Jacques Delors Conference 2025: Europe’s Youth Charts Its Path

Legacy and Promise: A Pivotal Moment

Held under the theme “Strengthening the Single Market for a Sustainable and Prosperous Future for Citizens,” the conference was opened by François Villeroy de Galhau, Governor of the Banque de France, and Sylvie Matelly, Director of the Jacques Delors Institute. From the outset, Mr. Villeroy de Galhau raised a crucial question: “Are we celebrating today the magnificent legacy of Jacques Delors for the European Union, or are we also upholding a promise for its future?”

Recalling Delors’ boldness in 1985—when he set concrete deadlines for establishing the Single Market and later the single currency—François Villeroy de Galhau proposed a new milestone to “build the EU’s economic and financial sovereignty.”

In the face of global disorder, he advocated for a strategy of resurgence, urging Europe to move beyond paralysis and into collective mobilization, in line with the Delors method: truth, unity, will.

Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of prosperity and industrial strategy, continued in the same vein, advocating both the opening and the protection of the internal market.

In his view, strengthening European sovereignty requires two new forms of consensus. A trade consensus, combining diversification of agreements with smart protection against China and the tariff threats posed by the United States. And an industrial consensus, by reinforcing the Single Market through a sectoral and strategic approach.

He announced a forthcoming reform of European public procurement rules, expected by the end of 2025 or early 2026, which would introduce European preference clauses in key sectors (recycling, automotive, security, etc.). While acknowledging the legitimacy of regulatory simplification measures—to provide flexibility in response to international developments and market dynamics—he also warned against any temptation to retreat from the Green Deal:
“Decarbonisation is also an economic strategy. We must not abandon our goals or our values, but rather strengthen them—both in our policies and our ambitions.”

An Engaged Generation Meets Decision-Makers

In a powerful moment, four young members of the Académie Notre Europe — Martin Samiez, Sonia Nemri, Pia Dolesch, and Daniel Rodriguez-Salvana — challenged Mr. Séjourné on key European issues:

• transatlantic trade in the Trump era,

• industrial competitiveness and the investments it requires,

• the Green Deal amid growing political tensions,

• European defense and its financing.

A compelling demonstration of engagement and dialogue — and a reflection of Jacques Delors’ spirit: to think and build Europe by and with its citizens.

Completing the Single Market: Insights from Leading Experts

The conference continued with a high-level expert panel featuring Enrico Letta, Arancha González Laya, Pascal Lamy, and Geneviève Pons, moderated by Caroline de Camaret (France 24).

Enrico Letta advocated for the adoption of an optional “28th legal regime” to bypass the fragmentation of national laws, and emphasized that pooling savings and investment is the key lever to revive competitiveness. He also called for the addition of a fifth freedom to the Single Market — the freedom of knowledge, innovation, and research.

Pascal Lamy warned that European integration is now at risk of decline — echoing Jacques Delors’ own words — caught between economic weakness compared to other global powers and a rise of the far right unprecedented since World War II. He stressed that the Single Market remains Europe’s strongest engine for growth — but only if it is completed, especially in the areas of services and energy. Among his priorities, he highlighted the need to combine decarbonisation with lower electricity prices, a vital condition for restoring citizens’ trust in the EU.

Arancha González emphasized that the Single Market cannot be separated from the EU’s external trade policy — the two are “twins,” closely intertwined. She warned of the geopolitical tensions that are weakening the EU’s trade strategy, particularly with the United States and the policies of Donald Trump. Ms. González called for unity with the rest of the world — which accounts for 87% of global trade — to uphold an international order based on rules, not ad hoc transactions.

Geneviève Pons reminded participants that Jacques Delors had, as early as the Single European Act, integrated environmental concerns into the internal market project, embedding core principles such as “polluter pays” and prevention. She advocated for the creation of a true European green finance market, backed by major investments in energy interconnections, the circular economy, and recycled products. In her view, the Single Market can and must become the driving force behind a new model of sustainable investment in response to the climate emergency.

A Generation Celebrated: Certificate Ceremony for the Éliane Vogel-Polsky Cohort

A proud moment: the awarding of certificates to the Éliane Vogel-Polsky cohort of the Académie Notre Europe, in the presence of Sofia Fernandes, Director of the Académie, and Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute.

Sofia Fernandes praised the commitment of a youth that is “clear-eyed, demanding, and deeply European,” who over the past year have debated, negotiated, created, and reflected on the future of the European project. At the Académie, Enrico Letta added, “you have learned to understand the collective meaning of your commitments. And that is what gives strength to what you do — and to what you will do tomorrow.”

Europe in Action: Educational Forum

Participants had the opportunity to explore a dynamic educational forum bringing together associations, institutions, and actors committed to building Europe on a daily basis. It was a chance for young attendees to discover the many concrete opportunities offered by the European Union through interactive workshops, informal exchanges, and engaging learning materials.

Forum partners included: Erasmus+ France Youth & Sport, Erasmus+ France Education & Training, the European Parliament in France, the Europe Department of Seine-Saint-Denis, Young European Federalists – France, alumni of the Académie Notre Europe, Europe Jacques Delors, and the European Migration Network.

he day ended on a deeply emotional note with the performance of “Delors entre nos mains — Le flambeau de l’architecte”, an original play written and directed by Julien Avril together with the young members of the Académie Notre Europe.

Created to mark the centenary of Jacques Delors’ birth, the play pays tribute to his political and intellectual legacy by revisiting his core ideas — economic union, social justice, democracy, solidarity — and the clear, powerful vision for Europe that he championed. Through a collective and committed writing process, the young performers explored what it means today to carry the torch of someone who helped reshape Europe.

“This is the moment to see that theatre can take on political, social, environmental, and economic questions. It’s about Europe, it’s theatre, and it’s worth seeing to discover everything young people have to say about Europe.”
— Julien Avril, writer and director

Imagined by young people, for young people, this work embodies a strong desire to tell the story of Europe differently — through art and the stage — bringing a fresh, political, poetic, and vibrant voice to its future.

To conclude, Christine Verger, Vice President of the Jacques Delors Institute, praised the play as “the most beautiful possible conclusion” to the day, underlining the exceptional impact of a theatrical tribute created by youth in honor of a political figure. She called for the performance to live on well beyond the stage — as a tool to carry forward Delors’ spirit and to engage the next generation of Europeans.

Long live the action and thought of Jacques Delors, long live Europe, and long live youth!