Event

EFD EVENTS 2008

01.01.2008 - 30.09.2008

In 2008, EFD fellows participated in over 70 events throughout Europe.

January

  • Luncheon discussion: "How liberal democracies should address radical Islamism", hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Washington, DC 18 January 2008 (Alexander Ritzmann)
  • Speaking event and screening of Faith Without Fear documentary, Frontline Club, 21 January 2008, London (Irshad Manji)
  • Briefings of senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interiors and Justice, Paris 23-24 January 2008 (Irshad Manji – Roberta Bonazzi)
  • Panel discussion: Religious extremism, hosted by the French Coordination for the European Women's Lobby, Paris 24 January
  • University Lecture: Faith and Islam at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, 25 January 2008 (Irshad Manji)

February

  • Organised conference Democratic Reforms in Armenia in an Evolving Geopolitical Context, Yerevan, Armenia, 8 February 2008
  • Panel discussion on “Islam and its taboos”. Hosted by Andrea Sanke of France 24 New York, 11 February 2008 (Irshad Manji)
  • Co-hosted with a Member of the European Parliament panel discussion on “Violent Radicalisation in Europe: The cases of the United Kingdom and Germany”, Brussels 12 February 2008.  Alexander Ritzmann was one of the panellists.
  • Briefings of Members of the European Parliament, European diplomats, officials of the European Commission, and the EU Counter-terrorism coordinator on al-Manar and on Hezbollah, Brussels, 12-14 February 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Alexander Ritzmann – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Participation as speakers in European Security Conference, 20 – 21 February 2008 (Irshad Manji – Walid Phares)
  • Policy Briefing on “Empowerment of Muslim women: Opportunities and Challenges.” Hosted by the European Policy Center, Brussels, 22 February 2008 (Irshad Manji)
  • Briefings at French Ministry of the Interior with Head of Counter-terrorism Unit and officials from the Department of Integration. Paris, 21-22 February 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Advocacy briefing on Hezbollah and al-Manar at the Permanent Representations of Germany and Romania to the EU.  Brussels, 22 February 2008 (Walid Phares – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefing with EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator and with Advisor to Javier Solana on Political Islam at the Council of the European Union.  Brussels 23 February 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Presentation and policy briefing on Hezbollah and al-Manar European Commission officials (Desk Officers for Lebanon, Egypt, Mashreq countries, Euromed). Brussels 23 February 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefings on Lebanon, Iran, Hezbollah and terrorism to cabinet and advisors to Belgian Foreign Minister. Brussels, 23 February 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi)
  • March
  • European Parliament event, presentation of the latest book by Dr Phares, "The Confrontation". Event hosted by Jana Hybaskova MEP.  Brussels, 3 March 2008
  • Policy briefing and presentation at Belgian think tank Egmont-Institut Royal des Relations Internationales. Brussels March 2008 (Walid Phares – Astrid Coeurderoy)
  • Briefing with the staff of the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (IFRI) / French Institute of International Relations. Brussels/Paris, March 2006 (Walid Phares – Astrid Coeurderoy)
  • Policy briefing and presentation at think tank European Policy Centre. Brussels, March 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi – Astrid Coeurderoy)
  • Presentation on Lebanon, Hezbollah, and al-Manar at Permanent Representations of Spain, United Kingdom and Bulgaria to the EU. Brussels, March 2008 (Walid Phares – Astrid Coeurderoy)
  • European Parliament briefings with targeted MEPs and officials in charge of counter terrorism policies. Brussels, March 2008 (Walid Phares – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefing with the head of Belgian Federal Police and other advisors. Brussels, March 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi)

April

  • Presentation on al-Manar to European Commission (desks officers for Egypt, Lebanon, PA, Euromed countries).  Brussels, April 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Al-Manar briefings with diplomats from the Bulgarian and Spanish Permanent Representations to the EU. Brussels, 11-12 April 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Meetings with diplomatic representations and NGOs in Geneva during PrepCom of Durban Review Conference. Geneva, 22-25 April 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi)
  • Exploratory discussions with members of European Parliament for organising human rights event on Iran. Brussels, April 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi)

May

  • EFD invited Daniel Kimmage, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and hosted closed-door briefing on Al-Qaeda’s communication strategy for European diplomats.  Brussels, 12 May 2008
  • Policy briefings on Hezbollah threat in Germany with German Interior Ministry, Department Counter-Terrorism and International Cooperation (Alexander Ritzmann)
  • Briefing and exchange of views on possible joint projects on Iran with Hanns-Seidel Foundation. Brussels, 13 May 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Follow-up meeting and additional briefing on al-Manar with counter-terrorism expert at Permanent Representation to the EU. Brussels, 16 May 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)

