The French Institute - Sofia, The Bulgarian European Community Studies Association (BECSA), The Centre for Liberal Strategies, The Embassy of France, The Red House Centre for Culture and Debate and RFI - Bulgaria present within the cycle “Europe, Here and Now”:

Priorities of the French Presidentship of the European Union
public lecture of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of France in Bulgaria Mr. Etienne de Poncins, followed by a discussion

Моderator: Тоny Nikolov (editor-in-chief, RFI - Bulgaria)

More information about the lecturer:


Mr. Etienne de Poncins (b. 6 mars 1964) is an alumni student of the "L’Ecole nationale d’aministration", promotion “Jean Monnet”. He is a holder of Licence d’histoire in Paris and Diplome de l’Institut d’etudes politiques de Paris. In the period 2005, June until 2007, May
he is a director of the cabinet of Minister Delegated on European Affaires Ms. Catherine Colonna. In 2005 he has been also a director of the Cabinet of Minister Delegated on European Affaires Ms. Claudie Haignere. Prior to this he has been appointed also as a speaker press Counsellor in the permanent Representation of France in EU, Brussels (2003, September – 2005, March). He was a member of the “Secretariat de la Convention Europeans” (the sole French representative), directly working with the President Giscard d’Estaing during the preparation of the European Convention. Among his appointments are also First Counsellor in the French Embassy in Warsaw (1999, January – 2002, February), Counsellor in the French representation in EU (Bruxelles) (1995, June – 1999, January), Counsellor Technical with the Cabinet of Delegated Minister on European Affaires, Mr. Alain Lamassoure (1993, April- 1995, June) and Editor in the “Direction de la cooperation europeenne” of the Minister of Affaires Entrangere (1990, February – 1993, April). Among his works are Vers Une Constitution Europeenne (editions 10/18); Explique-moi la Constitution europeenne (editions NANE); La Constitution europeenne en vingt cinq cles (editions “Lignes de repere”); Le Traite de Lisbonne en 27 cles (editions “Lignes de repere”, published in February 2008, available in Bulgarian since 20 May 2008).
He speaks English and Polish language. He is married and has 3 children.

More information about the event:
The lecture coincides symbolically with the date when France takes the responsibility to be the President of European Council of EU - 1st of July.
The lections' cycle "Europe, here and now" is an initiative of the French embassy in Bulgaria. It aims at provoking civil debate on the big present day questions of the European Union and to present the french vision to the Bulgarian public.

July 1 (Tuesday) 2008, 7.00 p.m.
Red hall
In French, with simultaneous interpretation in Bulgarian.
Free entrance