EU lecture series #1"German Event Day "German Event Day was held on the 10th of OctoberThrough the collaborative efforts of the EUIJ ー Kansai and the EJCE, "German Event Day" was held on the 10th of Octoberat the intercultural studies'campus. This event started with the opening speech by Prof. Otsuki, the director of Graduate
school of Intercultural Studies, and Prof. Hagiwara, the director of the EJCE.
Through these sessions, both professors as well as some exchange students from Germany were able to talk about
studying in Germany and the perks that come with it. On top of that, Mr. Ingo Carsten, the consulate general of Germany
gave us a lecture entitled " what does the EU mean to Germany?". The lecture provided Kobe university students with avaluable opportunity to consult and discuss about studying in Germany.
At the end of this event, about 70 guests participated in the reception sponsered by the DAAD(Der Deutsche AkademischeAustauschdienst),and this opportunity enable us to cultivate a deeper friendship between Kobe University students,
exchange students, Professors, as well as with the locals who are interested in Germany and Europe.

EU lecture series #2"What does the EU mean to Italy?"
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Italy?"
was held by the Consulate General of Italy
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Italy?" had been held by the Consulate General of Italy, Mr. MarcoLombardi, with Italian-Japanese consecutive interpretation, on the 17th of November.
During the class of Dr. Kurusu (15:10-16:30), Mr. Marco Lombardi inspired us in his lecture talking about the role of Italy in
the EU, as well as the economical and sociological benefits each EU nation derives by being a part of this Union. His lecture
motivated a lot of students to raise questions and engage in active discussions.
It is certain that students who particpated in this short yet fruitful lecture, could deepen their understanding about theimportant role of Italy in the European Union.

EU lecture series #3"What does the EU mean to France?"
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to France?"
was held by the Consulate General of France
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to France?" had been held by the Consulate General of France, Mr.
Charles-Henri Brosseau, with French-Japanese consecutive interpretation, on the 22nd of December.
During the class of Prof. Sakai (13:20-14:50), Mr. Charles-Henri Brosseau inspired us in his lecture talking about thecontribution of France to the European Union establishment, as well as the it's role in economical and cultural sociologicalbenefits in EU countries.
His lecture motivated a lot of students to raise questions and engage in active discussions.
It is certain that students who particpated in this short yet fruitful lecture, could deepen their understanding about theimportant role of France in the European Union.

EU lecture series #4"What does the EU mean to Belguim?"
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Belgium?"
was held by the Minister-Consellor of Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Belgium?" had been held by the Minister-Consellor of Embassy of theKingdom of Belgium, Mr. Chirsophe DE BASSOMPIERRE,on the 19th of January.
During the class of Prof. Sekine (15:10-16:30), while reflecting the history of the kingdom of Belgium, Mr. Chirsophe DE
BASSOMPIERRE gave us a lecture delivering how its small country developed it's society at the point of political andeconomical view in EU. Its nation hold various kind of international institutions, thus the students obtained so many curiosityand consequently active ineractions between the students and Mr. Chirsophe DE BASSOMPIERRE was realized thoroughQ&A session.
Reception party followed after the lecture and participated the students who plan to study in Belgium, as well as theuniversity staffs, and researchers. This oppotunity also wish to enhance our strong friendship between Belgium and Kobe
University, which holds Buruxells office in Belgium.

EU lecture series #5"What does the EU mean to Netherland?" (Japanese Only)
オランダ総領事による講演会を開催しました2015 年 5 月 14 日（木）15:10-16:40 に「EU レクチャー・シリーズ」第５回として、ローデリック・ウォルス在大阪・神戸オランダ総領事による講演会 “What does the EU mean to Netherland?”を、六甲台第１キャンパス本館にて開催致しました。
ローデリック・ウォルス総領事のほか、ハイス・ヴァンスカイク副領事、また在大阪・神戸オランダ総領事館のインターン生二名も来学しました。
レクチャーは、法学研究科の増島建教授による「国際関係論Ⅱ」の授業時間に開催されました。オランダが欧州連合の歴史にどのように関わってきたか、またオランダと日本の古くからのつながりや共通点についても、大変わかりやすくご説明くださいました。
講演は英語で行われましたが、レクチャー後には学生からも英語で多くの質問が寄せられ、大変和やかな雰囲気の中で講演会の幕を閉じることができました。
また、講演会の前後にはオランダをはじめとする EU 圏への留学を目指す学生も交えた懇談会が開催され、オランダでの生活事情から留学中の勉学に対する姿勢など、学生からの多彩な相談にも丁寧にお答え下さいました。

