IIEA Talks

The current trajectory of European policy towards China stands at a crucial juncture. In recent years, China has evolved from a long-term geopolitical challenge to a pivotal factor influencing the competitiveness of the European economy, the security of its citizens, and the EU's ability to fulfill its ambitious climate and digitalization goals. This shift poses a distinctive challenge for Germany, as its dependencies on the Chinese market are more pronounced compared to other EU member states. To address the challenges posed by today's China and establish a forward-looking vision, Berlin unveiled its first-ever China strategy in July 2023. In her address to the IIEA, Dr Janka Oertel, discusses how the implementation of this strategy is now essential at both the national level and as part of a broader European approach to China. About the Speaker: Dr Janka Oertel is director of the Asia programme and a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Oertel previously worked as a senior fellow in the Asia programme at the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Berlin office, where she focused on transatlantic China policy including on emerging technologies, Chinese foreign policy, and security in east Asia. Dr Oertel has published widely on topics related to EU-China relations, US-China relations, security in the Asia-Pacific region, Chinese foreign policy, 5G and emerging technologies, as well as climate cooperation. Her new book The end of Germany’s China Illusion: How We Must Deal with Beijing’s Claim to Power was published in German by Piper in 2023.

As the frequency of natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves increase, the impact of climate change is becoming ever more apparent. Climate change will likely continue to threaten energy systems, augmenting the need to accelerate the green transition and position global energy systems to meet the risks posed by a changed climate. In her address to the IIEA, Katherine Hayhoe, author of Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World, discusses how we can fight climate change together through dialogue, talking, and honesty. Her remarks reflect on how using these tools to build consensus may provide a pathway towards tackling the mounting challenges which climate change poses to the world. This event is part of the IIEA’s ReThink Energy lecture series which is supported by the ESB. About the Speaker: Katherine Hayhoe is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and a Paul Whitfield Horn Distinguished Professor and the Political Science Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University. She also serves as a principal investigator for the US Department of Interior’s South-Central Climate Adaptation Science Center. In 1997, she founded ATMOS Research, an institution bridging the gap between scientists and stakeholders on the effects of climate change on human populations. She is the Author of Saving Us: A Climate Scientists Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2021.

In his address to the IIEA, Hans Leijtens, Executive Director of Frontex, discusses challenges of integrating the management of the EU's borders. He discusses Frontex's work in facilitating legal migration, preventing illegal crossings and returning those who are not eligible for protection in the EU. Finally, his remarks also reflect upon the agency's work in fighting cross-border crime and countering terrorism. About the Speaker: Hans Leijtens has served as Frontex’s Executive Director since 1 March 2023. Before becoming Executive Director of Frontex, Dr Leijtens held positions as Commander of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and Governor of The Hague. At the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, he has worked in several leading positions at the highest management level. Among others, he was a Director-General in the Netherlands Tax and Customs Administration, a Quartermaster of the Integrity Chamber in Sint Maarten, a Programme Director-General of the reconstruction of the Windward Islands, and a member of the International Board of Auditors (NATO). Mr Leijtens studied sociology and psychology at the Royal Military Academy in Breda from 1981 to 1985 and earned his doctorate in public administration from Leiden University in 2008.

The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) was forced to recently stress that the rule of law 'forms part of the very foundations of the European Union and its legal order' and is 'given concrete expression in principles containing legally binding obligations for the Member States'. The Court’s renewed emphasis on the importance of the rule of law might surprise considering that access to and continuing membership of the EU formally require, inter alia, compliance with the rule of law. The explanation lies in the unprecedented and repeated violations of EU rule of law requirements originating from some national actors at Member State level in the past decade. In the absence of prompt and forceful reactions by EU political institutions, the CJEU President was forced to warn in 2023 against 'authoritarian drifts' which could lead to the rule of law being replaced with 'rule of lawlessness'. In his address to the IIEA, Professor Pech outlines the reality of the authoritarian drifts mentioned by the CJEU President before focusing on the EU’s (in)action to date in the face of emerging legal black holes within the EU itself. About the Speaker: Laurent Pech is Full Professor of Law, Dean of Law and Head of the Sutherland School of Law. He is also a Visiting Professor of Law at Bordeaux University, a Senior Research Fellow at the CEU Democracy Institute in Budapest, and the co-director of The Good Lobby Profs which he co-founded in 2021.

The EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which was first agreed amid the COVID-19 crisis, serves as temporary instrument designed to swiftly and substantially support the economic recovery of Member States. Financed through the issuance of bonds, the RRF offers an innovative approach to EU funding, disbursing funds based on the progress in achieving reforms and investments. In his address to the IIEA, Tony Murphy, President of the European Court of Auditors, provides insights into the RRF's implementation progress, which encompasses grants and loans with a maximum total value of €723 billion. He addresses the associated challenges and risks from an auditor's perspective as we approach the instrument’s midway point. About the Speaker: A native of Cabra, Tony Murphy currently serves as Irish Member and President of the European Court Auditors (ECA), the EU’s independent external auditor based in Luxembourg. He has served as Irish Member since March 2018 and was elected to lead the Institution in October 2022 for a three-year term. With over 40 years of experience in public sector auditing, Mr Murphy began his career with the Office of Comptroller Auditor General (OCAG) in Dublin in the late 1970s. After two decades with OCAG, he took up a role with the European Commission in Luxembourg. In 2013, he joined the ECA where he served as Head of the Private Office of an ECA Member and as Director prior to his nomination as Member by the Irish Government.

After five years from its first application, the landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) continues to be the topic of extensive debate. Helen Dixon, the Data Protection Commissioner, provides a tour through recent trends in complaints, breaches, regulatory decisions and court judgements. Commissioner Dixon also discusses the future of data protection and assesses what may be in store over the next 5 years of GDPR enforcement. About the Speaker: Helen Dixon was appointed as Data Protection Commissioner for Ireland in September 2014. In this role she is responsible for upholding the rights of individuals regarding how data about them is used, which includes the regulation of a large number of US internet multinationals with European bases in Ireland. Previously, at the Irish Registrar of Companies, she led regulatory enforcement of compliance with the filing provisions of the Companies Acts. Helen has also held senior roles in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and spent the first ten years of her career in the IT industry.

In his address to the IIEA, Timur Gül, Chief Energy Technology Officer of the International Energy Agency (IEA), discusses the role of energy technology and innovation in the clean energy transition. Dr Gül outlines the challenges and opportunities arising from the new clean energy economy, with a focus on clean energy supply chains. About the Speaker: Timur Gül, a German national, was appointed Chief Energy Technology Officer of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in September 2023. In this capacity, he oversees the analysis of innovative new and emerging clean energy technologies and their supply chains across a range of sectors. Mr. Gül is also Head of the Energy Technology Policy Division, with responsibility for the IEA’s technology flagship publication Energy Technology Perspectives and the IEA’s Technology Collaboration network. Having joined the IEA in 2009, Mr. Gül previously was a lead author of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook (WEO). Prior to his time at the IEA, he was a researcher at Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.

'War in Europe and the role of the United States' Fiona Hill ,Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC., in conversation with Dan O’Brien, IIEA Chief Economist

As many African states have experienced increased political influence on the global stage, rapid development, and sustained economic growth; many have noted that France’s position on the continent has diminished and continues to be challenged by other geo-political actors. Against this backdrop, Emmanuel Macron has recently outlined his new Africa-France Partnership to recast development, economic, fiscal, military, and political relations between Africa and France. In their addresses to the IIEA, Dr Catherine Gegout and Dr Ndongo Samba Sylla share their perspectives on the current state of economic and political relations between Africa and France, as well as an analysis of Macron’s new Africa-France Partnership. About the Speakers: Dr Catherine Gegout is Associate Professor in International Relations at the University of Nottingham. She was Visiting Professor at Harvard Kennedy School in 2019. She is completing a manuscript on The EU and Sustainable Development in the Global South. She wrote the books Why Europe Intervenes in Africa and European Foreign and Security Policy. Dr Ndongo Samba Sylla is Senegalese Development Economist, currently the Research and Policy Director for Africa with the International Development Economics Associates in Dakar. He authored Africa’s Last Colonial Currency: The CFA Franc Story and co-edited Economic and Monetary Sovereignty for 21st century Africa.

In the wake of the publication of the Enlargement Package Report by the European Commission, Peter Burke TD, Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and Defence, will look at the potential benefits and tests that enlargement will bring for the EU. About the Speaker: Peter Burke TD is the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs and Defence, a post which he has held since December 2022. He has been a TD for Longford-Westmeath since 2016. Prior to his current role, he served as Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning from July 2020 to December 2022.