Many exciting opportunities and challenging questions arise constantly from the changing face of Europe. This conference set out to examine several, such as the issue of national identity and the effects of relaxing of border controls.

The director of the Civic Institute, Dr. Roman Joch, was sponsored by the Neuwaldegg Institute to participate as a guest lecturer in this conference organized by the Faculty of Political Science and Communication of the University of Oradea. Dr. Joch set the background for discussion of practical challenges by presenting a philosophical framework in which to examine the many moral issues, which arise in a modern liberal democracy.

The specific contributions of Central and Eastern European nations to the European Union were highlighted early in the conference, during a panel discussion in which Dr. Joch took part. Those who have endured totalitarian communism, even to the degree of suffering imprisonment, are in a unique position to help guard against the return of tyrants and dictators. It was also observed that the CEE countries joining the EU might help facilitate the uneasy relationship between that body and the United States. After the second day of speeches, Dr. Joch was asked to present the conclusions of the conference.