A new proposal to understand the project of European unity, today challenged by complex scenarios. This is the theme of the short course, “The Europe of Cities and Citizens” to be held from Thursday, June 14 to Saturday, June 16,  2018 in the Great Hall of the Sophia University Institute, opened by a key-note address by Romano Prodi entitled, “Today’s Europe. Which Europe tomorrow?”

The course, co-financed by the Pro Sophia Foundation, in partnership with the “Jean Monnet Chair” program of the European Union, aims to analyze the role of cities as laboratories of European integration and the role of citizens as protagonists. The lectures will focus on integration, autonomy, and European citizenship and they will introduce the European governance system, with particular attention to local and regional dimensions. A special interest is to be awaken by the workshops, where participants will have the opportunity to dialogue and share their skills and experiences on the main topic.

Featured speakers will be Léonce Bekemans of the University of Padua, holder of the ad Personam Jean Monnet Chair, and Luc Van den Brande, former president of Flanders Region and today the right-hand consultant of the Presidency of the European Commission. He will present the report “Reaching Out to Citizens,” submitted to President Junker in November 2017, the most recent and authoritative work of analysis on European citizenship.

This module opens the “Europe in a Changing World” program, launched by the Sophia Global Studies Research and Training Center.

“Numerous facts confirm that we took the right path – says Paolo Frizzi, academic coordinator – including the recent visit of Pope Francis to Loppiano, where Sophia is based. He emphasized the urgency of tracing new paths and journey together to create a global civilization of alliance. Our young Institute was established to train capable and skilful leaders, to face global challenges and promote dialogue and peace.”

The course addresses professionals, scholars, administrators, and communication operators, as well as teachers of primary and secondary schools and school managers who can benefit from the Teacher’s Charter (MIUR – Ministry for University Education and Research – 170/2016). 15 scholarships are available for young people up to 30 years old. Please find the complete program on www.sophiauniversity.org.