Jacques Delors Agora 2026

The 2026 Edition

The 2026 edition of the Jacques Delors Agora was held under the theme “One Europe, One Market.”

This year, about a hundred young people gathered in Rome from June 30 to July 3.

On the agenda:

• Lectures and debates on the future of the European Union featuring high-level speakers such as Jessica Rosewall, Enrico Letta, and Eric Philippart;
• Discussions centered on the European Single Market, enriched by other major themes such as defense, geopolitical shifts, and artificial intelligence;
• Visits and highlights at iconic sites such as the Italian Senate and the Capitoline Museum.

Who were the participants in the 2026 edition?

About 100 young people from around the world were selected, representing 17 different nationalities. The group stood out for its great diversity, both in terms of status and background. It included students, working professionals, and unemployed individuals. The average age this year was 25.

A Day with Us at the Agora Jacques Delors 2026 in Rome

On July 1, 2026, our second day in Rome began with a visit to the Capitoline Museum, followed by three panel discussions focused on major European challenges.

During the first conference, Nicole Gnesotto, vice president of the Jacques Delors Institute, addressed a major issue: European defense and the creation of a true European defense market.

According to her:

• In light of the war in Ukraine and shifts in the U.S. position, Europe must strengthen its strategic autonomy.
• There is a consensus on the need to invest more in defense and to support a European defense industry.
• However, member states continue to rely heavily on the United States, particularly through NATO.
• The creation of a European defense market—for example, through a European preference—remains a challenge in the face of national interests and existing dependencies.

While a European defense capability seems more necessary than ever, building it remains a major political, strategic, and industrial challenge.

The second panel discussion, moderated by Geneviève Pons, Director and President of Europe Jacques Delors, focused on a key challenge: balancing regulatory simplification with environmental ambition. According to her, the harmonization of internal market rules is essential to the proper functioning of the EU. However, the proliferation of reporting requirements can also create administrative burdens and hinder the effectiveness of European action.

The challenge, therefore, is to better coordinate the rules without weakening them. Simplification must not come at the expense of Europe’s ambitions: the goal is to create regulations that are clearer, more consistent, and more effective.

Finally, Eliana Zito, EU Content Creator and Community Manager at DG CONNECT, led a workshop titled “Communicating About Europe.” She emphasized that institutions and policymakers must embrace social media and the norms of digital culture, making communication a true strategic tool for building strong support for the European Single Market, complemented by a variety of topics, including defense, geopolitics, and artificial intelligence, among others. This approach allows them to reach younger generations and break out of the institutional bubble.

A Look Back at a Highlight: The Certificate Ceremony

On Friday, July 3, for our last day in Rome, we had an appointment at the Senate of the Italian Republic.

The morning began with a presentation by Éric Philippart on the European Single Market, covering its creation, its evolution, and the challenges that still lie ahead.

We then proceeded to the chamber, where Enrico Letta, Sofia Fernandes (director of the Notre Europe Academy), Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida (president of the Academia Europea Leadership in Barcelona), and Carla Bassu (president of the Scuola di Politiche in Rome) presented each participant with a certificate in recognition of their commitment throughout the four-day program.

The ceremony, held in a highly symbolic venue, brought this edition of the Jacques Delors Agora to a memorable close.