Event in the European Parliament
April 16th, 2009, 9.30-13.00
simultaneous Translation: English, Dutch, French, German
European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 60, Brussels, Room 1G2
hosted by MEP Bart Staes
The global economy has been growing for decades with a high speed, largely
ignoring the warnings of "The Limits to Growth". But in a limited system, unlimited growth is impossible. It has to come to an end, the question
is just when and how.
In spring 2008 a large international conference on degrowth was held in Paris. At that time, the economies were still growing.
Meanwhile the situation has completely changed. The world economy has entered a recession and economic degrowth happens all over the World.
But instead of a planned and managed degrowth, there is now a deep crisis, a chaotic period of the global economy. Social imbalance might further increase.
Could we have done it better and can we do it better in the future? Is there a possibility of socially sustainable economic degrowth?
Which
are the options for developed countries and how could developing countries (which still have to grow !) react to the situation?
These are some of the topics which the event in the European Parliament will discuss. You are cordially invited to participate and to contribute to the debate.