EU lecture series #6"What does the EU mean to Ireland?"EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Ireland?"was held by the the Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Ms. Anne Barrington
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Ireland?" was held by the Ambassador of Ireland to Japan, Ms. AnneBarrington, on the 12th of November. Prior to this special lecture, Ms. Anne Barrington paid a courtesy visit to President
TAKEDA Hiroshi. President TAKEDA explained that Kobe University values the educational partnerships with European
universities and institutions.
Ms. Anne Barrington explained about the history including the ethnological background as well as the independence ofIreland after the World War. The lecture also focused on changes in light of the agriculture and industry of Ireland as well ason the economic influence after Ireland became a member of the EU. This special lecture also gave the opportunity for thestudents to deepen their knowledge regarding the influence of the EU countries for the Ireland as well as the relationshipbetween Ireland and Japan.

EU lecture series #7"What does the EU mean to Austria?"
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Austria?"
was held by the Head of Advantage Austria Tokyo Dr.Ingomar Lochschmidt
On 27th October, Dr. Lochschmidt, Head of Advantage Austria Tokyo, gave a speech about the meaning of the EU forAustria. He explained that Austria gains many economic benefits from EU membership. As a member of the common market
the country’ s economy is able to export goods and service freely within the boundaries of the EU and especially to Eastern
Europe. Due to historical entanglements the relationship with the countries to the East have been always important to Austria.
Within the political and economic framework of the EU Austria deepened and widened its relationships with Southeast
Europe in order to enhance the exchange of goods and service for the mutual benefit of all. Moreover, Dr. Lochschmidt spoke
about the imminent BREXIT and its meaning for the EU. He emphasized that both the EU and the UK will lose political andeconomic ground if the UK withdraws from EU membership.

EU lecture series #8"What does the EU mean to Slovakia?"
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Slovakia ?"was held by the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Japan,
H.E. Mr. Michal Kottman, on the 1st of November
EU Lecture Series "What does the EU mean to Slovakia ?" was held by the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Japan,
H.E. Mr. Michal Kottman, on the 1st of November.
This lecture was held in class of “International Relations” that is offered by Professor Kazunari Sakai at 4th period on theday. In his lecture with Slovak-Japanese consecutive interpretation, the Ambassador talked about Slovakia as a member ofthe EU and explained challenges and opportunities for Slovakia during its Presidency of the Council of the EU (from July toDecember 2016) as well as priority issues and tangible achievements from the first half-term of the Presidency. It wasexplained that Slovak people have a very positive view of the EU membership due to many benefits that include mainly freemovement of people, students and workers in the EU and the use of Euro, the common currency. Slovakia as the EU
Presidency country is expected to act as a fair mediator coordinating negotiations between the member states. This is notonly a challenge, but also an opportunity for the country to set agenda and focus on the issues of its national interest.
Lecture also pointed out to a number of informal summits, ministerial meetings and other events that have taken place in
Slovakia during the first half-term of its Presidency and where important policy issues were discussed. The issues include
climate change, control of the EU external borders and future EU enlargement among many others. At the question andanswer session, a student asked Mr. Kottman about negative aspects of the EU membership for Slovakia.
President TAKEDA explained the strong academic ties of Kobe University with European universities and pointed out to thelatest Joint Research in nanophotonics between Kobe University and scientists from the four Visegrad countries. Mr.
Kottman expressed his enthusiasm for further academic cooperation between Kobe University and Slovak universities.

EU lecture series #9“60 years of the Treaty of Rome: what does it mean for the EU?”EU Lecture Series【Special Lecture】“60 years of the Treaty of Rome: what does it meanfor the EU?” was held by the Consul General of Italy in Osaka and the Consul General ofGermany in Osaka-Kobe on 11 April
In the first part of the joint seminar, the Consul General of Germany, Dr Werner Köhler, covered the history of the European Union,starting from the establishment of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community with theTreaties of Rome on March 25, 1957. After explaining about the subsequent enlargements and, in particular, about the fall of theBerlin wall and the symbolic meaning of the reunification of East and West Germany in 1989 for Europeans and their identity, heillustrated the current configuration of the EU, its complex structure and its main institutions, as a result of the process started sixtyyears ago. Finally, he also pointed out the importance of EU-Japan relations as strategic global partners, considering the many
interests in common between the two areas.

In the second part of the joint seminar, the Consul General of Italy, Dr Marco Lombardi, covered the current challenges that theEuropean Union is facing. Starting from Brexit and the seemingly increasing disaffection towards the EU among its citizens, hereflected on the meaning of the last sixty years in terms of European identity, finding a connection to the first part of the seminar.

Present issues – the economic crisis, the so-called refugee crisis, etc. – are determined by external causes that are independent
from the existence of the Union itself. Their complexity makes it difficult to find a quick fix, but by remembering about thecooperative spirit that inspired the last sixty years and made us European citizens first, and Italian or German citizens second, we
can overcome our national pride and move towards shared solutions.

The presentations were followed by a Q&A session during which the students could ask interesting questions regarding the futureof the Union, in particular the idea of a two-speed Europe and the challenges of borderless terrorism.
After the joint seminar, the two Consuls General visited the panel exhibition “Ever Closer Union” co-hosted by the Delegation ofthe European Union to Japan, the Italian Institute of Culture in Osaka and Kobe University Center for International Education(Program Coordinate Section), with the collaboration of Kobe University Library for Social Sciences. The exhibition was organizedby the Historical Archives of the European Union and is currently being held in various locations around the world.

Dr Werner Köhler

Dr Marco Lombardi

EU lecture series #10"What does the EU mean to Croatia?"
EU Lecture Series: “What does the EU mean to Croatia?”by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to Japan (6 Nov)
On 6 November 2018 His Excellency Mr. Dražen Hrastić, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic ofCroatia to Japan, gave a special lecture titled “What does the EU mean to Croatia?” . This has been the 10th lecture in the EULecture Series.
The lecture was held in the class on “International Relations” that is offered by Professor Kazunari Sakai (Graduate School ofIntercultural Studies) in the 4th period. The lecture, which was given in English, first outlined the history and economy of Croatia, thenewest EU Member, and highlighted the paramount importance of the EU and NATO membership. EU membership has important
implications for Croatia in all areas (politics, economy, security) and the lecture emphasized that for Croatia there is no alternative tothe EU and NATO membership. EU is confronted with major challenges of the international politics (such as threats to a liberalrules-based order and multilateral trade mechanisms), with global security challenges (such as terrorism and climate change) andwith the challenge of migration crisis that spreads beyond the Mediterranean region, therefore Croatia as an EU Member cooperates
with other EU Member States in addressing these challenges. During the question and answer session, students asked H.E. Mr.
Hrastić about prospects of further EU enlargement in the Balkans and about the future cooperation between Croatia and Japan.
Prior to the lecture, H.E. Mr. Hrastić paid a courtesy visit to Professor Tetsu Sakurai (Dean of the Graduate School of InterculturalStudies). From Kobe University Prof. Kazunari Sakai and Assoc. Prof. Eva Hanada (Institute for Promoting International Partnerships)
attended the meeting. Prof. Sakurai explained the double degree programs, international study programs and exchange with
European universities, which are promoted by Kobe University and the Global Studies Program (GSP) which has been implemented
since 2017 by the Faculty of Global Human Sciences in order to include all students in overseas studies. H.E. Mr. Hrastić expressed
his enthusiasm for further academic cooperation between Croatian Universities and Kobe University.