DIPLOCAT collaborates with the organisers of the Third European Reflection Forum

The Third "Europa en Blau" Forum analysed the role of the European Union in the new world order. It was held in Calonge on the Costa Brava on Saturday, 1st July, coinciding with the start of the Spanish tenure of the EU Presidency. Meritxell Serret, the Government of Catalonia's Minister for External Action and the European Union, presided over the closing ceremony and asked once again to make Catalan an official EU language. Laura Foraster i Lloret, the Secretary General of DIPLOCAT, also attended the Forum.

The aim of this Forum for reflections on the role of Europe is to listen to opinions, exchange views with others and promote possible solutions to the global problems that affect and will affect even more in the future the quality of life of all Europeans. The debates about geopolitical issues and strategic autonomy featured speakers who are well known in Catalan and international affairs, including the Chinese Consul-General in Barcelona, Zhu Jingyang; the president of Ginteco World Wide, Marc Guerrero; the Director of the Catalunya Europa Foundation, Dolors Camats; the journalist and researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Carme Colomina; the Managing Director of the Barcelona Food Market (Mercabarna), Jordi Valls; and the Director of Smart Connectivity at Barcelona World Capital, Eduard Martín. The content of the Forum can be viewed via this link.

The debates concentrated on how the European Union reacts to global conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, which has shown the need to reinforce political dialogue and cooperation to guarantee the security, stability and prosperity of the continent, together with its energy sovereignty. The Russian invasion has also shaken the European geopolitical framework, and we need to know how Brussels can best approach its relations with China and Washington. The acceleration of the green and digital transitions, which has highlighted the European Union's dependence on third countries, was also a major subject of discussion during the Forum, with topics such as food sovereignty and the need to maintain control over the manufacturing of microchips or medicinal products as vital as paracetamol.

These forums are organised by "Europa en Blau" and Calonge Municipal Council, and are supported by the European Commission, the European Parliament, Girona Provincial Council, Europe Direct Girona and the County Council of the Baix Empordà. Additional collaborators include DIPLOCAT, the Catalan Government's Ministry for Foreign Action and the European Union, the Fundació Catalunya Europa, Sostenibles.org, Europa Oberta and Elink.