26 November – Founding Sessions at the Strasbourg Palais Universitaire
The first day of the Europa Power Initiative’s founding conference brought together more than 250 political leaders, regional representatives, business executives, academics, and young Europeans at the Palais Universitaire in Strasbourg. Held under the High Patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, the opening session set the stage for what would become a defining moment for those committed to strengthening Europe’s influence and responsibility in a rapidly shifting world.
Moderated by Cathie Burton, the afternoon opened with remarks from the new generation, affirming the core premise of the Initiative: the world is transforming faster than Europe adapts — and it is time for Europe to reclaim strategic initiative.
Guillaume Klossa, Co-President and initiator of the Europa Power Initiative, then outlined the political ambition and intellectual foundations of the project, followed by an inspiring video statement from Theódoros Roussopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
A major highlight was the presentation of the latest Eurobarometer results by Dr Roland Abold, revealing a clear public demand for a Europe that protects, innovates, and asserts itself on the global stage.
This was followed by The Power of Territories session, chaired by Nicolas Schmit, which brought together key regional and cross-border leaders. Their shared message was unequivocal: European power is not built only in capitals but also in regions, cities, and border communities that drive integration every day.
The Food for Thoughts panel, chaired by Mariya Gabriel, convened prominent figures from industry, technology, and innovation. They stressed that Europe must invest decisively in AI, advanced technologies, industrial capacity, talent, and competitiveness if it wishes to remain relevant between the United States and China.
Later, the floor was given to youth and participants to question — openly and constructively — what kind of power Europe should aspire to become. A protector? A rule-maker? A geopolitical actor? A global partner? Most agreed on one point: Europe must articulate a shared vision and align its means to its ambitions.
The day closed with remarks from Mariya Gabriel, who underlined that Europe’s future influence will depend on its ability to turn intention into collective action.
27 November – Parliamentary Discussions and Closing Session at the European Parliament
The second day of the Europa Power Initiative unfolded in two distinct environments: first aboard a Croisi’Europe boat on the Ill River, then within the hemicycle of the European Parliament. This setting symbolised perfectly the spirit of the Initiative: a Europe in motion, in dialogue, and navigating together toward a shared horizon.
The morning began on the boat, where participants reassembled for a methodological briefing before diving into the six “Pillars of Power” workshops, the core deliberative engine of the conference. Spread across the vessel’s meeting spaces, these workshops brought together political leaders, business figures, academics, experts, and young Europeans for an intense co-creation session.
The six thematic pillars were:
- Geopolitics, Defence & Security
- Culture & Creativity
- Democracy and the Rule of Law
- Economy, Finance, Currency, Growth & Employment
- Common Assets (Climate, Energy, Health)
- Science & Technology
The unique setting encouraged open dialogue and collective problem-solving. Participants worked to identify priorities and tensions across their respective domains, converging around a shared diagnosis: Europe’s potential is immense, but unleashing it requires a stronger narrative, clearer strategic choices, and tools aligned with global realities.
