IIEA Talks

Europe stands at a turning point. In her address to the IIEA, Esther Lynch, General Secretary of the ETUC, argues that Europe’s competitiveness renewal lies not in deregulation and decline, but in combining investment and social justice. The next Social Contract needs to deliver a Quality Jobs Agenda to boost collective bargaining, drive fair transitions, deliver fair wages, end exploitation, increase investment for a European Industrial Policy. She calls for all public investment to deliver social conditionalities ensuring every euro creates quality jobs and ends the race to the bottom. The next Social Contract must be something all workers can rely on not just something they read about, every job should be a quality job, and all workers should be free from fear about tomorrow. About the Speaker: Esther Lynch is the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. Previously, Ms Lynch was Deputy General Secretary at the ETUC from 2019 to 2022, following four years as Confederal Secretary. Esther led on social dialogue, collective bargaining and wage policy, trade union rights, gender equality. She has extensive trade union experience at Irish, European and international levels, starting with her election as a shop steward in the 1980s. Before coming to the ETUC, she was the Legislation and Social Affairs Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), where she took part in negotiations on Ireland’s National Social Partner Agreements. As Deputy General Secretary and as Confederal Secretary she led successful actions aimed at improving workers and trade union rights in legislative initiatives such as the Directive on Adequate Minimum Wages, the Transparent and Predicable Working Conditions Directive and the Whistleblowing Directive, she also ran a successful campaign that mobilised support for the European Pillar of Social Rights and the ETUC’s ‘Europe Needs a Pay Rise’ campaign. In addition to securing the adoption of 15 legally binding occupational exposure limits to protect workers from exposure to carcinogens, as well as concluding social partners’ agreements on digitalisation and on reprotoxins. A lifelong feminist, Esther is pushing for measures to end the undervaluing of work predominantly done by women.

In this IIEA webinar, the panel takes a deep dive into Finland’s Futures Ecosystem — a unique network of public institutions, research bodies, civil society, and private sector actors working together to shape long-term thinking and strategic foresight. This panel provides an overview of the key components, actors, and processes that drive futures work in Finland, offering insights into how collaboration, policy, and innovation come together to anticipate and navigate change. This panel event follows on from an address entitled Finland’s Futures Ecosystem in a European Context by Joakim Strand, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering. This webinar will also be followed by a further panel event that focuses on the Irish approach to foresight and what can be learnt from the Finnish experience. This event was organised in conjunction with the UCD Centre for Innovation, Technology and Organisation. Panelists include: Elina Kiiski-Kataja, Senior Lead of Foresight & Insight at Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund that helps Finland anticipate the future; Maria Höyssä, Senior Advisor to the Committee for the Future at the Parliament of Finland & Senior Research Fellow at the Finland's Futures Research Centre; Vera Djakonoff, Senior Expert, Anticipatory Governance at Demos Helsinki, an independent think tank that helps build capacities to instigate and sustain essential transitions; Dr Kevin Deegan, Vice President for Innovation & Insight at Valio, Finland's biggest food exporter

In 2024, Denmark reached a landmark Green Tripartite Agreement, introducing the world’s first agricultural climate tax as part of a comprehensive package of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore nature, improve biodiversity, and tackle nitrogen pollution. This pioneering policy framework is poised to transform Danish agriculture and rural landscapes over the coming decades. This webinar features insights from Johannes Flatz of CONCITO and Erik Jørgensen of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, who will outline the negotiation process behind the Agreement and assess its implications for the Danish agri-food sector, climate policy, and rural development. From an Irish perspective, Dr. Maria Snell of Macra na Feirme and Ailbhe Gerrard of Talamh Beo and Brookfield Farm will consider the opportunities and challenges for Ireland in delivering on climate and biodiversity targets within the farming community, exploring how elements of the Danish model might be adapted to the current policy landscape in Ireland. Bringing together Danish and Irish viewpoints, this discussion examines the design, implementation, and adaptation of ambitious agricultural climate measures across contrasting European settings, and the potential role such agreements can play in aligning environmental objectives with rural prosperity. Speaker bios: Johannes Flatz is a Climate Analyst in CONCITOs programme on food and consumption. Johannes works as a climate analyst with a focus on analysis of European agricultural policies. Johannes is particularly focused on the analysis of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the regulation of carbon emissions from the agricultural sector. Johannes has a master’s degree in environmental economics from the University of Copenhagen. Erik Jørgensen is the Chief Consultant at the Climate & Energy, Danish Agriculture & Food Council. Maria Snell is a Senior Policy Executive at Macra na Feirme, Ireland’s national organisation representing young farmers and rural youth. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science from the UK, where she worked on projects focused water quality, habitat management, and ecological health in agricultural catchments. Maria returned home to join Macra, where she works to ensure the voices of rural youth are represented in shaping sustainable agricultural, rural development and environmental policy. Ailbhe Gerrard is a farmer, beekeeper, and agricultural educator, and the founder of Brookfield Farm in Co. Tipperary. She is also a leading member of Talamh Beo, the Irish branch of La Via Campesina, and has been recognised for her innovative agroecological farming practices and advocacy for community-led food systems.

