The Impact of the European Union on Democratic Consolidation in Eastern Europe in cooperation with:
Studienhaus Wiesneck.
Institut fьr politische Bildung Baden-Wьrttemberg Seminar fьr Wissenschaftliche Politik der Albert-Ludwigs-Universitдt Freiburg
Alfred Toepfer Stiftung
Europainstitut Basel
Landeszentrale fьr politische Bildung, AuЯenstelle Freiburg Arnold
Bergstraesser Institut Institut fьr Forst- und Umweltpolitik der Albert-Ludwigs-Universitдt Freiburg
Freiburger Forschungsgruppe Europa (FFE)

The aim of this conference is to encourage interdisciplinary academic debate and an exchange of ideas between young researchers in the fields of politics, economics, European studies and sociology on the role of the EU in Eastern Europe. Furthermore we want to build an international network of young researchers from Eastern Europe and researchers from central EU countries. We encourage graduate students and researchers from across Europe, especially researchers from Eastern Europe and graduates with alternative perspectives towards the EU, to contribute papers and to participate in the discussion panels. Each panel will include approximately 3 to 4 papers. Discussion topics include, but are not limited to:

. The impact of the EU on democratic consolidation in new or emerging developing countries in the process of democratic consolidation
. Negotiations, strategies and instruments used by the EU
. Fields and areas of democratisation
- Rule of law and justice - Economy - Institution-building - Rights of minorities
. Internal structures relevant for the democratisation process- Parties - Civil society - Political culture
. Perception and legitimacy of the EU
- Critical voices of European integration
. Migration policies
. Environmental issues
One of the panels concerns the EU critical view on the EU from within: Switzerland and Norway. This panel is connected to an academic study trip to Europainstitut Basel.

The working language of the conference is English. The revised conference papers are to be published in an edited volume. Fee: 70 Euro (including food, accommodation and insurance) Please contact us for additional information.
Important dates:
- Deadline for registration is June 15, 2008
- Successful applicants will be notified by June 30, 2008.
Participants: To establish an atmosphere more open to dialogue, we will limit the number of participants to 20.
To register, please send us an E-Mail toanitta.orzan@politik.uni-freiburg.dewith:
- An abstract of max. 250 words
- Short CV (max. 1 page)
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.