The State of the Union (European University Institute)

The State of the Union (SOU) is an annual forum for high level reflection on the European Union organised by the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, since 2011. The conference acts as a bridge between academia and policy making at the highest level in Europe bringing together heads of states, presidents and representatives of EU institutions, academic experts, business and opinion leaders, NGOs, think tanks, journalists and representatives of civil society to discuss and debate the key challenges and opportunities facing Europe and Europeans.

The State of the Union
Formation2011
FounderEuropean University Institute
HeadquartersFlorence, Italy
Official language
English
Websitehttps://stateoftheunion.eui.eu/
Not to be confused with State of the Union (European Union).

The State of the Union is not part of the regular research-oriented activities of the EUI, but rather aims to increase the media visibility and international resonance of its research centres and training courses. By putting its research excellence and scientific and organisational resources at the disposal of the European community as a tool to improve the life of European and international citizens, the EUI seeks to influence the international debate around the themes covered during the conference and have a positive and relevant impact on the development of governmental and transnational policies.[1]

Since its inception the conference has addressed topics including climate, migration, surveillance and freedom, the role of Europe in a globalised world, the Eurozone crisis, gender, citizenship, solidarity, 21st-century democracy and Europe’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The overarching theme and content of each conference is designed by an annually changing Scientific Committee, composed of experts and academics from within the EUI community.[2]

The event is renowned for high-level participation and discussion, stunning locations in Florence, networking opportunities, prominent media coverage and consistent timing; the conference falls annually around 9 May, the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, making Florence the centre of Europe on Europe day.

High-level speakers over the years have included Michel Barnier, Emma Bonino, Giuseppe Conte, Josep Borrell Fontelles, Paolo Gentiloni, Kristalina Georgieva, Jean-Claude Juncker, Roula Khalaf, Christine Lagarde, Sergio Mattarella, Charles Michel, David Miliband, Jeffrey Sachs, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, George Soros and Frans Timmermans.

History

The State of the Union was established in 2011 and originally took place as the central event of the Festival d’Europa (Festival of Europe),[3] an annual festival in Florence established to enhance the European dimension of the city and increase local awareness of the European Union. The success of the first edition highlighted the potential of the conference’s focus, format and reach, and lead to the EUI’s decision to bring the event in-house. The new mission of the stand-alone event has since been to contribute to the analysis of the European Union’s current situation and debate EU policies and the functioning of EU institutions.[4]

Format

The event typically takes place across three days. The first day is held at the Badia Fiesolana, the EUI’s hilltop premises in Fiesole, and its programme features an array of parallel sessions and fringe events. The second day is held at Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s historic town hall, in the Salone di Cinquecento and hosts heads of states, prime ministers and diplomats, alongside prominent academics, civil society representatives, journalists and business, think tank and opinion leaders from Europe and beyond. This day features high-level discussions, addresses and interviews. The third day is an Open Day held at the Historical Archives of the European Union, housed at Villa Salviati at the EUI. It welcomes local residents to experience the architecture and gardens of Villa Salviati and learn about the European project and its cultural and historical heritage first-hand through participation in guided tours, exhibitions, tastings, cultural and leisure events.[5] The array of activities on offer at the Open Day has grown substantially to reflect rising participation over the years: 1,600 in 2015,[6] 2,800 in 2016,[7] 2,100 in 2017,[8] 4,000 in 2018[9] and 4,900 in 2019.[10]

Diversity and Inclusion

Since its first edition, The State of the Union has implemented specific strategies to progressively diversify both its audience and its speakers. Presenting a diverse range of opinions on the most pressing matters facing the EU is a central tenet of The State of the Union’s mission. In 2020, 43,5% of speakers[11] and 44,1% of the registered audience[12] were women whilst in 2019, the conference attracted participants from 62 different countries (including all 27 EU Member States).[13] Each year the conference seeks to strike a greater balance in terms of age groups, ethnicities, genders and nationalities represented amongst speakers and audience members. It is also committed to increasing civil society representation at the conference.

