IIEA Talks

In her speech, Dr Annette Weber, EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, focuses on the political dynamics in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. She discusses the Civil War in Sudan, tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia, and other issues in a simmering Red Sea arena. She also addresses the role of regional organisations, the increased influence of Gulf States in the region, and the impact of geopolitics on the Western as well as the Eastern shores of the Red Sea. Apart from her responsibility for the Horn of Africa, Dr Weber's mandate covers important and highly topical issues for the European Union, such as trade, new markets, and maritime security. About the Speaker: Dr Annette Weber was appointed as the EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa in July 2021. With more than 25 years of experience in the regions, she is a leading expert on the Horn of Africa. She was engaged in mediation in Sudan and Ethiopia as Senior Advisor for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (2019-2021).

Following Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, the EU, together with partners from the G7+ coalition, has adopted several packages of unprecedented sanctions against Russia. The main objective of these sanctions is threefold: 1) to provide Ukraine with a key military advantage by depleting Russia from accessing dual-use and advanced technology to manufacture cutting-edge weapons, 2) to degrade Russia’s ability to finance its war of aggression, and,  3) to cripple the Russian industrial complex in the medium-to-long-term. In this context, the EU Sanctions Envoy was appointed in January 2023 to reach out to third countries and maximise the impact of EU sanctions against Russia by ensuring that sanctions are implemented fully and effectively. In his address to the IIEA, David O’Sullivan reflects on the objectives of these sanctions and his role as EU Sanctions Envoy so far. About the Speaker: David O’Sullivan took up his role as EU Sanctions Envoy in January 2023. Prior to this, he was Director General of the IIEA. Before working at the IIEA, he joined the Brussels office of the law firm of Steptoe and Johnson LLP as a Senior Counsellor (2019-2022). David O’Sullivan served as Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the United States from November 2014 until February 2019. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, he was the Chief Operating Officer of the EU's diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS). He previously held a number of senior positions within the European Commission, including Director General for Trade (2005-2010); Secretary-General of the European Commission (2000-2005); and Chief of Staff to Commission President, Romano Prodi (1999-2000). Before joining the Commission, he started his career with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (1977-1979).

According to Dr Benjamin Tallis, the Zeitenwende, Germany’s security transformation, remains incomplete. On its current track, it is also dangerously inadequate. Despite the manufactured budgetary crisis, the Scholz government needs to finish the task it started. This requires the courage to be honest with the German people about the state of the world – and of Germany. To prepare for the future, however, the country’s leaders need to think bigger and define a vision for Germany and the world it wants to shape. This will be difficult as German leaders have long been reluctant to discuss, let alone set, grand strategy. But now, with the world in flux and the old ways no longer working, Berlin needs to clearly lay out what it wants—and how it plans to get it. About the Speaker: Dr Benjamin Tallis is a Senior Research Fellow at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) where he leads the ‘Action Group Zeitenwende’ as well as the DGAP Grand Strategy Group & co-hosts the podcast BerlinsideOut. He is the author of the concepts of Neo-Idealism and Team Power and of the books To Ukraine With Love: Essays on Russia’s War and Europe’s Future and Identities, Borderscapes, Orders: (Im)Mobility, (In)Security and Crisis in the EU and Ukraine. Benjamin Tallis worked on EU security missions in the Balkans and Ukraine and has researched, analysed, advised on and practiced European security for 20 years. He was recently awarded the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Medal of Honour – the Star of Lithuanian Diplomacy.

In his address to the IIEA, three years after the UK-EU Brexit deal came into force, Financial Times journalist, Peter Foster, examines how the UK’s 2016 vote to leave the EU roiled British politics and led to the limited deal that currently governs relations between London and Brussels. In a year of big elections, Mr Foster reflects on how a Labour-led government, under Sir Keir Starmer, might look to promote more constructive relations between the UK and the EU. About the Speaker: Peter Foster is a journalist, author, and public policy editor of the Financial Times. In a career spanning almost 30 years, he has reported from across Europe, Asia, and the US. His current brief covers all aspects of UK policy, including skills, investment, and the implementation of Brexit. His book, ‘What Went Wrong with Brexit - and what we can do about it’, was published by Canongate on 7 September 2023. He joined the Financial Times in April 2020 from the Daily Telegraph, where he had held the position of Europe editor since 2015, focusing on the Brexit negotiations.

