Open Class European Union: Crises, Sovereignty and Political Contestation

The event’s main objective is to promote a critical and informed reflection on the evolution of the European project over the 40 years of Portugal’s membership in the European Union, assessing its political, social and institutional impacts in the national context. It aims to provide a debate space that allows participants to understand the main transformations in European governance, as well as the contemporary challenges facing the European Union in a context marked by successive crises and growing tensions surrounding national sovereignty.

The event aims to:

• Analyse the impact of recent European crises on Portugal, with particular attention to their political, social and institutional consequences;
• Discuss the tension between national sovereignty and European governance within a framework of deepened integration;
• Examine the dynamics of political contestation of the European project, including the rise of Euroscepticism and the challenges posed to the democratic legitimacy of the European Union;
• Reflect on the role of pro-European and transnational parties in renewing European political discourse and in responding to the limits of the current integration model;
• Contribute to the development of critical thinking, European political literacy and informed civic participation among students.

The event is open to all students of the institution, but is particularly relevant for students in the fields of European Studies, Political Science, International Relations and related areas. It is also intended for students interested in the dynamics of European integration, multi-level governance, and contemporary European politics, as well as lecturers, researchers, and other members of the academic community who work on or are interested in these topics.