We are delighted to be joined by Professor Julie Smith, Baroness Smith of Newnham, to discuss how the barriers to closer UK-EU relations can be overcome.
This in-person talk will be held in the meeting room of Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House, 12 Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BA on Thursday 8th February 2024.
Doors open at 6.10 PM, and the talk will begin at 6.30 PM.
Tickets cost £3 at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/overcoming-barriers-to-closer-uk-eu-relations-professor-julie-smith-tickets-801713595947
The talk will be followed by an audience Q&A.
About this talk
2024 is a crucial year for the EU as it looks towards elections to the European Parliament in June and the five-yearly change of key positions including the Presidents of the European Commission and European Council. Alongside the prospect of a new government in the UK, perhaps now is the time to look again at the UK’s relations with the EU.
The European question finally seems to have dropped of the radar of British politics. Domestic issues or international crises have replaced UK-EU relations at the top of most people’s newsfeed. Yet, many of those salient issues are best tackled by closer cooperation between the UK and her European neighbours. Now is the time to re-assess how we can work together, exploring areas of common interest, not least in the field of security where war in Ukraine and a Middle East crisis demonstrate the need for multilateral solutions.
About Professor Julie Smith
Professor Julie Smith is Professor of European Politics in the Department of Politics and European Studies at Cambridge University and Fellow in Politics at Robinson College, Cambridge. As Baroness Smith of Newnham, she is the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Defence in the House of Lords. Previously she was Head of the European Programme at Chatham House.
Julie’s research centres on the history and politics of the European Union, with particular reference to democracy in Europe, and to the UK’s relations with the EU (past and present). Her publications include, as editor and contributor, ‘The Palgrave Handbook on European Referendums’ (2021) and ‘The UK’s Journeys into and out of the EU – Destinations Unknown’ (2017).
