Fundació Catalunya Europa

The Fundació Catalunya Europa, together with the European Parliament Office in Barcelona and the Ateneu Barcelonès, organized an event to follow up and analyze the results of the European elections this past Sunday, June 9th.

The European Election Night, held in the garden of the Ateneu Barcelonès, combined analysis, interactive activities, and music to deepen the understanding of European challenges in a friendly and relaxed manner.

The event started at 8 p.m. and lasted until midnight, beginning with welcoming speeches from Airy Maragall, president of the Fundació Catalunya Europa, Isona Passola, president of the Ateneu Barcelonès, and Sergi Barrera, head of the European Parliament Office in Barcelona.

The event gathered up to 200 people, including youth organizations, the European movement, and the general public, and was hosted by journalist Lara Malvesí, who also moderated the debate panels.

The first analysis panel featured prominent experts such as Eva Anduiza, professor of Political Science, Steven Forti, historian and expert on the far right, Henry de Laguérie, journalist and correspondent for Belgian and French radios in Barcelona, and Débora Miralles, political scientist and head of international affairs at COLPIS.

Among other topics, they discussed the distance between the European Parliament and citizens of the different member countries, highlighting the need for better understanding of how the EU functions and decisions are made at the European level. Eva Anduiza pointed out the challenge of motivating voters for a Parliament, the European one, which ultimately does not directly elect an executive. Henry de Laguérie responded live to the implications of the dissolution of the French National Assembly due to the election results and its impact at the European level. Steven Forti reviewed the rise of the far right in Italy and how this country has been anticipating various political waves in Europe, explaining that it will be interesting to see Giorgia Meloni’s role in future European alliances.

As the official results approached, the atmosphere in the Ateneu garden came alive with a Kahoot about the European Union, allowing attendees to test their knowledge in a fun and engaging way.

The European Election Night also featured youth organizations such as Deba-t.org, Equipo Europa, Cafè Continental, JEF, and Europa Importa, among others. The latter took to the stage to present their initiative aimed at promoting university student participation in the European Parliament elections through information, debate, and action.

To conclude, Dolors Camats reminded everyone that Europe has progressed during moments of great difficulty and that "it is in times of crisis that we must turn necessity into virtue and continue striving to build a stronger Europe."

The European Election Night not only served to closely follow the election results but also to encourage debate and reflection on the future of Europe and the role of citizens in building the European project. It was an evening of active participation, critical thinking, and engagement, once again demonstrating the importance and relevance of Europe in our society.