Past Editions

2011: The State of the Union

The inaugural edition (9-10 May) held at Palazzo Vecchio explored key political and economic issues facing the EU.[14] Across four panels, discussions centred around the reforms of the Treaty of Lisbon, Europe in the globalised world, the Euro and global economic governance, and employment and financial stability in the wake of the global financial crisis.[15] 1000 participants attended including 32 high-level speakers who included 1 head of state, 5 EU representatives and 3 national politicians and ambassadors.[16]

Speakers included: Jerzy Buzek - President, European Parliament; Josep Borrell Fontelles - President, EUI; Franco Frattini - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy; Sylvie Goulard - MEP; Alexander Grushko - Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Russia; Ivo Josipović - President, Croatia; William E. Kennard - US Ambassador to the EU; Janos Martonyi - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hungary; Yves Mersch - Governor, Central Bank of Luxembourg; Mario Monti - President, Università Bocconi and former Competition Commissioner, European Commission; Matteo Renzi - Mayor of Florence, Italy; André Sapir - Professor of Economics, Université Libre de Bruxelles; Lorenzo Bini Smaghi - Member of the Executive Board, European Central Bank; Androulla Vassiliou - Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, European Commission.[17]

2012: The State of the Union

The second edition (9-10 May) hosted 1000 participants, 3 panels and 61 speakers including 2 heads of state and government and 9 EU representatives.[18] Panel discussions explored the challenges of globalisation, Europe’s role as a global actor, economic governance and EU energy policy at the time of the global recession and the European sovereign debt crisis.[19]

Speakers included José Manuel Barroso - President, European Commission; Tony Barber - Europe Editor, Financial Times; Michel Barnier - Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, European Commission; Vítor Constâncio - Vice President, European Central Bank; Fulvio Conti - CEO, Enel; Barry Eichengreen - Professor of Economics and Political Science, UC Berkeley; Josep Borrell Fontelles - President, EUI; Mario Monti - Prime Minister, Italy; Luca Cordero di Montezemolo - President, Ferrari S.p.a; Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires - former President, Cape Verde; Olli Rehn - Vice President, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Commission; Fabrizio Saccomanni - Director General, Bank of Italy; Anne-Marie Slaughter - Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University and former Director of Policy Planning for the US Department of State; Javier Solana - President, ESADEgeo and former EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy.[20]

2013: The State of the Union

The third edition of The State of the Union (9 May) widened its analysis of the present and future prospects of the European Union and sought to integrate the opinions of European citizens, through the increased participation of NGOs, think-tanks and civil society organisations, with institutional perspectives.[21] Over 500 people from 36 countries attended the event and the 52 high-level speakers included 2 heads of state and government, 8 national politicians and 7 EU representatives. 7 panels were based around 2 key topics: institutions and democratic governance, and migration and citizenship (echoing the EU’s 2013 initiative, the European Year of Citizens). These sessions explored in depth the future of Europe’s demography and economy, identity and integration, the future of EU citizenship and free movement.[22]

Speakers included: José Manuel Barroso - President, European Commission; Laura Boldrini - President, Italian Chamber of Deputies; Emma Bonino - Minister for Foreign Affairs, Italy; Marise Cremona - President, EUI; Alain Frachon - Editor-in-Chief, Le Monde; Cécile Kashetu Kyenge - Minister of International Cooperation and Integration, Italy; Sylvie Kauffmann - Editorial Director, Le Monde; Cecilia Malmström - Commissioner for Home Affairs, European Commission; David Miliband - President and CEO, International Rescue Committee; Giorgio Napolitano - President, Italy; Helga Nowotny - President, European Research Council; Rosen Plevneliev - President, Bulgaria; Martin Schulz - President, European Parliament.[23]

2014: The Future of the Social and Political Model for Europe and the Upcoming European Elections

2014’s edition (7-9 May) centred around the future of the social and political model for Europe and the upcoming European Parliament elections.[24] Across 7 panels, for an audience of close to 1000 people, 44 speakers explored the foreseeable migration challenges for the next ten years, the ethics of the European higher education model, collective memory, the shift towards mega-regional trade agreements and the potential for a new Cold War after Ukraine’s revolution and Russia’s annexation of Crimea.[25] The event also promoted awareness about the activity of the European Union as news agencies televised the live Spitzenkandidaten debate in which José Bove, Jean-Claude Juncker, Martin Schulz and Guy Verhofstadt faced each other for a unique debate in the contest for the Presidency of the European Commission.[26]

