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# What is the meaning of Europe? - Michael Zantovsky launches a debate
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/what-is-meaning-of-europe-michael/
- Published: 2014-06-18T07:06:24.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-22T12:37:05.000Z
- Description: As part of Europe, the very idea: exploring Europe as a philosophical concept and project, a conference that took place in Bristol on May 9 - 10, Michael Žantovský, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom gave the keynote lecture, on “What is the Meaning Of Europe?”. (Video, 50 mins
- Author: Anya Topolski
- Tags: Europe, #Migrated, Politics & activism, Europe the very idea, Democracy and government, ideas, Civil Society, #en, #Import 2026-04-09 14:50, #ImagesUploaded, #appended-excerpt

One cannot escape today the refrain that Europe is in crisis: economic, social, political and environmental. Yet there is no consensus on what defines this crisis. Even the meaning of the subject, "Europe", is a matter of contention. It would seem that there is a neglected existential-political dimension of the crisis concerning Europe's identity, task, role in the world, and even whether it exists in the relevant sense. In response this project aims to investigate the idea of Europe as a philosophical concept and project. Michael Zantovsky's respondents are Teresa Pullano and Anya Topolski, and the event was introduced by Darian Meacham, conference organiser.

*The event was held at the Watershed, Bristol, and sponsored by UWE Social Science in the City , the Royal Institute of Philosophy and UWE Philosophy. Video production by Joeffar.co.uk*

![UWE- Social Science in the City logo](https://www.opendemocracy.net/content/files/2026/04/UWESocialScience_56nbqAs-1776279238632.png)

UWE- Social Science in the City logo

Europe: the very idea, an openDemocracy editorial partnership supported by Social Science in the City, a public engagement initiative at the University of the West of England

As part of *Europe, the very idea: exploring Europe as a philosophical concept and project,* a conference that took place in Bristol on May 9 - 10, [Michael Žantovský](http://www.ideasfestival.co.uk/2014/events/he-michael-zantovsky/?ref=opendemocracy.net), Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom gave the keynote lecture, on “What is the Meaning Of Europe?”. *(Video, 50 mins).*