The European Union has the world´s largest GDP; the world´s third largest population; and is among the highest ranking in the world for health, education and living conditions. Through NYU Florence´s The EU in Focus series, students learn about what the EU is, its history, how it works and its role in the global economy. Students who participate in a working group linked to the series will develop a deeper understanding of how EU policy-making works through the study of two specific policy areas and will further their knowledge through a trip to other European cities where European institutions are located to meet with experts to find out how the policy-making process works from the inside.

Read LPD´s EU in Focus blog and essays on this page to find out more about student experiences over the course of the Fall 2014 semester. The Fall 2014 series was coordinated by NYU Florence student Claudia Cereceda, read Claudia´s account of the students´ trip to Brussels here.

Students interested in participating in the Spring 2015 EU in Focus series, and/or being involved in its organization, can write to lapietra.dialogues@nyu.edu for more information.

Spring 2015 lectures will include: EU Institutions and Decision-Making Processes, EU History and Economy, and the EU Judicial System. The policy focus areas will be: immigration and data security/privacy (subject to change).

Introductory Workshops:
These talks are open to the entire NYU Florence community and accademic institutions in Florence

The European Union: Institutions and Decision-Making Processes, Nicolò Conti, Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome and New York University Florence
September 10, 2014, 6:00 p.m
Who makes decisions in the European Union? And who holds the legislative, executive and judiciary power within this supranational entity? These questions will be addressed in this first event of the La Pietra Dialogues Fall 2014 series on the European Union. Professor Nicolò Conti will discuss the EU’s institutional framework and political system and the policy and decision-making processes at the European level.

The History of the EU, Davide Lombardo, European University Institute and NYU Florence, 
September 17, 6:00 p.m., Villa Sassetti
How did the European Union get from six to twenty eight member states? How has it emerged from the aftermathof the Second World War and the divisions of the Cold War into the economic and political power that it is today?

The EU Economy in a Global Perspective, Giorgia Giovannetti, University of Florence and NYU Florence

October 6, 6:00 p.m., Villa Sassetti
The lecture will address the economic challenges that the European Economy is currently facing (slow growth, unemployment, large deficits etc) highlighting the heterogeneity between the different countries. Special emphasis will be on the trade and investment relationships of Europe with its main partners (US and China).

The EU on the Ground (NYU Florence students only): Student working group and trip to Brussels
A select group of students will develop a deeper understanding of how EU policy making works through the study of two policy areas - immigration and environment - and will further their knowledge through a trip to Brussels to visit the institutions of the European Union.

• Introductory Meeting and Presentation of Policy Focus Areas: Immigration and Environment, September 8, at 4:30 p.m., Villa Sassetti
• Working Group Meetings, September 30 at 1 p.m.; October 13 at 5 p.m., Villa Sassetti
• The EU on the Ground in Brussels: A Visit to the Institutions of the European Union, October 24-27, Brussels, Belgium