{"id":20899,"global_id":"events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/?id=20899","global_id_lineage":["events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/?id=20899"],"author":"7","status":"publish","date":"2026-06-15 14:35:47","date_utc":"2026-06-15 10:35:47","modified":"2026-06-15 17:16:30","modified_utc":"2026-06-15 13:16:30","url":"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/event\/12-13-ivniss-debatebi-evropaze-thbilisi-2026-thbilisshi-itsvevs-tsnobil-mtserlebs-metsnierebs-mkvlevrebsa-da-zhurnalistebs-thavisuphlebis-istoriisa-da-demokratiis-aqtualur-sakithkhebze-msjelobisthvis\/","rest_url":"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/wp-json\/tribe\/events\/v1\/events\/20899","title":"The Tbilisi Debate on Europe","description":"<p><strong>On 12-13 June, the\u00a0Tbilisi Debate on Europe\u00a0gathers writers, scholars and journalists to confront urgent questions of freedom, history and democracy. Looking from Georgia, what is at stake for Europe today?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Today, there is hardly any other city in Europe where European values \u2013 including democracy, the rule of law and personal freedoms \u2013 are more fiercely attacked and at the same time vigorously defended than in Tbilisi. Since 2022, following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Georgia has experienced a constant struggle between authoritarian and democratic forces, where the name and idea of Europe is incessantly invoked and contested.<\/p>\n<p>In this situation, Debates on Europe find it of utmost importance to give a strong sign of solidarity with the individuals and institutions standing up for basic democratic and human rights in Georgia \u2013 writers, publishers, journalists, academics, civil society representatives.<\/p>\n<p>From 12 to 13 June, Tbilisi becomes a vantage point for rethinking Europe. Across debates, lectures and encounters, leading thinkers explore history, freedom and the future of the continent \u2013 from its often overlooked margins.<\/p>\n<p>In Tbilisi, international professionals will engage in talks with Georgian colleagues. The main aim of the\u00a0Tbilisi Debate on Europe\u00a0is to discuss the ideas and values that have forged Europe through a long history and to understand what part Georgia has played \u2013 and continues to play \u2013 in the European past, present and future.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>12 June | Public Discussions at Ilia State University<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Welcome Addresses<\/strong>\u00a0by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nino Doborjginidze,\u00a0<\/strong>Rector, Ilia State University; GE<\/li>\n<li><strong>Zane Rungule,\u00a0<\/strong>Charg\u00e9e d\u2019Affaires, EU Delegation to Georgia<\/li>\n<li><strong>Carl Henrik Fredriksson,<\/strong>\u00a0Programme Director, Debates on Europe; SE\/AT<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/event\/anel-discussion-thinking-speaking-and-writing-under-pressure-academic-freedom\/\"><strong>Thinking, Speaking and Writing Under Pressure \u2013 Academic Freedom<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/event\/keynote-speech-by-karl-schlogel-the-re-conceptualization-of-european-history-and-the-present-moment\/\">Keynote Speech by Karl Schl\u00f6gel &#8220;The re-conceptualization of European history and the present moment&#8221;<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/event\/panel-discussion-de-centering-the-story-re-writing-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Panel discussion \u201cDe-Centering the Story, Re-Writing History\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>13 June<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/en\/event\/the-tbilisi-speech-to-europe-public-speech-by-michal-hvorecky-at-ilia-state-university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>The Tbilisi Speech to Europe &#8211; Public Speech by Michal Hvoreck\u00fd at Ilia State University\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div>See the full programme at\u00a0<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><a style=\"color: #800000;\" href=\"https:\/\/iliauni.edu.ge\/uploads\/other\/92\/92338.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the link<\/a><\/span>.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since its inception in 2012, Debates on Europe has been hosted in places where the idea of Europe is at stake. In international discussion forums it addresses the most pressing issues on the European agenda, furthering free and open debate on cultural and social issues. In 2026, Debates on Europe is hosted in Tbilisi.<\/p>\n<p>Organizers and supporters: S. Fischer Foundation, Academy for German Language and Literature, Ilia State University, Leibniz Centre for Literary and Cultural Research, Georgian Book Association, PEN Georgia, Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Embassy of Germany in Georgia,\u00a0<span lang=\"EN-US\">Embassy of Sweden in Georgia, SCEEUS,<\/span>\u00a0Gottfried Michelmann Foundation, West-Eastern Encounters Foundation, Treuhand, Voxeurop<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>More details about the debates:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.debates-on-europe.eu\/doe-tbilisi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tbilisi 2026 \u2013 Debates On Europe<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Working languages:<\/strong>\u00a0Georgian, English<\/p>\n<p><strong>Date<\/strong>: 12-13 June<\/p>\n<p><strong>Venue<\/strong>: Ilia State University, Room B201, 32 Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue<\/p>\n<p>Admission is free.<\/p>\n<p>Please complete the registration form for media accreditation\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/EMhSXAeJCjSTizvBA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/forms.gle\/EMhSXAeJCjSTizvBA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1781286856779000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2ifoibL3ELIZ70yrl3D3ev\">https:\/\/forms.gle\/EMhSXAeJCjSTizvBA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-20900\" src=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-212x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"709\" height=\"1003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-212x300.png 212w, https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-724x1024.png 724w, https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-768x1086.png 768w, https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-1086x1536.png 1086w, https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-1448x2048.png 1448w, https:\/\/events.iliauni.edu.ge\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/92322-scaled.png 1810w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 100vw, 709px\" 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