EU Talks 2026: Students Discuss the Future of Europe in Florence

What role should the European Union play in a changing world?

The sixth edition of EU Talks – Dialogues on the Future of Europe brings together students from partner universities across Europe and beyond in Florence, offering a platform to reflect on the EU’s role in an evolving global context.

EU Talks is an academic initiative dedicated to students and young researchers, designed to foster structured dialogue on key challenges facing the European Union and its global positioning.

The programme is organised in two phases. Between January and March 2026, participants engaged in online roundtables and thematic discussions coordinated by researchers and experts. Working in international groups, students exchanged perspectives with peers from different European universities.

From 13–17 April 2026, these discussions continue in Florence as part of the International Week of the School of Political Sciences.

The initiative concludes with a final public event on 16 April 2026 at Palazzo Vecchio (Sala dei Duecento), where three student groups present their policy proposals to institutional representatives. The event is also streamed live on the official YouTube channel of the Municipality of Florence.

Programme highlights:

• The Enlargement Process: Challenges and Prospects (15:00)
• Ongoing Conflicts and the Role of the EU (15:30)
• The Transformation of Transatlantic Relations (16:00)

16 April 2026 | 14:00–16:30 CET
Palazzo Vecchio, Florence
Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY5LcZE05So

This ValEUs initiative is organised in cooperation with EUROPE DIRECT Firenze, the European Documentation Centre and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the University of Florence, the European University Institute Documentation Centre, and Ponte Europa.