The Europaeum
europaeum.bsky.social
The Europaeum
@europaeum.bsky.social
An association of leading European universities, fostering scholarship, excellence and leadership. We organise interdisciplinary events for graduate students at our universities and also run the Europaeum Scholars Programme for PhD students.
Only one day to go!

🗓️ Fri, 7 Nov
⏱️ 3.30-5pm CET
📍 Henry Ford Building

The EUROPAEUM's 1st Annual Lecture at @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social as part of the @berlinscienceweek.bsky.social & in collaboration w/ Una Europa.

🎟️ Join in person: tinyurl.com/5xufbxne
📺 Watch it live: tinyurl.com/5fxebafy
November 6, 2025 at 12:59 PM
After arguing that strategic autonomy should have been adopted by Europe much earlier, Claude-France Arnould discussed several of the problems of adopting a European defence capability that could be autonomous from the USA if it needed to be.
October 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Jamie Shea then turned our attention to strategic autonomy and European security. He situated his comments against the threat of hybrid warfare, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the US's changing priorities.
October 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Axel Marx explored the notion of strategic autonomy. With respect to sustainability, which was at the heart of the notion originally, perhaps its time has gone.
October 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Our final keynote roundtable of the week centred around strategic autonomy. Anthony Teasdale chaired a discussion between Axel Marx @kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social , Claude-France Arnould, and Jamie Shea on whether the idea still held current relevance.
October 15, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Our Scholars' exciting work on migration policy, decriminalisation and sex workers' human rights, tackling disinformation and supporting quality media, and promoting community urban gardens are now available on our website: tinyurl.com/mu73c2ey
October 15, 2025 at 4:55 PM
They awarded the prize for best project to from Data to Dignity, which lays out a vision for how the monitoring aspects of the Migration and Asylum Pact could be implemented while enhancing the standard of living and rights of migrants in reception centres.
October 15, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Maria Joǎo Rodrigues & Shada Islam shared the assessors' thoughts on the projects, praising their creativity, furthering of European values & emphasising the human factor.
October 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
After a brief but informative talk on the origins & inspiration of the Scholars' programme from trustees Andrew Graham & Wim van den Doel, we were privileged to have an especially distinguished panel of judges assessing the Scholars' projects: Maria Joǎo Rodrigues, Shada Islam, & Christian Leffler.
October 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The next session was the final award ceremony for the Europaeum Scholars' Projects. To open the ceremony, we were honoured to welcome back a former Europaeum Scholars' alumnus, His Excellency António Leitão Amaro, Minister for the Presidency of Portugal to deliver our keynote address.
October 15, 2025 at 4:31 PM
In the Q&A, the panel discuss strategies for ensuring no net loss of green space in cities, incorporation of social justice within urban greening and renewal and how to capture the value of nature in policymaking
October 15, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Heather Brookes from Eurocities talks through the EU’s legislation for nature restoration around the continent
October 15, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Our first panel of the third day focuses on urban greening and renewal in Europe. Europaeum Scholars Filip Scherf and Michele Collazzo explain their group policy project on funding communal urban gardens across Europe.
October 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Martin Westlake asked a new question: how well will vdL have done by the end of her mandate? Will she be in a position to secure a 3rd term if she wants to? He noted the difference between legacy delivery & delivering a specific mandate -a useful lens on vdL’s approach.
October 14, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Sophia Russack @ceps.eu noted that priorities have shifted toward defence - very different from the early 2020s. On several issues, vdL is seen as watering down/moving away from the Green Deal. Shifting politics in member states like Germany also limit what she can do.
October 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Andrea @ceps.eu next raised the issue of whether the commission should have an in-house think tank. vdL's first commission chose not to but had an advisory service, IDEA, instead, and advisors on key areas, but no think tank to provide evidence to inform policy decisions.
October 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
@heathergrabbe.bsky.social @bruegel.org noted vdL excelled at crisis response in her 1st term, (largely) maintaining unity on 🇺🇦. But it’s unclear this will last for broader strategy on security or budget. Her leadership style & the Commission’s structure may not suit long-term policymaking.
October 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Our final session today was our 2nd keynote roundtable, with Executive Director Anthony Teasdale guiding panelists
@heathergrabbe.bsky.social (@bruegel.org), Andrea Renda, Sophia Russack (@ceps.eu) & Martin Westlake through a discussion on the performance of the 2nd von der Leyen commission so far.
October 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
On the question of social media – the panellists agreed that it was a catalyst accelerating division and fragmentation, but not the cause of fragmentation itself.
October 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The EU is particularly vulnerable to polarisation, according to @richardcorbett.bsky.social we can see this at Council level and in the parliament. When the system requires consensus or qualified majority voting, polarisation can cause serious roadblocks.
October 14, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Drawing on his experiences as a political campaigner Vassilis Kessidis (EPIC) said that polarisation can be productive if it helps bring politicians into dialogue with local perspectives and concerns.
October 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
@sophiepornschlegel.bsky.social opened the discussion by outlining the challenges to democracy. She highlighted the importance of understanding why society is polarised and avoiding the pitfalls of an us and them framing that can come with conversations about depolarisation.
October 14, 2025 at 1:23 PM
This afternoon our attention turns to a key issue facing Europe: how to depolarise politics and society. With Martin Westlake in the chair, Sophie Pornschlegel, Vassilis Kessidis, and Richard Corbett shared their thoughts. @sophiepornschlegel.bsky.social @richardcorbett.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Cloos: Strategic autonomy is key to realising the EU's potential and will allow us to emancipate from the US.
October 14, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Jim Cloos shared reflections on the early formation of the European Council in foreign policy imperatives and the French desire for a strong counterpart to the European Commission.
October 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM