Event

22nd-25th September 2021

Think Tank Central: Defining Freedom Conference

Lisbon, Portugal

Corinthia Lisbon
Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro 105
1099-031 Lisboa, Portugal

We face a generational struggle to defend freedom in Europe and around the world. From the return of big government during the global pandemic, to the rise of the ‘Woke’ counterculture that endangers free expression, from the spread of cancel culture that attempts to re-write our history to suit modern norms, to the threat posed to national sovereignty by a greater centralisation of power in Brussels – across Europe and the Western World we need to bring together movements that stand to defend our freedom.

As we come out of the pandemic, the movement for freedom around the world must come together again and defend its values.

Join us in Lisbon from the 22^nd-25^th of September as we bring together the largest collection of think tanks, foundations, and liberty loving academics for a conference on reunifying the Freedom Movement.

Agenda

Wednesday, 22nd September Thursday, 23rd September Friday, 24th September Saturday, 25th September

Wednesday, 22nd September
Thursday, 23rd September
Friday, 24th September
Saturday, 25th September

Think Tank Training Day

10:00 - 11:00

First Session

Communications Strategies

Ron Nehring

11:00

Coffee Break

11:15 - 12:15

Second Session

Message Development: The Leesburg Grid

Steve Sutton

12:15 - 13:45

Lunch

13:45 - 14:45

Third Session

Communications Programs for Think Tanks

Rick Tyler

14:45

Coffee Break

15:00 - 16:00

Fourth Session

Mind the Gap: Persuasive Communications

Ron Nehring

17:30 - 18:30

Informal Welcome Drinks / Networking

09:30

Welcome

Tomasz Poręba MEP, President of New Direction

09:40

Keynote Speech

Going Forward as a United Freedom Movement

Barbara Kolm, Vice President of the Austrian Central Bank

10:00

Panel #1

The Challenge to Freedom in Europe

Europe is undergoing a great period of change, with power increasingly centralised in Brussels, and with more and more directives being passed down from the European Commission encroaching on our freedom. At the same time a surge in support for left wing cancel culture threatens our rights to free expression. Our panel will explore the challenges that we face to freedom today in Europe.

Prof. Legutko, Co-chairman of the ECR group in the European Parliament
Daniel Lacalle, PhD in Economy
John O’Sullivan, President of Danube Institute and former speechwriter for Margaret Thatcher
Moderator: Anna Wellisz, VP for External Affairs of the Edmund Burke Foundation

11:00

Coffee Break

11:15

Panel #2

Freedom and the Future of Europe

The European Union has recently been holding discussions on the ‘Future of Europe’ – but what does that mean for liberty in Europe. Will we see greater power given to the Member States and the people, or more power taken away?

Boris Kalnoky, Head of Media School at Mathias Corvinus Collegium
Anne-Elisabeth Moutet, Journalist - The Telegraph
Domenico Lombardi, Co-founder of Centro Studi Kypseli
Moderator: Hannes Gissurarson, Professor

12:15

Lunch

14:00

Panel #3

National Sovereignty

Nation States have been at the heart of Europe for centuries. However, in recent years we have seen the EU override the will of the people and the democratic governments that they elected. In this panel we look at how best to strike the balance between European cooperation, and the principle of national sovereignty.

Anna Wellisz, VP for External Affairs of the Edmund Burke Foundation
Ádám Kavecsánszki, Director General, Foundation for a Civic Hungary
Francesco Giubilei, Founder of Nazione Futura and president of the foundation Fondazione Tatarella
Moderator: Alvino-Mario Fantini, Editor-in-Chief of The European Conservative

15:00

Keynote Speech

Freedom and Innovation

Yaron Brook, Chairman - Ayn Rand Institute

15:15

Panel #4

Economic Freedom

Free trade has helped to raise millions of people out of poverty and been a driver of economic growth around the world. In this panel we look at the importance of guaranteeing economic freedom in the face of growing opposition from both the left and right.

Yaron Brook, Chairman - Ayn Rand Institute
Marko Milanovic Litre, Director, New Perspective
Lorenzo Montanari, Vice President International Affairs - Americans for Tax Reform
Elmars Kehris, Executive Director, Ekonomistu Apvieniba
Moderator: Nick King, Centre for Policy Studies

16:15

Coffee

16:30

Panel #5

Freedom of Choice – Deregulating Europe

Without the freedom to choose there can be no freedom. However, what happens when governments and international institutions start to regulate free choice? Our panel will explore the need for less regulation in Europe, and how it will allow for greater innovation instead.

Maria Cholewinska, CEO, Institut Promyka
Otto Brøns-Petersen, Director of Analysis at CEPOS
Robert Chovanculiak, Analyst at INESS
Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Research Associate - Institute of Economic Affairs
Moderator: Christopher Butler, Executive Director, Americans for Tax Reform

19:00

Annual Margaret Thatcher Dinner

After Dinner Speech delivered by John O’Sullivan - President of Danube Institute and former speechwriter for Margaret Thatcher

10:20

Panel #6

Freedom of Movement – Immigration or Integration?

Immigration continues to be one of the greatest issues facing Europe and the Western World today. In this panel we look at some of the possible answers to the problem.

Alan Mendoza, Director - Henry Jackson Society
David Campbell Bannerman - Chairman, The Freedom Association
Mattias Karlsson, Founder of Oikos
Moderator: Juan Soto, Director - CIVISMO

11:15

Coffee Break

11:30

Panel #7

Building a Global Freedom Movement

The threat to freedom is not just a European problem, across the globe those fighting for liberty are under increased pressure from all sides. Our panel talks about the importance of maintaining a global movement in the fight for freedom.

Ryan C. Berg, Senior fellow in the Americas Program and head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
María Clara Escobar, Executive Director of Instituto de Ciencia Política (ICP)
Pamela Asturizaga O., Program Manager - LAC, International Republican Institute
Moderator : Eduardo Fernández Luiña, head of Studies - Disenso

12:30

Lunch

14:00

Panel #8

Building a New Freedom Network – What can think tanks do?

The fight for freedom requires a strong intellectual backing. What role can think tanks and foundations play in spreading the message of freedom? How best should think tanks cooperate with one another? And how do we work towards building a better network?

Juan Soto, Director - CIVISMO
Azeem Ibrahim, Newlines Institute for Strategy and Policy
Adam Bartha, Director, Epicenter
Marion Smith, President and CEO, Common Sense Society
Moderator: Rick Tyler, MSNBC Political Analyst

15:00

Coffee Break

15:15

Panel #9

Reunifying the European Freedom Movement

In order to defend our freedom from the growing number of threats we face in the world, we must rally together – building a more unified movement. In this final panel our speakers offer reflections on what it takes to bring together then European Freedom Movement.

Alvino-Mario Fantini, Editor-in-Chief of The European Conservative
Barbara Kolm, Vice President of the Austrian Central Bank
Hannes Gissurarson, Professor
Jan Erik Surotchak, Senior Director, Transatlantic Strategy, IRI
Moderator : Robert Tyler, Senior Policy Advisor - New Direction

16:15

Closing Speech

The Current State of European Freedom

Radosław Fogiel, Vice-President - ECR Party

16:30

End of Conference

17:00 - 18:00

Cocktail reception

10:00 - 16:00

Visit of Sintra

Media

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