Speakers included: Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos - Minister for Education and Religious Affairs, Greece; José Manuel Barroso - President, European Commission; Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger - Foreign Editor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Sylvie Goulard - MEP; Karel De Gucht - European Commissioner for Trade; Brigid Laffan - Director, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, EUI; Miguel Poiares Maduro - Minister for State and Regional Development, Portugal; Federica Mogherini - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy; Mario Monti - Member, Italian Senate; Giorgio Napolitano - President, Italy; Romano Prodi - former Prime Minister, Italy; Matteo Renzi - Prime Minister, Italy; Weiqing Song - Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Macau; George Soros - Chairman, Open Society Foundations; Joseph H.H. Weiler - President, EUI.[27]

2015: Confronting the Future of Europe

The 2015 edition (6-9 May) saw 1,700 guests from 39 different countries attend the conference which was defined by an increasingly global outlook.[28] The programme was composed of 13 panels that discussed Europe’s need of a new narrative or Schuman Declaration, Europe’s role in peacekeeping and stabilization, cybersecurity, surveillance and freedom and the EU’s role in the world from the perspective of the United States, China, Russia, India, and the Middle East.[29]

Speakers included: Giuliano Amato - former Prime Minister, Italy; Pedro Passos Coelho - Prime Minister, Portugal; Andrea Enria - Chairman, European Banking Authority; Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga - former President, Latvia; Anthony L. Gardner - U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; Sandro Gozi - State Secretary for European Affairs, Italy; Gilles de Kerchove - Counter-terrorism Coordinator; Nicklas Lundblad - Senior Director for Public Policy and Government Relations for Europe and the EU, Google; Federica Mogherini - High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Kalypso Nicolaïdis - Professor of International Relations, University of Oxford; Matteo Renzi - Prime Minister, Italy; Marietje Schaake - MEP; Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Singapore; Frans Timmermans - First Vice-President, European Commission; Danilo Türk - former President, Slovenia; Joseph H.H. Weiler - President, EUI.[30]

2016: Women in Europe and the World

Feeding into a groundswell of global discussions about the position of women in societies around the world, the 2016 edition (5-7 May) brought a gendered perspective to an array of policy areas.[31] 1,200 participants attended, coming from 49 different countries. The State of the Union countered the trend of female underrepresentation at high-level conferences with women’s voices making up 66% of the 92 speakers,[32] the highest number of speakers in a single edition to date, and 62% of the Scientific Committee.[33] Speakers took to the stage across 16 panels to discuss a diverse range of topics including the role of women in conflict and peace-making, refugees, migration and citizenship, violence against women, employment and social affairs, gender equality and women’s empowerment and sexual and reproductive politics.[34]

Speakers included: Laura Agea - MEP; Daniela Aiuto - MEP; Valerie Amos - former Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, UN; Najat Vallaud-Belkacem - Minister of National Education, France; Silvia Costa - MEP; Andrey Fursenko, former Minister of Education and Science; Aide to the Russian President; Jean-Claude Juncker - President, European Commission; Roula Khalaf - Deputy Editor, Financial Times; Ruth Rubio Marín - Professor of Constitutional and Public Comparative Law, EUI; Moncef Marzouki - former President, Tunisia; Joseph Muscat - Prime Minister, Malta; Matteo Renzi - Prime Minister of Italy, Elly Schlein - MEP; Martin Schulz - President, European Parliament; Patricia Sellers - Special Advisor for Prosecution Strategies to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; Donald Tusk - President, European Council; Joseph H.H. Weiler - President, EUI; Ignazio Visco - Governor, Bank of Italy.[35]

2017: Building a People’s Europe

The 2017 edition (4-6 May) focussed on the meaning of European citizenship in the 21st century in the context of Brexit, rising populism and the global refugee emergency.[36] It welcomed 1,400 participants,[37] 74 speakers, of which 37% were women,[38] and hosted 11 sessions. Topics discussed included direct democracy, referenda and populism, free movement and social solidarity, the impact of the global refugee emergency on Europe, the economic and monetary integration of the EU, the labour market and free movement of people and state secrecy and security in Europe.[39] 2017 garnered impressive press coverage with the publication of 919 international and national articles, 19 video reportages and RAI’s live reportage from Palazzo Vecchio during the event. An estimated 6.58 million people viewed online coverage which was shared 72.9K times.[40]

