In the face of war – European dialogue

At the end of its first year of circulation in Europe (Prague, Vilnius, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Sofia and Plovdiv, Helsinki), the "European Dialogues" will make a stop in Rennes from November 7 to December 1, 2024. 

This edition is based on the involvement of many operators in Rennes who, under the initiative of Les Champs Libres, have decided to give a European "flavor" to their programming, with a special focus on the works, formats, and representatives from Central and Eastern Europe. A thread thus stretches from Brittany's West to the far eastern reaches of Europe... 

The highlight of these "European Dialogues" will take place from Friday, November 29, to Sunday, December 1, with various roundtable discussions and sessions organized at Les Champs Libres and the Espace Ouest-France. European and international figures will engage with the public to discuss the challenges facing European societies and states at the end of this particularly delicate year in terms of geopolitics, as opinions continue to polarize. The final segment will be dedicated to Ukrainian civil society. 

"Europe in the Post-Truth Era" 

• 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM – Maison des Associations (By invitation)  

"Transformation of cultural organisations and regions: what opportunities does cooperation offer at local and European levels?" 

In the presence of Judith Videcoq, Head of the Creative Europe Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission. 

By invitation only.  

• 12:00 PM - National Choreographic Center of Rennes and Brittany  

"For A Better World" by the Lithuanian company AAT 

As part of the Lithuania Season in France.  

Tickets available at festival-mythos.com/programmation/for-a-better-world/ 

• 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM – Espace Ouest-France 

"Writing the War" 

Kristina Berdynskyh, reporter, associated correspondent for Libération in Kyiv (Ukraine), Jeanne Cavelier, head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia bureau, Reporters Without Borders (France), Iryna Dmytrychyn, lecturer in Ukrainian at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) and president of the Ukrainian Institute in France (Ukraine), Romain Huet, author of War in Mind and lecturer in communication sciences, University of Rennes 2 (France), Stéphane Siohan, reporter, correspondent for Libération in Kyiv (France), Pavel Sviardlou, editor-in-chief of European Radio for Belarus (Belarus), Bartosz Wielinski, deputy editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland) 

Moderation: Laurent Marchand, deputy editor-in-chief for European and International Affairs, Ouest-France (France) 

Free entry subject to available seating. 

Detailed Information on the Session 

• 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM – University of Rennes (Amphi IV – Pierre-Henri Teitgen) 

From Kyiv to Rennes: Studying in Europe, Studying for Europe 

• "The Resilience of Ukrainian Higher Education during a Full-Scale War": in the presence of Prof. Serhiy Kvit, President of the Mohyla Academy - National University of Kyiv. 
• "Narratives and Representations of Europe" : discussion led by Christine Cadot, Associate Professor HDR at the University of Paris 8, and Élodie Bordat-Chauvin, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Institute of European Studies, University Paris 8. 

In the presence of: David Alis, President of the University of Rennes; Annick Allaigre, President of the University of Paris 8; Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the Institut français; Olivier Serra, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science; Constantin Sigov, Professor of Philosophy. 

Access to Amphi IV is reserved for students. The roundtable is also accessible via Zoom (Meeting ID: 648 4880 0516) 

• 2:00 PM - 5:30 PM – Les Champs Libres (Citizen Life Space)  

"Living Library" dedicated to Ukraine (in partnership with Solidarité Bretagne Ukraine) 

For an afternoon, women and men come to share their experiences of solidarity with Ukraine. In exchange with the public, a dialogue is established, life journeys are recounted. Coming from all horizons, these people are "living books" who become storytellers to testify and give meaning to their actions. 

Free entry subject to available seating. 

• 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM – Les Champs Libres (Library, Pole 5) 

"What can images and words do in times of war?" 

Meeting with Michel Slomka and Chloé Sharrock, photographers from the MYOP Agency, initiators of the "Ukraine(s) Vision" exhibition.  Free entry subject to available seating. 