According to journalist and author Philip Stephens, for David Lloyd George the Partition of Ireland was a means to an end, an escape route from the Irish question in British politics, and a war against Irish Republicanism that Britain could not win. He argues that for Michael Collins the Free State was a first steppingstone to a united, independent Ireland and that over subsequent decades both parties misread the meaning of the Treaty. In his address to the IIEA and following the release of his new book These Divided Isles: Britain and Ireland, Past and Future, Mr Stephens discusses how he thinks the British assumed they could wash their hands of Ireland, North as well as South, and how Ireland judged that all that was required for reunification was British withdrawal. Mr Stephens also proposes that as the prospect of 32-county Ireland draws closer, both governments must avoid repeating these mistakes. Speaker bio: Philip Stephens is a writer and historian. He is a Contributing Editor at the Financial Times, and the author of Inside-Out, a regular column on Substack. He is also a Visiting Senior Fellow at the School for Transnational Governance of the European University Institute, a Richard von Weizsacker Fellow at the Bosch Academy in Berlin, an Honorary Governor at the Ditchley Foundation, and a member of Aspen Italia, Rome. He serves on the steering group of the Franco-British Colloque. His latest book Britain Alone: the Path from Suez to Brexit, was published by Faber. He has won the three main prizes in British political journalism, being named as winner of the David Watt prize for Outstanding Political Journalism, as Political Journalist of the Year by the UK Political Studies Association, and as Political Journalist of the Year in the British Press Awards. He is the author of Politics and the Pound, a study of British economic and European policy, and of Tony Blair, a biography of the former prime minister.

Amid democratic backsliding, civic disillusionment, and growing threats to democratic values, driven by authoritarianism, polarisation, and disinformation, there is now an urgent case to promote democratic resilience and renewal. In this event an expert panel discusses alternative approaches to democracy, including direct democracy, deliberative democracy, and other forms of democratic experimentation. This event examines the practice of direct democracy by referendum in Switzerland, and the practice of deliberative democracy by Citizens Assemblies in Ireland. The event will explore what lessons can be learnt from these examples and their relevance for other democracies. This event is organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Ireland. The panel for this event include: Associate Professor Joseph Lacey, Founding Director of the Centre for Democracy Research, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin; Professor Daniel Kübler, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Director of the Centre for Democracy Studies, University of Zurich Louise Caldwell, Member of the Board of Directors for People Powered: Global Hub for Participatory Democracy, and former member of the Irish Citizens Assembly 2016 – 2018 and it was moderated by: Susan Daly, Managing Editor, Journal Media

The world is becoming less peaceful and concerns about the future of peace as a focus or area of policy and practice seem warranted. Based on 156 interviews conducted over 7 years, Professor Millar’s presentation describes the various challenges (structural, financial, and practical) that practitioners in particular identify as limiting their ability to contribute to sustainable peace. His remarks also outline new approaches and mechanisms that would allow policy to better support peace work in this time of increasing uncertainty. About the Speaker: Gearoid Millar is a Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Aberdeen, where he Coordinates MSc programmes in both Peace and Conflict Studies, and Policy Evaluation. He has published widely over the past 15 years, with four books and more than two dozen contributions to key journals in Peace and Conflict Studies, such as the Journal of Peace Research, Cooperation and Conflict, International Peacekeeping, the Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding, Third World Quarterly, Peacebuilding, and many others.