A month on from COP28, the question remains: did the COP signal a sufficient commitment by countries and stakeholders to adequately address the issue of our age?  Catherine Stewart, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change, and Sinéad Walsh, Climate Director at Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, have been at the forefront of their respective governments’ approaches to addressing climate change globally and have been in the ‘room where it happens’ at various UNFCCC COPs. Though traditionally like-minded on most international issues, Ireland and Canada come to the issue of climate change facing very different challenges and opportunities. Ambassador Stewart and Director Walsh offer their views on what came out of COP28 and how Canada, Ireland, and others might pursue their efforts to address global climate challenges, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and accelerate the green transition. About the speakers: Catherine Stewart was appointed as Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change in August 2022. With over 25 years in the federal government, Ambassador Stewart’s most recent role was Assistant Deputy Minister of International Affairs at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). Since 2014, she has served in senior executive roles at ECCC including as Canada’s Chief Negotiator for Climate Change, Director General Multilateral Affairs and Climate Change, and Director General for the Americas.  Dr Sinead Walsh is Climate Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Ireland. Prior to this she served as the EU Ambassador to South Sudan. Dr Walsh has worked for Ireland’s DFA since 2009, and previously served as the Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone and Liberia and was the Head of Irish Aid in the two countries. Before joining the DFA, Dr Walsh spent ten years working in the NGO sector and is the co-author of Getting to Zero: A Doctor and A Diplomat on the Ebola Frontline.

It has been observed repeatedly that the forthcoming presidential election in the United States may test American democracy to an unprecedented extent and prove pivotal in terms of the future role of the US in international affairs. In his address to the IIEA, Larry Donnelly examines several of the key topics that will soon be to the fore: the likely nominees on the Republican and Democratic sides; the potential impact of third-party candidates; the means by which a President of the United States is actually elected and criticisms thereof. He also discusses the issues that will be crucial and the states that will be decisive in November; and an early assessment as to what might flow from the outcome. About the Speaker: Larry Donnelly is a Boston born and educated attorney who has lived and worked in Ireland since 2001. He is a Lecturer and Director of Clinical Legal Education in the School of Law at the University of Galway. Active in politics and local government in his native Massachusetts, Larry is a regular media commentator on politics, current affairs and law in Ireland and the United States. He is a bi-weekly political columnist with TheJournal.ie and has been a featured analyst on RTÉ’s overnight US presidential election coverage in every election since 2008.

The European Union is currently debating the two inextricably connected issues of EU enlargement and reform. These discussions are taking place against the background of a challenging geopolitical situation with wars in the centre of Europe and in the Middle East. In her address to the IIEA as part of the Future Proofing Europe project supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Dr Anna Lührmann, Minister of State for Europe and Climate of Germany, presents her views on these questions and challenges facing Europe in a moment of global tumult. About the Speaker: Dr Anna Lührmann has been Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the German Federal Foreign Office and a Member of the Bundestag since 2021. Prior to her current role, she was Deputy Director of the Varieties of Democracy Institute and Junior Professor at the University of Gothenburg and was a consultant to the United Nations Development Programme. She holds a PhD in politics from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

At this, the next event of the IIEA YPN, Dr Patricia Scanlon, Ireland’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ambassador, and Founder and Executive Chair of SoapBox Labs, considers the future of AI and its implications for our economies and societies. Dr Scanlon discusses the challenges and opportunities of AI in the fields of education, healthcare, and climate, noting that the biggest challenge with AI is bias, both algorithmic and societal.

Ahead of the US Presidential Election, a new European Commission, European Parliament and President of the European Council, as well as the potential election of a Labour-led Government in the UK, a panel of experts looks ahead to the 2024 political year in the US, the EU, and the UK respectively. The panel also considers how each jurisdiction’s political landscape is likely to impact its place in the world in what is set to be a defining year for international affairs. Speakers at this event will include: Caitríona Perry, Chief Presenter, BBC News Washington Bobby McDonagh, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Kingdom (2009-2013), Columnist for The Irish Times Dylan Casey Marshall, Researcher, EU Affairs, The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA)

In her remarks to the IIEA, Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan reflects on France's 2023, and discuss possibilities for 2024. She reflects on President Macron's second term, the challenges posed by civil unrest in France, and the country’s experience with migration. Looking to 2024, Dr Schon-Quinlivan discusses France's preparations for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, France's European Parliamentary elections as well as the possibility of a referendum on EU enlargement. About the Speaker: Dr Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan is a lecturer in European politics in the Department of Government, UCC. She was awarded a Jean Monnet Chair in Active European Citizenship in 2021 and a Jean Monnet Teacher Training grant, one of only 20 Europe-wide, in 2022. She teaches European policy-making and institutional politics as well as French politics. She is the Director of UCC's Hub in Active European Citizenship.