Please note, this event is open only to College of Europe alumni.
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In partnership with the College of Europe and the EU Delegation to the UK, Aspen Institute UK is hosting a panel discussion on the future of EU-UK relations. The conversation will focus on the joint challenges the EU and UK face in the global landscape in 2023 and beyond, and look to discuss what work can be done to further the aligned goals in foreign policy – from immediate concerns in Ukraine to differences in technology policy. We are assembling a panel of diplomats, policymakers, and experts in European affairs for this conversation.
This in-person event is only open to College of Europe alumni and we hope will present an opportunity for alumni members to both reconnect and create new networks within the community.
ON THE PANEL:
Nick Heath – Nick has been Head of the Strategy and Expertise Department in the Europe Group of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since September 2022. The Department he leads supports the cross cutting engagement and relationships with 43 countries and the European Institutions. Nick joined the UK Government in 2005. He worked initially on the Middle East, studying Arabic in Cairo before working in Riyadh. Between 2009 and 2012 he was Private Secretary sequentially to three FCO Ministers primarily focused on Africa and the United Nations. He then helped to lead the FCO Department that coordinated EU Business and was Deputy Ambassador in The Hague between 2015 and 2019. After that Nick was Director for Trade and Investment in Hong Kong before returning to London.
Federica Mogherini – Federica is the current Rector of the College of Europe and Director of the Pilot Programme of the European Diplomatic Academy, implemented by the College of Europe. She was co-chair of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement from January 2020 to September 2021. Previously, she has served as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission. Prior to joining the EU in 2014, she was Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2014), and a Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2008-14). Federica is a board member for multiple organisations, including the International Crisis Group and the Italian Institute for Foreign Affairs (IAI).
Pedro Serrano – Pedro is the EU Ambassador to the UK. Chief of Staff to the European Union’s High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy and EC Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles until October 2022, his previous roles include that of Deputy Secretary General for Common Security and Defence Policy and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS) and Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. The Ambassador was also the first EU Ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
Georgina Wright – Georgina is Senior Fellow and Director of Institut Montaigne’s Europe Program. She is also a Visiting Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, associate of the Institute for Government in London and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey.Before joining Institut Montaigne, she was senior researcher at the Institute for Government (2019-2020) and research associate at Chatham House (2014-2018). She has also worked for the European Commission and NATO in Brussels. Georgina regularly represents Institut Montaigne on national and international news media, and has written widely for foreign policy outlets. She studied at the University of Edinburgh and the College of Europe (Bruges).
MODERATOR:
Nathaniel Copsey – Nathaniel is a senior British diplomat, currently serving as speechwriter to the Foreign Secretary. Prior to that, he worked on EU issues inside and outside of Government for nearly 20 years, since graduating from the College of Europe in 2001 (Promotion Simon Stevin). He joined the FCO as Head of Europe Research Group in April 2015 to support the renegotiation of the UK’s EU membership and the referendum that followed. He then worked on Brexit and European issues as Head of the Future of Europe Department. From 2012-15, he was Jean Monnet Chair at Aston University and Co-Director of the Aston Centre for Europe. His last book, Rethinking the European Union, was published by Palgrave in 2015. In addition to the College, he has a BA (Hons) in Modern History from the University of Oxford and a DPhil from the Sussex European Institute. He has also been a Visiting Professor at the University of Helsinki and Sciences-Po in Lille and Rennes.