miami-Florida European Union Center of Excellence team

wishes you and yours Happy Holidays and a great and prosperous New Year!