Previous events:

Selection from the Committee:

Laurens Norden

Lustrum: Defending our values? With Minister of Defence Ollongren

Jun 19, 2024 | 17:30 - 18:30

“In recent years, the European continent has seen the tensest geopolitical state since the fall of the Berlin Wall. War rages on the continent itself, and in its periphery. The Ukrainian conflict has required European nations to reassess their defence spending - which in many nations was seriously reduced - to ensure their security. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has additionally forced nations to consider how their support, both military and economic, plays out in an electorate whose opinions have shifted. Against this backdrop, former member Jonathan and current member Saskia interviewed Kajsa Ollongren, outgoing Defence Minister of the Netherlands, at Marineterrein Naval Base. If these topics, and more, sound interesting, then this is the interview for you!”

This week in:

2012

Onno Ruding

Apr 17, 2012 | -

From Tulips to Turmoil: Ambassador Fatma Ceren Yazgan on Türkiye in Transition

April 14 | 13:00 - 14:00

Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Road Ahead: A Talk with Ambassador Alle Dorhout

June 6, 2025

In this interview, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, Alle Dorhout, discusses the complexities of living and working in Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression. He highlights the dual realities faced by Ukrainians, the importance of international law, and the Netherlands' strong support for Ukraine due to historical experiences and the MH17 tragedy. Dorhout also addresses challenges in Ukraine's EU accession, the role of intelligence in diplomacy, and the evolving nature of warfare, including cyber threats. He emphasizes the need for Europe to prepare for potential threats and underscores the importance of unity and strategic autonomy.

"Steel is everywhere around us. We are sitting here below steel and without this steel structure, we would not be sitting here."

— Hans van den Berg in The Cost of Steel: Health, Environment, & Responsibility – Hans van den Berg, CEO of Tata Steel NL, April 24, 2023

Room for Discussion is the interview platform of the University of Amsterdam. We organise interviews with professors, entrepreneurs, economists, politicians, philosophers, CEOs and journalists to discuss relevant economic topics and recent events.