25 January 2018: Citizens' Dialogue in Maastricht with Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska

On January 25th from 11:00 - 12:30, a Citizens' Dialogue with European Commissioner ELŻBIETA BIEŃKOWSKA will be held in Maastricht.

Doors open at 10.30 and the event will take place at La Bonbonnière (Achter de Comedie 1, 6211 GZ Maastricht). Registration is open and can be here.

Twenty-five years ago, a new Europe was born: On 1 January 1993, the then 12 Member States abolished the border controls between them, launching free movement of people, goods, services and capital. The Single Market was created. The ambitious new treaty signed in Maastricht also came into force in November that year, heralding a common currency, and new European cooperation in foreign- and security policy, social policy and some areas of justice and home affairs.

Today, though, Europe finds itself at a crossroads, in a perfect storm of great challenges: the refugee crisis, terrorism, populism, Brexit.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Single Market, European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska comes to Maastricht to engage in an open conversation, looking back, but above all looking ahead, together with the audience. What future do Europe's citizens want for the Single Market? Can we take what we have got now for granted? And how can we ensure that the Europe we live in does not leave communities behind, is fit for the digital age and is sustainable?

The language of the event is English.

This event is one of a series of dialogues that the Commission is organising in all countries of the Union. The events give the general public an opportunity to discuss directly with European politicians about the kind of Europe they want to live in and their expectations for the future.