EU Studies Days at History Faculty of Irkutsk State University

From 24 to 27 of March, 2017 the regional seminar "Actual Problems of EU Studies in Siberia" was held at History Faculty of Irkutsk State University in the framework of the 11th Baikal International Social and Humanitarian Readings. The seminar was organized by Fernand Braudel Center for International and European Studies, the Department of Political Science, History and Regional Studies and the Department of World History and International Relations of ISU.

The seminar started its work on 24 of March. A round table on future relations between the EU, the US and Russia after the election of Donald Trump was held on this day in the Public Policy Club, where Professors of Tomsk State University (Department of World Politics) Larisa Deriglazova and Sergey Miroshnikov were the key speakers. The head of Public Policy Club Pavel Stepanov moderated the discussion. The debate drew attention of students and public representatives and lasted more than two hours.

The main session of the seminar was held on March 25. The Vice-rector for scientific work and international relations, Professor Alexander Schmidt; the Dean of History faculty, Professor Yuri Zulyar and the Director of Fernand Braudel Center for International and European Studies Lyudmila Igumnova addressed seminar participants with opening remarks. Professors A. Schmidt and Y. Zulyar stressed the natural combination of research and educational components in the seminar program. Prof. Y. Zulyar noted that scientific world helps to create the atmosphere of confidence much needed in the conditions of political uncertainty. The Vice-consul and the Second Secretary of the Republic of Poland Consulate General in Irkutsk Agnieszka Kotsaba took part in the seminar.

The guests of the seminar from Tomsk State University - Larisa Deriglazova (Director of Jean Monnet Center for Excellence) and Sergey Miroshnikov (Director of the Center for International Organizations and Network Structures Studies) shared their practical experience and research ideas during the plenary session "Europe and the European Union: Problems of Research and Teaching". Further work of the seminar was organized around three sections: "Foreign Policy and International Cooperation of the European Union", "Relations between the European Union and Russia" and "The European Union and Internal Problems of the Member States".

On March 27 Professors L. Deryoglazova and S. Miroshnikov gave open lectures for students of History faculty.