Speakers included: Michel Barnier - Chief Brexit Negotiator, EU; Simona Bonafé - MEP; Mercedes Bresso - MEP; Fabio Massimo Castaldo - MEP; Renaud Dehousse - President, EUI; Paolo Gentiloni - Prime Minister, Italy; Heather Grabbe - Director, Open Society European Policy; Pietro Grasso - President, Italian Senate; Roberto Gualtieri - MEP; Věra Jourová - Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, European Commission; Jean-Claude Juncker - President, European Commission; Georgios Katrougalos - Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister for European Affairs, Greece; Kersti Kaljulaid - President, Estonia; Roula Khalaf - Deputy Editor, Financial Times; Ann Linde - Minister for EU Affairs and Trade, Sweden; Federica Mogherini - High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; Antonio Tajani - President, European Parliament; Chiara Zilioli - Director General of Legal Services, European Central Bank.[41]

2018: Solidarity in Europe

The 2018 edition (10-12 May) consisted of 14 sessions which dealt with the theme of European solidarity.[42] For an audience of over 800 participants,[43] 74 speakers (of which 32% were women)[44] explored the theme across a range of topics including European economic, monetary and fiscal policies, social investment, strategies of EU defence and security, migration, climate change and energy programmes.[45] This year saw the development of the Fringe Events programme, established as part of the EUI’s commitment to diversify conference participants and create new synergies between the institute and the local political environment.[46] 10 side events were organised by partners and EUI departments on topics such as “What Future for Cohesion Policy after 2020?”, “A Citizens’ Dialogue’ Measures to Contrast Poverty – Comparative European Experiences” and “Equity and Solidarity in the EU Emissions Trading System: Any Lessons for International Climate Governance?”[47] In the press over 1800 international and national articles were published about the conference.[48]

Speakers included: László Andor - Senior Fellow, Hertie School of Governance and former Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission; Brando Benifei - MEP; Simona Bonafé - MEP; Marco Buti - Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission; Renaud Dehousse - President of the EUI; Jean-Claude Juncker - President, European Commission; Corina Crețu - European Commissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission; Paolo Gentiloni - Prime Minister of Italy; Michael D. Higgins - President, Ireland; Enrico Letta - President, Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister, Italy; Sergio Mattarella - President, Italy; Federica Mogherini - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; Prokopios Pavlopoulos - President, Greece; Maria João Rodrigues - MEP; Antonio Tajani - President, European Parliament; Laurence Tubiana - CEO, European Climate Foundation; Claude Turmes - MEP; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa – President, Portugal.[49]

2019: 21st-Century Democracy in Europe

With the European elections just weeks away from the conference, democracy was the central theme chosen for the 2019 edition.[50] 16 panels[51] and 87 speakers, of which 33% were women,[52] debated and discussed the challenges of democracy in areas such as the European elections, the rule of law, disinformation and fake news, reflections on the democratic transition in Eastern Europe; the democratic legitimacy of immigration policies, intergenerational inequalities, trust in the single market, democratising the EU’s external action and Global Governance trends to 2030.[53] The highlight of the conference was the debate amongst the then Spitzenkandidaten for the position of European Commission President.[54] The debate was live streamed and watched over 12,000 times.[55] The programme was supported by 34 side events.[56]

Speakers included: Rosa Balfour - Senior Fellow, German Marshall Fund of the United States; Giuseppe Conte - Prime Minister of Italy; Hans Dahlgren - Minister for EU Affairs, Sweden; Renaud Dehousse - President of the EUI; Klaus Iohannis - President, Romania; Věra Jourová - Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, European Commission; Ska Keller - Lead Candidate, European Greens Party; Jean-Yves Le Drian - Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France; Cecilia Malmström - Commissioner for Trade, European Commission; Enzo Moavero Milanesi - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy; Riina Sikkut - Minister of Health and Labour Estonia; Frans Timmermans - First Vice-President, European Commission, and Lead Candidate, Party of European Socialists; Guy Verhofstadt - Lead Candidate, Alliance of Liberal and Democrats for Europe; Manfred Weber - Lead Candidate, European People’s Party; Magdaléna Vášáryová - former Ambassador, Slovakia, and Public Intellectual; Ivan Vejvoda - Permanent Fellow, Institute for Human Sciences; Bryony Worthington, Baroness Worthington - Executive Director, Environmental Defence Fund; Ana Paula Zacarias - Secretary of State for European Affairs, Portugal.[57]

