New Meeting of the Thomas More Institute | Wednesday June 26, 2013, 6h30-8h pm | Renaissance Hotel, Brussels

Friend of Erasmus and councillor to Henry VIII, the author of famous book titled Utopia, masterpiece of Renaissance literature, statesman and scholar, canonized in the 20th century, Thomas More was a major figure of his time at the interplay between religion and politics, intellect and feeling, social criticism and conservatism.

Advocate for his country but fairly concerned about the European balance, interested in booming economy and at the same time attentive to the needs of the poorest people, firmly faithful to his ideas, he proved what could be achieved thanks to strength, courage and confidence in action. Does he (...)

Extraordinary meeting of the Thomas More Institute | Monday, 17 June 2013, from 12:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Restaurant Le Procope, Paris 

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A few months before the federal elections, the launch of the German Eurosceptic Party, Alternative für Deutschland, represents an upheaval in the German political landscape. This new political force demands that Germany leaves the Euro and is boosted by the sense that Germany has enough “paid for others”. It already scores 7% in the voting intention polls, thus putting an end to 60 years of European consensus in the country. 

France must understand the causes and measure the consequences: what are (...)

An European Union-Russia two-day summit opens on this Monday. The Syrian crisis, economic cooperation and the Iranian nuclear program include the agenda. It is likely that the diplomatic weakness of Brussels blocks any real progress in the negotiations | By Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Published on Atlantico.fr, on Monday, 3 June, 2013 | Available in French

Le sommet qui débute ce lundi semble osciller entre la tentation d'un accord commercial et les désaccords diplomatiques (Syrie, nucléaire iranien, respect des droits de l'Homme...). Peut-on réellement dire aujourd'hui que Moscou pourrait-être amenée à offrir des gages à ses principaux "partenaires" européens ?

Tout (...)

This Wednesday, May 29, Westerners who have deep roots will remember the fall of Constantinople. On 29 May 1453, the Ottomans conquered the "second Rome" and transformed it into the capital of their empire. For several years, the event is celebrated with pomp in Istanbul. Some analysts speak of neo-Ottomanism but Turkey's foreign policy is more conservative. For Europe, the memory of the Eastern Roman Empire is first and foremost a great incentive to continue to exist | By Jean-Sylvestre MONGRENIER, Research Fellow at the Thomas More Institute | Available in French

Alors que les pays européens s’emploient à éradiquer symboles et références identitaires, la Turquie et Istanbul célèbrent rituellement la chute de (...)

Despite the fact that the economic crisis is seen to be monopolizing the efforts of the European leaders, the course of EU enlargement nonetheless is being kept: on July 1st 2013, Croatia will become the twenty-eighth member of the European Union (EU). As a result, we can expect candidate applications from the South-East European countries (the Western Balkans) and the sui generis case of Turkey. The historical mission of the EU in its neighbourhood and on its borders must not however, overshadow the shaded areas of the enlargement. Indeed, the rule of law and justice are sometimes exploited for political purposes as evidenced by trials implicating the former Romanian, Hungarian and Croatian premiers – trials not always conducted (...)