»Social Justice - Key Stone of European Identity« -
Opening lecture to the European Culture Dialogue
St. Petersburg – Bremen

On September 2, 2008, Jacobs University invites the campus community and the interested public to the lecture »Social Justice - Key Stone of European Identity« by Mikhail V. Shmakov, President of the Federation of the Independent Trade Unions of Russia. Shmakov holds the lecture on the occasion of the founding of the „European Culture Dialogue St. Petersburg – Bremen“, which aims at contributing to the development of a common code of values for a just and liberal future development of the European continent. The speech held in Russian as well as contributions to the subsequent discussion will be directly translated into English. The lecture starts at 6 p. m. in the Campus Center and is free of charge.

[ Aug 28, 2008]  As president of Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) with currently 30 million members, Mikhail V. Shmakov heads the largest non-governmental organization in Russia. Established in 1990, the FNPR was one of the few national institutions, which after the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in 1991retained its full power and functions. The federation’s central aims are the implementation of the freedom of job choice and a just payment system in combination with sustainable economic growth, full employment, and an open and democratic policy-making process. In addition to the promotion of workers’ rights, the FNPR operates numerous medical care and educational institutions, technical schools, and universities. The latter include the renowned Saint-Petersburg State University of Humanities and Social Sciences with about 1200 students in nine cities, of which Mikhail Shmakov is the chairman of the board of governors. Moreover, Shmakov is also the president of the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) of the International Trade Union Confederation in Brussels, which in addition to all European trade unions also represents all the trade unions of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Shmakov therefore heads several organizations, which are very well positioned to make substantial contributions to social justice in all of Europe, Russia and the bordering nations.


European Culture Dialogue St. Petersburg – Bremen

The European continent with its diverse cultures is growing increasingly together, from its Asian borders to the Atlantic Ocean. Initiated by renowned scientists and politicians from Germany and Russia the European Culture Dialogue aims at contributing to the development of a canon of values, which will allow the „Europe of the Future“ to successfully persist in the global competition of civilizations for the common good of all its citizens. The private Russian St. Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences and Jacobs University Bremen will provide an initial forum for scientific discourse and joint research within the scope of the European Culture Dialogue.