2020: Europe: Managing the COVID-19 Crisis

The special edition of SOU took place in unprecedented times, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme of the entirely online event was ‘Europe: Managing the COVID-19 Crisis’ which fostered reflection on three key policy areas profoundly impacted by the pandemic: public health, the economy and global cooperation.[58] The format of the online event included panels, high-level interviews and addresses and the gender balance of the 23 speakers stood at 43.5% female and 56.5% male.[59] Over 550 experts participated in the specialised audience of the interactive panel debates, while over 9000 people around the world live-streamed the three sessions of the conference.[60] The scientific content of the conference was supported by an exclusive first look at YouGov international public opinion surveys on topics relating to the impact on the pandemic on various social issues.[61] The EUI created a podcast series for the first time containing key take-aways from the panel debates.[62]

Speakers included: Laurence Boone - Chief Economist, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; Giuseppe Conte - Prime Minister of Italy; Renaud Dehousse - President of the EUI; Paolo Gentiloni - Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission; Kristalina Georgieva - Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Roula Khalaf - Editor, Financial Times; Christine Lagarde - President, European Central Bank; Luigi Di Maio - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy; Charles Michel - President, European Council, Mari Elka Pangestu - Managing Director Development Policy & Partnerships, The World Bank; Jeffrey Sachs - Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University; Alexander Stubb - Director, School of Transnational Governance, EUI, and former Prime Minister of Finland[63]

References
  1. See "SOU Past Editions: 2015".
  2. "SOU Past Editions: 2019. About".
  3. "SOU Past Eiditions: 2011".
  4. "SOU Past Editions: 2012".
  5. "SOU Open Day 2018 - Historical Archives of the European Union". YouTube.
  6. "The State of the Union 2015".
  7. "The State of the Union 2016".
  8. SOU 2017 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2017. p. 5.
  9. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. p. 7.
  10. SOU 2019 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2019. p. 2.
  11. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 10.
  12. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 13.
  13. SOU 2019 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2019. p. 18.
  14. "SOU Past Editions: 2011".
  15. "SOU Past Editions: 2011. Summary".
  16. "The State of the Union 2011".
  17. "Festival d'Europa 2011".
  18. The State of the Union 2012: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2012.
  19. "SOU Past Editions: 2012".
  20. "SOU Past Editions: 2012. Programme".
  21. The State of the Union 2013: Collected Perspectives (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2013. pp. 8–10.
  22. The State of the Union 2013: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2013.
  23. "SOU Past Editions: 2013. Speakers".
  24. "SOU Past Editions: 2014. Programme".
  25. The State of the Union 2014: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2014.
  26. "SoU2014 - EU Elections - Presidential Debate". YouTube. European University Institute.
  27. "SOU Past Editions: 2014. Speakers".
  28. "SOU Past Editions: 2015. About".
  29. The State of the Union 2015: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2015.
  30. "SOU Past Editions: 2015. Speakers".
  31. "SOU Past Editions: 2016. About".
  32. The State of the Union 2016: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2016.
  33. "SOU Past Editions: 2016. Scientific Committee".
  34. "SOU Past Editions: 2016".
  35. "SOU Past Editions: 2016. Speakers".
  36. "SOU Past Editions: 2017. About".
  37. SOU 2017 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2017. p. 5.
  38. "SOU Past Editions: 2017. Speakers".
  39. SOU 2017 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2017. pp. 3–4.
  40. SOU 2017 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2017. pp. 12–13.
  41. "SOU Past Editions: 2017. Speakers".
  42. The State of the Union 2018: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. p. 1.
  43. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. p. 1.
  44. The State of the Union 2018: Programme (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018.
  45. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. pp. 3–4.
  46. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. p. 5.
  47. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. pp. 30–33.
  48. SOU 2018 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2018. pp. 7–8.
  49. "SOU Past Editions: 2018. Speakers".
  50. "SOU Past Editions: 2019".
  51. "SOU Past Editions: 2019. Programme".
  52. SOU 2019 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2019. p. 2.
  53. "SOU Past Editions: 2019. Programme".
  54. "2 May - Spitzenkandidaten debate - Sala del consiglio - SoU 2019". YouTube. European University Institute.
  55. SOU 2019 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2019. p. 2.
  56. SOU 2019 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2019. p. 23.
  57. "SOU Past Editions: 2019. Speakers".
  58. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 6.
  59. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 8.
  60. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 12.
  61. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. p. 6.
  62. "SOU Past Editions: 2020. Take-Away Podcast".
  63. SOU 2020 Final Report (PDF). Florence: European University Institute. 2020. pp. 8–9.
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