• 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM – Les Champs Libres (Auditorium)  

"These Wars That Are Also Ours" 

Florence Aubenas, journalist, Le Monde (France), Tetyana Ogarkova, head of international affairs at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center and lecturer at Mohyla University in Kyiv (Ukraine), Igor Štiks, writer and philosopher (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Moderation: Léna Mauger, editor-in-chief of Kometa (France) 

Free entry. 

Detailed Information on the Session 

"The Day After the War" 

• 10:30 AM – L'Arvor Cinema 

Screening of the documentary film "Intercepted" by Oksana Karpovych, part of Arte's "Generation Ukraine" collection 

In the presence of producer Pauline Tran Van Lieu. 

Tickets available on www.cinema-arvor.fr. Free entry subject to available seating. 

• 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM – Les Champs Libres (Auditorium)  

"The European Trajectory of the Balkans" 

Elma Hasimbegovic, director of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Besa Luci, editor-in-chief of Kosovo 2.0 (Kosovo), Dejan Ubovic, director of KC GRAD - European Centre for Culture and Debate (Serbia), Boiko Vassilev, editor-in-chief for information and presenter of Panorama on Bulgarian National Television (Bulgaria) 

Moderation: Laurent Geslin, journalist, Euractiv 

Free entry. 

Detailed Information on the Session 

• 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM – Les Champs Libres (Auditorium)  

"What Do Ukrainians Dream Of?" 

With: Grisha Atanov, Yaryna Chornohuz, Halyna Chyzhyk, Natalia Diedova, Zhanna Ozirna, Constantin Sigov. 

Moderation: Kristina Berdynskykh, Ukrainian reporter, associated correspondent for Libération in Kyiv, and Stéphane Siohan, reporter, correspondent for Libération in Kyiv 

Free entry. 

Detailed Information on the Session 

• 8:15 PM – Cinéma Arvor, Rennes

Preview screening of the documentary "Se souvenir d’une ville" by Jean-Gabriel Périot, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. 

As part of the Clair Obscur series. 

Tickets available at www.cinema-arvor.fr. 

• 8:00 PM – Théâtre de Cornouaille, Quimper  

"The Way", concert by the Orchestre National de Bretagne 

Tickets available at www.orchestrenationaldebretagne.bzh. 

• From November 15 to 30 – European School of Art of Brittany (EESAB)  

"Focus on Ukraine": Exhibition of artistic photomontages by Fanny Lechevalier  

Free entry.  

• 2:00 PM - 6:30 PM – Les Champs Libres  

Le Taurillon, publication of the Young Europeans of Rennes  

Free entry.  

• 8:00 PM – Couvent des Jacobins  

Melody by composer Myroslav Skoryk (Ukraine)  

"The Way", a creation by composer Bohdana Frolyak (premiered in Lviv in 2023) (Ukraine)  

Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 performed by pianist Anna Fedorova (Ukraine)  

Beethoven's Triple Concerto for violin, cello, and piano performed by violinist Dalia Kuznecovaite (Lithuania), pianist Anna Fedorova (Ukraine), and cellist Olivier Lacour (France), conducted by Chloé Dufresne (France)  

The Orchestre National de Bretagne invites the artists to highlight, each in their own way, the fundamental role of music and art in promoting peace and expressing freedom.  

Tickets available at  www.orchestrenationaldebretagne.bzh. 

• 5:00 PM – University Rennes 2 (La Chambre Claire) 

Inauguration of an exhibition of drawings by Milan Kundera and audiovisual archives  

Free entry, subject to availability.  

• 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM – University Rennes 2 (Ciné-Tambour)  

Screening of Kundera's interview in "Pleine Page" (1976), followed by "La Plaisanterie" (1968)  

Access subject to availability with on-site membership to the association (5€).  

• 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM – Thabor-Lucien Rose Library 

Melanka Choir  

Free entry. 

• 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM – Espace Ouest-France  

"Meeting History" with Patrick Boucheron  

Free entry, subject to availability.  

