Under the Patronage of
Her Majesty The Queen and the President of the French Republic
Press Release
3 October 2005
Students of six leading British and French Universities launch
the First Franco-British Student Summit
A unique forum for students and leaders from both countries to address together
the future of Franco-British relations
Founded during the Centenary of the Entente Cordiale the Franco-British Student Alliance
(FBSA) unites the students and young alumni of six major universities from both sides of the
Channel: the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the London School of Economics,
Sciences-Po Paris (the French counterpart of the LSE), HEC (the top business school in
Europe according to the Financial Times) and the Ecole Polytechnique (France’s top
engineering school). The ambition of the FBSA is to promote Franco-British cooperation and
the global competitiveness of British and French universities.
The Bicentenary of the Battle of Trafalgar heralds the first Annual FSBA Summit in Paris on
21st–23rd October 2005. Attracting some 300 students, numerous business leaders, NGO
campaigners, academics, journalists and politicians, it will be a forum for the dynamic
exchange of ideas between generations and across disciplines on the major challenges of the
21st century in which a Franco-British collaboration can make a difference. The first Summit
will tackle the issue of Corporate Responsibility in International Development.
The Summit aims to foster closer relationships among student, business, political, media and
academic leaders in both countries. It is an occasion for current decision-makers to obtain
opinions from the citizens and professionals of tomorrow’s world; it is the moment for 300
future decision-makers to forge a common and constructive vision for Franco-British relations.
1st FBSA Summit: Corporate Responsibility in International Development
Friday 21st October 2005: Paris

2.30pm: Reception at the French Ministries for Education and for Foreign Affairs

4pm: Lord Grenfell and Sir Stuart Bell MP, executive members of the All Party Parliamentary
Group on France lead delegations of Peers and MPs to the Sénat and Assemblée Nationale

6:30pm: Speech by the French Minister for Defence, Mme. Michèle Alliot-Marie, at the Hôtel
des Invalides, followed by a gala reception and a concert in aid of the Prince’s Trust.
Saturday 22nd October 2005: Ecole Polytechnique, Paris

10.45pm – 12.15pm: Round Table: “International development: a special role for the UK and
France ?”, chaired by Gen. Henri Bentegeat, French Chief of Staff, and the CEO of Thalès

2pm-5.20pm: Working Groups of 30 students and 5 invited guests debate topics (Opening
Trade Barriers, Employment Rights, Combating Corruption, Public-Private Partnerships,
Developing Renewable Energy Sources); their conclusions are collated in a White Paper
Sunday 23rd October 2005 : A ‘friendly’ sports tournament for the 300 students
For further information, please contact:
- FBSA: Nat COLEMAN, t: +44 7866 477 822, e: colemann@parliament.uk
- British participating universities: fbsalliance.com, Marc Odic, odicmarc@hotmail.com
T: +44 78 66 98 46 47
With the Support of