I went to the workshop on “The future of Europe: hard choices ahead”. It exemplified the benefits and problems of the workshop format.
We had a good table of participants, and in the first part of the workshop we had a lively discussion about what defines Europe and what creates European identity. But then all the tables had to “report back” on the discussions. With a couple of exceptions, these reports were tedious and fuzzy.
Workshops can succeed with a more tightly defined topic, a judicious selection of table discussion leaders, and considerable design and crafting of the discussion. All three were absent.
I did love, however, what happened when Michel Barnier, the French EU commissioner for regional policy, was asked to provide his report. He stood up and declared, “I will speak in French.” I’d guess that he thereby lost about 50% of the people in the room — and provided a wonderful illustration of one aspect of European identity.