Online Talk with Author Ingeborg Tömmel
Insights into EU Studies and Current Challenges
On January 28, 2025, author and EU expert Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Tömmel gave an inspiring and informative online talk. Using the Zoom platform, interested students could ask the author about five new chapters of her book, „The European Union: What it is and how it works“.
In a 90-minute session, Ms Tömmel shared her motivation behind writing the book, explained how she has always been curious and provided fascinating insights into various topics concerning the European Union. The topics discussed included:
- Crisis Management in the EU: How the EU has responded to challenges and crises such as the financial crisis, the pandemic, or geopolitical tensions, how the concept of a "crisis" is approached, and what lessons have been learned.
- Expectations of the Trump Administration: In response to a request to assess Donald Trump’s plan to claim Greenland, Ms. Tömmel shed light on the significance and consequences of the inauguration of the new U.S. President.
- The European Green Deal: The question of whether the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal remain realistic, particularly given that sustainability seems to be increasingly sidelined on the political agenda.
- Future Challenges for the EU: In conclusion, Ms Tömmel addressed the biggest hurdles facing the European Union, emphasizing the insufficient public understanding of the functioning and tasks of the supranational organization as a core issue. To overcome this challenge, she stressed the need for political education to be included in school curricula from an early age and for accessible, in-depth information to be available at all times.
The talk was not only a valuable opportunity to gain direct insights into Ms Tömmel's work but also sparked a lively discussion among participants. Her expertise and practical explanations helped make complex EU policy issues accessible and comprehensible.
Any exchange within and beyond university settings can play a crucial role in fostering a deeper understanding of the EU's influence. Particularly in an era dominated by fake news and the excessive use of social media, such exchanges can offer young people new perspectives and encourage critical thinking.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Tömmel for her time and thought-provoking input, as well as to all students whose engaged questions contributed to the event’s success. Don’t miss the release of the 5th edition of "The European Union: What it is and how it works“.
