The Diplomat
IE University hosted this week the penultimate event of “Encounters for Europe”, the space for dialogue promoted by Canal Europa and Talent for the Future, with the collaboration of the State Secretariat for the European Union, and aimed primarily at young people.
The building, which is the fifth tallest skyscraper in Madrid and the seventh tallest in Spain, hosted a debate focused on the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, with the participation of Diego López Garrido, Executive Vice-President of the Alternativas Foundation and former State Secretary for the EU; Juerguen Foecking, in charge of Public and Institutional Relations at the European Parliament Office in Spain; and Raquel Hazeu González, a student of the double degree in Law and International Relations at the IE School of Law and the IE School of Global and Public Affairs. Elsa Araiz, President of Talent for the Future, acted as moderator.
The young participants had the opportunity to share their concerns and thoughts on the upcoming Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin in July 2023.
They addressed the issue of energy and climate change; the possible challenges that the Presidency will face due to the ideological change that some European countries are undergoing; how the issue of depopulation in rural areas will be tackled; and the reform of the treaties to strengthen the EU’s capacity to act, including the abolition of unanimity.
In the words of Diego López Garrido, the priorities that this presidency should have in order to address most of its concerns are: achieving European energy regulation; achieving a social Europe; seeking solutions to the migration crisis; and, most importantly, reforming the treaties.
For his part, Juerguen Foecking pointed out the importance of dealing democratically with the ideological situation in Europe, with the aim of redirecting its policies towards European values and achieving coexistence in an integrated Europe.
The “Encounters X Europe” talks are a space for dialogue set up by Canal Europa, the digital media specialising in information on the European institutions, Talent for the Future, the platform promoted by civil society organisations to give young people a voice, and the Secretary of State for the European Union.
During these weeks, various events have been held in different Spanish universities to address issues such as the ecological transition, the European Year of Youth and digitalisation. On Wednesday 26 October, the last talk will be held at the University of Toledo, focusing on the demographic challenge.
All meetings will be available on Canal Europa (www.canaleuropa.es) and its mobile apps.
