Programme of the third study day entitled ‘The role of institutional figures’, held on 16 October 2009 as part of the multidisciplinary seminar cycle ‘Anti-Europeanism, Euroscepticism and Alter-Europeanism in European integration history from 1945 to the present’.

Poster published for the third study day of the multidisciplinary seminar cycle ‘Anti-Europeanism, Euroscepticism and Alter-Europeanism in European integration history from 1945 to the present’, organised by MISHA (the Maison Interuniversitaire des Sciences de l’Homme — Alsace, or Alsace Interuniversity Social Sciences and Humanities Research Institute).

Sylvain Schirmann, Director of the Institute of Political Studies, Strasbourg, Martial Libera from the University of Strasbourg and Wilfried Loth from the University of Duisburg-Essen introduce this third study day on the role of institutional figures as part of the MISHA seminar cycle entitled ‘Against Europe? Anti-Europeanism, Euroscepticism and Alter-Europeanism in European integration history from 1945 to the present’.

In this first panel for the first part of the seminar, chaired by Wilfried Loth from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Philip Bajon from the University of Duisburg-Essen looks at General de Gaulle’s stance during the empty chair crisis. Henning Türk from the University of Duisburg-Essen then raises the issue of Ludwig Erhard’s scepticism towards the EEC. Finally, Oliver Daddow from Loughborough University discusses British Euroscepticism in parliamentary debates.

In this second panel for the first part of the seminar, chaired by Anne Thevenet, Assistant Director of the Euro-Institute in Kehl, Robin Allers from the University of Oslo discusses relations between Norway and the European Union after the ‘No’ vote to accession in 1972. Maria Gainar from the University of Strasbourg looks at US resistance to political Europe between 1973 and 1980. Finally, Émilia Robin Hivert from the University of Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV) considers the French Communist Party’s position on European integration in the 1960s.

In this first panel for the second part of the seminar, chaired by Laurence Badel from the University of Strasbourg, Birte Wassenberg from the University of Strasbourg looks at the opposition from 1955 to 1957 within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to the establishment of the EEC. Thibaut Courcelle from the University of Albi then describes the Council of Europe as an organisation that symbolises Euroscepticism.

In this second panel for the second part of the seminar, chaired by Marie-Thérèse Bitsch from the University of Strasbourg, Carine Germond from Maastricht University considers the role of the Eurobarometer in gauging resistance to Europe since it was set up. Elsa Bernard from the University of Strasbourg then describes the paradoxical relationship between the European Parliament and its anti-Europeanist members.

In his conclusion, Piers Ludlow from the London School of Economics and Political Science looks back over the day’s contributions and also considers the various meanings of anti-Europeanism and the development of this concept within the Community institutions.