Launch of the Academy’s 2025-2026 programme
On the 10th of October, the 9th cohort of the Notre Europe Academy officially launched its 2025-2026 programme at the Maison de l’Europe in Paris – Europe Direct.
It was an intense and inspiring opening day, bringing together 116 young people from all over France, nearly three-quarters of whom were there in person, for their first immersion in major European issues.
A morning of encounters and discoveries
The day began with a presentation of the programme by Sofia Fernandes, Director of the Notre Europe Academy and Deputy Director of the Jacques Delors Institute.
A giant bingo game then allowed participants to get to know each other better: between running enthusiasts, musicians, ChatGPT users seeking advice on love or friendship, and above all, a large number of young people involved in community life, the morning revealed a diverse, curious and already highly motivated group.
They then discovered the educational partners for this edition:
- Les Jeunes Européens – France, who will accompany them to schools to talk to other young people about Europe;
- Cité des Chances, an association that promotes civic engagement among young people in suburbs, which will lead an European institutional simulation project with the Academy;
- The Notre Academy Alumni Association, which helps maintain links between graduating cohorts and keep on their European engagement, will offer the participants the opportunity to get involved on the planning of webinars on current European affairs.
The morning went on with a presentation of the Jacques Delors Institute and its missions by Sylvie Matelly, Director of the Institute. The participants then attended a screening of the play “Delors entre nos mains-Le flambeau de l’architecte” (Delors in our hands – The architect’s torch), created by the Academy, its alumni, and author-director Julien Avril. This play, performed for the first time at the Jacques Delors Conference in June the 20th 2025, received an enthusiastic reception: the audience applauded the richness of the viewpoints on the European Union and the powerful message regarding a construction that is constantly evolving.
A high-level discussion on European challenges
The afternoon began with wide-ranging discussion between three figures involved in reflecting on the future of the European Union:
- Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors institute and former Prime Minister of Italy;
- Clément Beaune, High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning;
- Pervenche Bérès, member of the Board of Directors of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation and former Member of the European Parliament.
Three complementary visions, but one message: Europe must remain united and bold.
For Enrico Letta, “fragmentation is our weakness in an increasingly competitive world. Without integration, there will be decline“. He pointed out that every internal division costs jobs, capital and influence.
Clément Beaune emphasized culture as the cement of the European project: “ Everything starts with culture. We need to increase the number of European cultural projects, so that each one carries a little but of European commitment.” Defending Europe, he added, requires courage, but also perseverance and a real method.
Finally, Pervenche Bérès pointed out that while in the past it was often thought that economic progress would bring democracy everywhere, in the end, a certain amount of economic progress has brought populism everywhere (or almost everywhere). In particular, she warned of the threat posed by the power of platforms and called on Europe to remain at the forefront of sustainable development.
Understanding institutions to take better action
To conclude the day, the participants were able to deepen their understanding of how the European Union’s institutions work thanks to presentations by:
- Christine Verger, Vice-President of the Jacques Delors Institute;
- Isabelle Coustet, Head of the European Parliament Office in France;
- Sylvie Matelly, Director of the Jacques Delors Institute.
All three shared their experience and their interpretation of the European institutional triangle, as well as the politics dynamics following the 2024 elections. “The European Parliament is where European and national politics intersects- it’s fascinating !” summarised Isabelle Coustet, encouraging the participants to remain curious and involved.
A convivial evening to forge links
The day ended with an after-work event organised by the Academy’s Alumni Association, allowing members of the new cohort to continue their discussions in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and to meet members of previous cohorts.
In short, it was an exciting start, reflecting the programme to come: debates, meetings and collective engagement to reflect together on the future of the European Union.