• 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM – Thabor-Lucien Rose Library  

Melanka Choir  

Free entry.  

• 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM – Théâtre National de Bretagne  

"Giving Voice to the Archives of the Non-Aligned": Performance-installation by Mila Turajlić 

Tickets available at www.t-n-b.fr. 

• 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM – La Paillette 

Radio Live / "Vivantes" by Aurélie Charon and Amélie Bonnin  

Tickets available at www.la-paillette.net. 

• 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM – Hôtel Pasteur 

"Ukraine Is Europe": Charity Cotton Bag Coloring Workshop  

Participation from €15, supporting Ukrainian rescuers.  

By registration.  

• 7:00 PM – National Choreographic Center of Rennes and Brittany  

"For A Better World" by Cie AAT  

As part of the Lithuania Season in France.  

Tickets available at www.billetterie.cppc.fr. 

Mercredi 23 octobre - Université d’Helsinki 

• 11h00-11h15 – Ouverture officielle
• 11h15-12h30 – « Peut-on se vacciner contre la désinformation ? »

Avec : Eeva Luhtakallio, professeur de sociologie à l’Université d’Helsinki (Finlande), David Colon, chercheur et professeur associé au Centre d’histoire de Sciences Po Paris (France), Mikko Salo, fondateur de Faktabaari (Finlande), Fabrice Puchault, directeur de l’Unité Culture et Société au sein d’Arte (France) et Heikki Aittokoski, journaliste, Helsingin Sanomat (Finlande)

Modération : Annastiina Heikkilä, correspondante pour Yle (Finlande)

• 14h00-15h15 – « Les médias peuvent-ils encore être indépendants ? » 

Avec : Robert Sundman, journaliste politique au Suomen Kuvalehti (Finlande), Judith Fiebelkorn, Übert N-Ost(Allemagne), Laurent Marchand, rédacteur en chef délégué, Ouest-France (France)  Modération : Hanna Wass, vice-doyenne de la faculté de sciences sociales à l’Université d’Helsinki (Finlande) 

• 15h15-16h45 – « La sécurité européenne au défi de la guerre informationnelle » 

Avec : Miina Kaarkoski, scientifique politique, Finnish National Defense University (Finlande), Maxime Lebrun, European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (France), Colonelle Virginie Le Goff (France), Roberta M. Răducu, professeur adjoint au College of Communication and Public Relations (SNSPA) et experte en communication pour le New Strategy Center (Roumanie), Minna Ålander, chercheuse, Finish Institute of International Affairs(Finlande)

Modération : Dr. Céline Marangé,  chercheuse Russie et Ukraine, Inserm (France)

• 16h45-18h00 – « Écrire la guerre » 

Diffusion du film Fixers in wartime, the invisible reporters. 

Avec : Antti Kuronen, reporter de guerre, Yle (Finlande), Oleksandra Aleksandrenko, fixeuse (Ukraine), Senad Pecanin, avocat, fondateur de Dani Sarajevo Magazine (Bosnie) et Shuruq Asad, journaliste, représentante du Syndicat des journalistes palestiniens (Palestine)

Modération : Jeanne Cavelier, Reporters Sans Frontières (France) 

Jeudi 24 octobre 

Séquence au European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Centre européen d'excellence pour la lutte contre les menaces hybrides) (réservée aux participants)

The discussions in Bulgaria were centered around the theme "From the Balkans to the Black Sea: Legacies, Identities, and European Trajectories."

Detailed programme and presentation of participants 

The French Institute in the Netherlands, in partnership with De Balie, hosted an evening of debates bringing together prominent European voices on the theme "Geopolitical Europe Facing War." Two public sessions were organized:

• "Writing the War" - a roundtable where journalists and editors-in-chief discussed the challenges they face during wartime. 
• "Europe at War?" - four high-level personalities discussed the following questions: What should a "geopolitical Europe" look like? Can a balance be found between a war economy and a market economy? Can Europe speak the language of power while ensuring the rule of law and democracy within its borders? 

