Skip to main content
Support
Event

The State of the Union 2021: Europe in a Changing World

Watch the European University Institute's flagship conference "The State of the Union" on Thursday, May 6 and Friday, May 7.

Date & Time

Friday
May. 7, 2021
3:00am – 12:00pm ET

Overview

The conference, organised by the European University Institute, will be live streamed on the #SOU2021 website on Thursday May 6 (03:00-15:15 am ET) and Friday May 7 2021 (03:00-12:20 ET). Click here to join.

The 2021 edition of The State of the Union will take place in Florence, Italy and will mark the tenth anniversary of the European University Institute’s flagship conference which over the past decade has established itself as a key forum for discussion and debate on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and the wider world.

The conference will address the challenges and opportunities for Europe amidst rising concerns over global commons and the climate emergency, a shifting economic and geopolitical power balance, major challenges to multilateralism, and the ongoing global battle against COVID-19. Europe’s role on the global stage will be tackled across sessions on artificial intelligence, climate, geopolitics, the global economy,multilateralism, peace and human rights, public health, and strategic autonomy.

Full programme

Follow the conversation on Twitter: @EUISoU, #SOU2021

SPEAKERS INCLUDE
  • Clément Beaune, Secretary of State for European Affairs, France
  • Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission for a Stronger Europe in the World
  • Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
  • Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank
  • Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organisation
  • Edi Rama, Prime Minister, Albania
  • Amanda Sloat, Senior Director for Europe, US National Security Council (tbc)
  • Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic Affairs, New Zealand
  • Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission
  • XIE Zhenhua, China’s Special Representative on Climate Change

The European University Institute (EUI) is the leading institute in Europe dedicated to social sciences and humanities. Founded in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the EUI has earned a reputation as a transnational hub of research and higher learning. The EUI’s outstanding doctoral, postdoctoral, master and executive education programmes, combined with our vibrant community of more than 1000 scholars from over 60 countries, create an empowering, intellectual climate where students and researchers can contribute to the betterment of society. Read more.

Hosted By

Global Europe Program

The Global Europe Program addresses vital issues affecting the European continent, US-European relations, and Europe’s ties with the rest of the world. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues: digital transformation, climate, migration, global governance. We also examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our program activities cover a wide range of topics, from the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE to European energy security, trade disputes, challenges to democracy, and counter-terrorism. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media.  Read more

Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.