The HUFS Jean Monnet EU Center at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies held a seminar on April 1 (Wed), inviting Professor Diana Petrova from Sofia University in Bulgaria under the theme of “Europe in Crisis.” The seminar examined the changing identity of Europe and its political transformations amid multiple pressures, including the refugee crisis, Brexit, and the pandemic.
Professor Petrova analyzed the influx of refugees since 2015 and the progress of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, highlighting patterns of conflict among EU member states. She also addressed the growing debates over national sovereignty following Brexit and discussed the opportunities and challenges of the green and digital transition driven by the €800 billion NextGenerationEU fund.
In particular, she provided an in-depth discussion on the disagreements among member states that emerged during the process of imposing sanctions against Russia following the war in Ukraine, as well as the rise of far-right nationalism.
She further noted that despite internal uncertainties within Europe, 74% of citizens continue to support the EU’s benefits. The seminar served as an opportunity to reaffirm that the European Union is not a fixed system, but a dynamic project that continuously evolves through the coexistence of support and resistance.