In her speech to the IIEA, Kata Tüttő, President of the European Commission of the Regions, addresses the European Commission’s proposal for the next EU budget (2028-2034). She argues that the proposals represent an unprecedented attempt to centralise and nationalise EU policies, weakening the role of regions and cities in the European project. Whilst recognizing the emerging challenges of security and competitiveness, President Tüttő speaks about how regional and local leaders can mobilise to promote Europe’s growth model by ensuring that local and regional authorities play a full and inclusive role. Speaker bio: Kata Tüttő is a Hungarian politician, economist, and public servant with over two decades of experience in local government, European policy-making, and urban sustainability. As of February 2025, she serves as president of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which represents local and regional governments from across Europe. At the same time, she remains a member of the Budapest City Council. Previously, Ms Tüttő served as the deputy mayor of Budapest from 2019-2024, overseeing climate adaptation, waste and water management, public transport, and utility services. She played a crucial role in making Budapest more sustainable and resilient, advocating for green investments and inclusive urban development.

'European defence: economics and business perspectives' Europe is rearming. The changed perception of the threat posed by Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has led to increases in defence spending in most countries and commitments by Nato members to make further substantial increases in the future. To understand the economic and business implications of this, the next edition of IIEA Insights will feature economist Juan Mejino-López of the Bruegel think tank in Brussels and Barry Lunn, founder and CEO of Proviso Barry Lunn is the founder and CEO of Proviso, a firm at the cutting of edge of developing advanced sensors for the transport sector. Based in Shannon, the company’s clients have included Nasa, Uber and Ford, among others. Juan Mejino-López is a research analyst at Bruegel where he has written about defence, among other things. He has previously worked on on public policy in the academic and consultancy sectors.

In her address to the IIEA, Erin Sikorsky discusses the pathways through which climate change is shaping instability and conflict globally. Her remarks reflect upon how extreme weather, slow-onset hazards, and responses to climate change intersect with geopolitical competition, hybrid warfare, and other foreign and security policy trends. About the Speakers: Erin Sikorsky is Director of the Center for Climate and Security (CCS), and the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS). She is also the author of Climate Change on the Battlefield, published earlier this year. Previously, Erin served as Deputy Director of the Strategic Futures Group on the US National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the United States, where she co-authored the quadrennial Global Trends report and led the US intelligence community’s environmental and climate security analysis. She was the founding chair of the Climate Security Advisory Council, a US Congressionally mandated group designed to facilitate coordination between the intelligence community and US government scientific agencies. Prior to her position on the National Intelligence Council, she worked as a senior analyst in the US intelligence community for over a decade, leading teams examining conflict and instability risks in Africa and the Middle East, and won the National Intelligence Analysis Award.

Following the end of the Cold War, the world experienced a remarkable wave of democratization. Over the next two decades, numerous authoritarian regimes transitioned to democracies, and it seemed that authoritarianism as a political model was fading. But as recent events have shown, things have clearly changed. Based on their new book Dictating the Agenda, Alexander Cooley and Alexander Dukalskis reveal how today's authoritarian states are actively countering liberal ideas, advocacy surrounding human rights and democracy across various global governance domains. About the Speakers: Alexander Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science and Vice Provost for Research and Academic Centers at Barnard College, Columbia University. From 2015-21 he served as the 15th Director of Columbia University's Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia and Eastern Europe. Professor Cooley's research examines how international actors have influenced the governance, sovereignty, and security of the post-Communist states. In addition to his academic publications, Professor Cooley's commentaries have appeared in Foreign Affairs, New York Times, and Washington Post and he has testified for the US Congress, UK Parliament and the Parliament of Canada. Alexander Dukalskis is associate professor in the School of Politics & International Relations at University College Dublin. His research and teaching interests include authoritarian politics, human rights, and Asian politics. He is also a frequent expert commentator in national and international media on these themes. From 2022-2024 he directed UCD's Centre for Asia-Pacific Research. He is the author of two previous books, Making the World Safe for Dictatorship (Oxford University Press, 2021) and The Authoritarian Public Sphere (Routledge, 2017), and academic articles in several leading journals.