The annual Kent in Brussels event took place on Thursday March 15 with a talk from Professor Richard Whitman, delivered in the European Parliament.
In a talk entitled Britain and Europe after Brexit: Dancing the Hokey Cokey, Professor Whitman, from the University’s School of Politics and International Relations, discussed the ongoing complexities inherent in the negotiations and then hosted a question and answer session with the audience.
More than 100 people attended the event, with notable guests included John Howarth, Labour MEP for South East England, Dieter Calalleri, a minister in the Swiss Mission, and Laurent Bonnaud from the Grant Foundation.
The event was the second European event held in recent weeks by the University of Kent, after Dean for Europe Professor Jeremy Carrette delivered a talk at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Paris on 27 February.
Entitled Ideas Across Borders: Michel Foucault’s Search for Freedom, Professor Carrette’s talk reflected his belief in the importance of continuing international exchanges in education. Introducing the life and work of the French philosopher-historian Michel Foucault (1926-84) it asked the audience to consider how we can make sense of the paradox of increasing open expression and a world of borders and controls. And are we really free to think differently?
Professor Carrette’s talk was attended by almost 200 people, including current students and staff, alumni and friends of the University.