The event brought students, scholars and practitioners together to discuss EU integration and resilience in Madrid.
With the European Parliament elections just around the corner, the EU faces the monumental tasks of improving its own resilience, combating growing polarisation and integrating new member states. To discuss these and other issues with scholars and practitioners, 14 Hertie School students organised this year’s European Public Policy Conference (EPPC) on “EU Integration and Future Resilience”. The event was held from 12 to 14 April at fellow CIVICA member institution IE University in Madrid.
Hertie students and high-ranking speakers address the EU’s most pressing issues
The challenge of every EPPC: with a fixed budget and all by themselves, Hertie School students need to organise a conference on a pressing topic in Europe. As this year’s keynote speaker, the team was able to win over German Ambassador to Spain Maria Margarete Gosse, who talked about German-Spain relations and the evolution of EU and European corporations. Shortly afterwards, the conference delved into the topics of EU expansion and integration, EU trade, digital governance, EU foreign policy in a multipolar world, and Euroscepticism. Students discussed policy responses to these issues with scholars and diplomats including Gosse, Chief of Foreign Affairs Advisors to the Prime Minister of Portugal António Martins da Cruz, and Counsellor of the Embassy of Finland in Spain Pasi Kokkonen.
In addition to the discussions, the conference also celebrated the new dual degree programme in international affairs and international relations offered by the Hertie School and IE University.
EPPC is an opportunity for personal and professional development
Every year, the EPPC is a chance for students to learn and to showcase their skills. Hertie School Master of International Affairs student Krystelle Thomas called the EPPC “an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth”. “Serving as the Communications Team Lead challenged me to step into a leadership role, define my management style, and navigate the intricacies of balancing academic responsibilities with the demands of planning a conference,” she says.
The European Public Policy Conference
Established in 2008, the European Public Policy Conference is held annually at institutions around Europe; in previous years, the event was held in cities such as Paris and Ljubljana. The conference’s core mission is to empower students and future policy leaders to guide their own educational experience to the public policy issues that they consider to be the most pressing. The EPPC is sponsored by the IPLI Foundation.