The 2021 edition of The State of the Union took place in Florence, Italy and marked the tenth anniversary of the European University Institute’s flagship conference which over the past decade has established itself as a key forum for discussion and debate on the most pertinent issues facing Europe and the wider world.
The conference addressed the challenges and opportunities for Europe amidst rising concerns over global commons and the climate emergency, a shifting economic and geopolitical power balance, major challenges to multilateralism, and the ongoing global battle against COVID-19. Europe’s role on the global stage tackled across sessions on artificial intelligence, climate, geopolitics, the global economy,multilateralism, peace and human rights, public health, and strategic autonomy.
The conference, organised by the European University Institute, was live streamed on the #SOU2021 website on Thursday May 6 (9:00-18:15 CET) and Friday May 7 2021 (9:00-18:20 CET).