June

  • Presentation on al-Manar with new Bulgarian member of the European Parliament.  Brussels, 5 June 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Speech on “The Iranian Nuclear Programme” at event hosted by B’nai-B’rith Munich. Munich, 2 June 2008 (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
  • Speech on “Discrimination of the Baha'i in Iran” at conference hosted by the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University.  Bonn, June 5, 2008  (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
  • Public Diplomacy Seminar for Afghan Ambassadors organised and implemented by EFD.  Brussels, 8-10 June 2008
  • Presentation on “The Rule of Political Islam in Iran as a New Form of Totalitarianism”. Event hosted by “Sächsische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung“ (think tank of the German Federal State Saxony). Dresden, 12 June 2008. (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
  • Lecture on “Women as the Key to Reforming the Muslim World” at the top German foreign policy think tank, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). Berlin, 10-13 June 2008 (Irshad Manji)
  • Media briefing with German journalists.  Berlin, 10 June 2008 (Irshad Manji – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefings at the German Ministry of Interior with high officials from the Directorate “Intercultural Dialogue and Germany’s Islam Conference”.  Berlin 11 June 2008 (Irshad Manji - Roberta Bonazzi - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefings at the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs with high officials from the Directorate “Culture and Communication”. Berlin, 11 June 2008 (Irshad Manji - Roberta Bonazzi - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Keynote speaker at conference on “Women Power in Islam: Feminist orientations and strategies for the 21st Century” hosted by Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES). Cologne, Germany 12 June 2008 (Irshad Manji)
  • Briefings on integration of Muslim youth at the German Ministry of Interiors with the head of the Directorate for Integration. Berlin 13 June 2008 (Irshad Manji - Roberta Bonazzi - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Speech on "Political Islam in Iran and the Structures of Totalitarian Rule" at event hosted by the Georg-Weerth Society.  Cologne, Germany, 17 June 2008 (Wahied Wahdat-Hagh)
  • Lecture on “The Future of Salafi Jihadi Terrorism” hosted by the Italian Institute of International Affairs, a think tank connected to the Foreign Ministry. Rome, 23 June 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Briefing on Iran, Lebanon and Hezbollah with the Director General in charge of Meddle East and Mediterranean at the Italian Foreign Ministry. Rome, 23 June 2008, (Walid Phares - Roberta Bonazzi - Giordana Grego)
  • Keynote speaker at public event hosted by the European Policy Centre on “Radicalisation of Muslim youth: a self-fulfilling prophecy?”. Brussels, 25 June 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Policy briefings on Lebanon and on the need to support democratic forces of the Middle East, with key parliamentary officials from the Mediterranean and Middle East Unit of several political groups. Brussels, 26 June 2008 (Walid Phares – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Policy briefings with German Interior Ministry, Department Counter-Terrorism and International Cooperation (Walid Phares – Alexander Ritzmann - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefing with Members of the Bundestag in charge of security and counter terrorism.  Berlin, 26 June 2008 (Walid Phares - Alexander Ritzmann – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefing on counter-terrorism with a focus on Hezbollah with Secretary of State at the German Ministry of Interiors and with his senior staff. Berlin, 27 June 2008 (Walid Phares – Alexander Ritzmann - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefings at the Interior Ministry with officials in charge of Intercultural Dialogue and the German Conference on Islam. Berlin, 27 June 2008 (Walid Phares - Alexander Ritzmann - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Policy briefings on security and counter-terrorism with Members of the Bundestag. Berlin, 27 June 2008 (Walid Phares - Alexander Ritzmann – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefing with European Commission officials in charge of writing policy recommendations in the field of immigration.  Brussels, 30 June 2008 (Walid Phares - Astrid Coeurderoy)
  • Policy briefings on counter-terrorism at the Permanent Representations to the EU for Poland, Slovakia and Luxembourg. Brussels, 30 June 2008 (Walid Phares – Astrid Coeurderoy)

July

  • Lecture on “US policy towards Jihadist movements after the US elections” at event hosted by French think tank IFRI.   Brussels, 1 July 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Follow-up policy briefing with Ambassador of Romania to the EU. Brussels, 1 July 2008 (Walid Phares - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Briefings on counter-terrorism with the Permanent Representation to the EU of the Czech republic and of Estonia. Brussels, 1 July 2008 (Walid Phares - Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Speech on “Stepping up the fight against terrorism: democracy’s worst enemy” at conference hosted by EPP-ED Group of the European Parliament.  Paris, 2 July 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Keynote speaker at public event hosted by the Henry Jackson Society. London, 7 July 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Briefings on terrorist strategies at the House of Lords with Shadow Minister for Security. London, 7 July 2008 (Walid Phares - Roberta Bonazzi)
  • Policy briefings British Home Office, Research, Information and Communications Unit (RICU). London, 8 July 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi)
  • Briefings with the Preventing Extremism Division, Communities and Local Government, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Home Office

August

  • Briefings with European Commission officials on defining a plan for removing Hamas’ TV Al-Aqsa from European satellites.  Brussels, 29 August 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)

September

  • Meeting with cabinet of Belgian Media Minister to discuss action again Al-Aqsa and Al-Manar. Brussels, 12 September 2008 (Roberta Bonazzi – Daniel Trautvetter)
  • Meetings with EU Counter-terrorism representatives (Sweden-Czech Republic). Brussels, 15 September 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Closed-door briefing hosted by EFD for European diplomats on the situation in Lebanon, the threat of Iran and the role of terrorist groups such as Hezbollah. Brussels, 15 September 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Lecture on “Jihadist Strategies against Europe: background, projections and options” at event co-hosted by EFD and the Prague Security Studies Institute.  Prague, 16 September 2008
  • Speech at event on the “Role of Religions at the UN Human Rights Council”. Geneva, 17 September 2008.  (Walid Phares)
  • Targeted briefings with European Ambassadors to the United Nations. Geneva, 17 September 2008 (Walid Phares – Roberta Bonazzi)
  • Keynote speech at annual European conference of the EPP-ED group of the European Parliament.  Fiuggi, Italy, 19 September 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Lecture on “Jihadist strategies against France” at the Ecole Militaire of the French Ministry of Defense. The event was jointly sponsored by EFD and the Centre for Transatlantic Studies. Paris, 22 September 2008 (Walid Phares)
  • Speaking event at the French National Assembly on terrorist strategies, Afghanistan and the threat against France.  Paris, 23 September 2008. (Walid Phares)
  • Briefing with Parliamentary officials drafting EP opinion on Durban II and on the UNHRC.  Brussels, 24 September 2008 (Walid Phares – Daniel Trautvetter).

 

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