Hierbij enkele bijeenkomsten in Europa georganiseerd worden door instanties die of zelf libertarisch zijn, of er nauwe samenwerking mee hebben.
Brussels, November 22nd: Slovak Economic Reforms – CNE
Slovakia has blazed the way for market-oriented reform in Europe in recent years, instituting flat-rates of personal and corporate taxation, and introducing private savings accounts into the national pension system. Yet much of this reform remains misunderstood.
The Centre for the New Europe (CNE – http://www.cne.org) will host a Parliamentary Assistants’ Forum for Dr. Martin Stefunko of the University of Bratislava. Dr Stefunko will give a general overview of Slovakia, both prior to and following the reforms, before examining the most important reforms in the areas of tax, healthcare and pensions.
The forum will be held at the CNE offices (23, rue de Luxembourg, 1000 Brussels) on Monday 22 November at 7 p.m. Space is limited. Please RSVP to cecile.philippe@cne.org
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Rome, November 23rd: The Protectionist Myth – Istituto Bruno Leoni
The Istituto Bruno Leoni is hosting a public conference on the ‘Protectionist Myth’ and the ideology of the ‘national champion’. Featuring the former Prime Minister of Estonia, Mart Laar, and Professor Pascal Salin of the Université Paris-Dauphine, the conference will attempt to debunk the myth that supporting national champions is in a nation’s strategic and economic interests.
The conference will be chaired by Alberto Mingardi, Director of the Istituto Bruno Leoni, and will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Hotel Nazionale (Piazza Montecitorio) on November 23rd. RSVP to info@brunoleoni.it
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Brussels, November 24th: ‘Europe, your future, your constitution’ – Ludwig von Mises Institute & the Friedrich Naumann Foundation
Following the signing of the European Constitutional Treaty in Rome last week, the LVMI and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation are jointly organising a conference to examine the contents and consequences of the treaty. With ten or so referenda set to decide its ultimate ratification, certain elements of the text bear re-examination, including ‘service in the general interest’, the separation of powers, a potential second chamber in the European Parliament, policies of ’tax harmonisation’ and the notion of ‘fundamental rights.
Speakers at the conference will include Annette Godart-van der Kroon, President of the LVMI, Barbara Lamprechter, Secretary-General of the Hayek Institute in Vienna, Craig Winneker, Editor of TechCentralStation Europe, and William Echikson, Director of Dow Jones, Brussels.
The conference will be held at the Club de la Foundation Universitaire (11 Rue d’Egmontstraat, Brussels) from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on November 24th. The cost of attendance is 30 euros.
For more information or to RSVP, contact annette.godart@vonmisesinstitute-europe.org
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London, November 29th: The Impact of Climate Change – IPN
Many have suggested that, as a result of global warming, sea levels may rise, creating problems for low-lying coastal areas like the UK; vector-borne diseases will spread to regions which were previously unaffected; and heat waves will cause increased human mortality. Such ‘climate impacts’ are often invoked as a justification for precautionary policies to mitigate humanity’s influence on the earth’s climate.
IPN is pleased to launch a new report on these issues – The impacts of Climate Change: An appraisal for the future (published November 2004). The authors of this text, Professor William Keatinge, Emeritus Professor at the Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, Professor Nils-Axel Mörner, Director of the Paleogeophysics and Geodynamics Department at Stockholm University, and Professor Paul Reiter, Director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, will share their knowledge about the relationship between climate change, sea level change, vector-borne disease and human health.
The launch will take place at the IPN offices (3rd Floor, Bedford Chambers, The Piazza, Covent Garden, London WC2E 8HA) on Monday 29 November from 6 p.m. RSVP to stephanie@policynetwork.net
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London, November 30th: ‘A Nanny State is better than a Neglectful one’ – Westminster Fringe Debate
Smacking, smoking, eating junk food, fox-hunting, and drinking: these are all issues where the Government has recently aimed to legislate or made public statements about the need for state action. But how far should private behaviour be public property? Is Britain becoming a Nanny State, too involved in bossing people around or, as traditional forms of authority break down, do we need the state to take greater charge of our social problems?
In the first of a new series of Stockholm Network/Economist debates, a panel of experts including Clive Crook, the Deputy Editor of the Economist, David Willetts MP, Niall Dickson, Director of the Kings Fund, Dr Evan Harris MP, and Rick Nye, Director of Populus, will debate whether Britain is becoming a nanny state. Libby Purves, columnist for The Times, will be in the chair.
The debate takes place on 30 November, 6 (for 6.30) – 8.30pm, at One Great George St, London SW1 (closest tubes, St James Park and Westminster).
To request an invitation, please email sacha@stockholm-network.org
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London, November 30th: ‘Security in a Borderless World’
Reform – Identity Cards
Libertarians, those who believe in limited government and many conservatives instinctively oppose the idea of compulsory identity cards. But is there a case for them in the world post-911, and when managing both our borders and access to public services are issues of increasing concern?
Reform will explore the issue in a seminar at 12.45 pm on Tuesday 30 November. Speakers will include the Shadow Home Secretary David Davis and Mark Littlewood, national co-ordinator of the “NO2ID” campaign. (Venue: TBC)
For more information, or to RSVP, contact katy.turner@reform.co.uk
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London, December 3rd: ‘Mises, Hayek and the Socialist Calculation Debate’ – Guest lecture by Gene Callahan at the LSE
Gene Callahan, author of Economics for Real People, which introduces Austrian School economics, will deliver a special lecture on the Austrians and the socialist calculation debate.
The event will take place on 3 December 2004. 6.30pm LSE. Room A283 (Old Building). Tickets not required.