An exchange between French and Dutch students was held prior to the evening. 

Writing the War 

The difficulty of knowing what is happening on a battlefield, the near-impossibility of obtaining concrete and cold facts in real-time, and witnessing countless broken lives. The role of war reporters is crucial in drawing public attention to wars and conflicts. During this evening, European journalists and editors-in-chief addressed the challenges they face: how to maintain public interest in prolonged conflicts? How to decide on the topics to cover?

Conflicts occurring at Europe's doorstep, such as in Ukraine and Gaza, are changing journalistic practices. As tensions rise and the geopolitical balance shifts, we discuss how the media translates these upheavals to the public. We question how to provide reliable news coverage in a context of propaganda and censorship, and how to expose disinformation. 

With: Anastasia Taylor-Lind, Sander van Hoorn, Boyko Vassilev, Veronika Dorman, and Emmanuelle Chaze.

Moderated by Rokhaya Seck. 

Europe at War? 

Five years after the announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of the establishment of a "geopolitical commission," the context has radically changed: Europe faces two wars in its immediate neighborhood. In light of current conflicts, such as the war in Gaza and Ukraine, what kind of geopolitical actor does Europe want to be? With Frans Timmermans, Tom Middendorp, and Nathalie Tocci, we will explore what a more geopolitical Europe would mean and entail. Over the past two years, Europe has had to respond to the invasion of one of its immediate neighbors, Ukraine. Although caught off guard, European leaders were able to react with measures that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Despite these unprecedented measures, Europe's ability to have an impact on the ground, militarily or diplomatically, is in question. Can Europeans agree on a common narrative in the face of such significant conflicts? Can Europe speak the language of power while ensuring the rule of law and democracy within its borders?

With: Frans Timmermans, Nathalie Tocci, Tom Middendorp, and Rym Momtaz.

Moderated by Yoeri Albrecht.

The project « in the face of war - European dialogue » has been launched at the Profesní dům in Prague on Tuesday 14 November 2023. 

• First debate "European unity in the face of war" 
• Second debate "Reconnecting narratives in Europe" 

Find out more 

2024 could be a pivotal year for Europe: both internally (European elections, the challenge of enlarging the European Union, national retreats) and externally (security issues linked to the war in Ukraine, elections in the United States, war between Israel and Hamas and instability in the Middle East), there are a lot of pressures and threats on the European Union and the European project. 

Two years after the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and against this backdrop of major challenges, it seems essential to strengthen the bulwark that knowledge and analysis represent against approximations and polarized discourses. What is at stake? A better assessment of reality, its ups and downs and the existing scopes for action. 

This is the purpose of this new segment, in Warsaw, of the "In the face of war - European Dialogues" series of public debates. By focusing on the theme of "Research and the stakes of knowledge in the face of war", this stage in Warsaw highlights the need to support exchanges in Europe and beyond on the production and circulation of ideas and different schools of thought. 

Booklet - "European dialogue" in Warsaw 

In Lithuania, a country deeply mobilised and affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting war, the “Dialogues européens” took place at the Vilnius University on 30 November and 1 December 2023 on the theme of “Culture and imagination in the face of war”. The Season of Lithuania planned in France in autumn 2024 represented a perfect setting for hosting the event. 

The two days of debates allowed participants to discuss the shock and impact of the war from the perspective of ideas and culture. 

Representatives from around ten European countries took part in round-tables. 

30 november 

• Official opening : Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University, and Alix Everard, Ambassador of France to Lithuania. 
• Inaugural session: “Ideas from Central Europe” 
• “The experience of war: a dialogue between cultural players”
• “The Eastern border in the European imaginary” 
• “Where is Europe? Narratives and the stakes of memory" 

1 December 

• Opening words : Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the Institut français 
• “What can culture do in the face of war?” 
• “What can museums do in the face of war?” 
• “Writing the war”: café debate