Les Midis d’Europa Expérience #3 – In a “crisis-ridden” world, can Europe assert itself through its “values”?

Les Midis d’Europa Experience #3: In a “crisis-ridden” world, can Europe assert itself through its “values”?

This event will be held in French.

Date:

May 19, 2026, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Location:

Europa Experience, 28 Place de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris

Context:

In a context marked by the global rise of authoritarian, dictatorial and totalitarian regimes, the return of violence to European soil – with the Russian invasion of Ukraine – throws into sharp relief the centrality of the struggle between liberal democracy and authoritarian, illiberal regimes.

These challenges present a democratic opportunity insofar as they force us to reflect on European ‘values’ and on the model of society in which Europeans wish to live. Yet the debate around the question of ‘European values’ is often confused and, with this in mind, this conference aims to clarify the terms of this complex debate..

Questions for discussion:

In this context, the exchange with expert Thierry Chopin will focus on several key questions:

• What are the values of the European Union, and how are they defined?
• In a world marked by crises, what place and importance should be given to “values”?
• Is the reference to “values” in the European debate likely to remain central in the long term?

Speaker Presentation:

Thierry Chopin is an advisor at the Jacques Delors Institute on issues related to European institutions and democracy.

After many years of teaching at Sciences Po, Mines Paris PSL, and more recently at École polytechnique, he is currently an Associate Professor at Sorbonne University and a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe (Bruges). He is the author of numerous books and articles on the European Union, including La fracture politique de l’Europe (Larcier, 2015) and, with Jean-François Jamet and Christian Lequesne, L’Europe d’après (Lignes de Repères, 2012).

What are the Midis d’Europa Experience?

Once a month on a Tuesday, Europa Experience, in cooperation with the Jacques Delors Institute, offers a series of conferences led by experts on current topics related to Europe and international issues. Designed for students aged 16 and above, the sessions take place from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM and are free of charge. A light snack will be provided.