FLORENCE, ITALY – Between 5 and 7 May the city of Florence will host the renowned annual conference on The State of the Union, now in its sixth edition. This year the event will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the European University Institute (EUI), one of the most important academic institutions at a European level.
This year the Conference will focus on the topic of Women in Europe and the World, and will analyse the status of women in terms of what has been achieved, what still needs to be improved and how women are perceived in different cultures globally.
“This is a complex historical moment, where the Euro emergency seems partially over but other challenges such as migration, political asylum and the European citizens’ safety are high on the agenda” said J.H.H. Weiler, President of the European University Institute. “This year’s edition of ‘The State of the Union’ tackles precisely those themes that are touching us all by giving a special focus to the role of women”.
The Conference will be attended by several high-level guests including European political figures, Members of the European Parliament, academics, representatives of the civil society and of the business sector and more than 200 journalists.
On Thursday 5 May the sessions will take place in the EUI premises of Villa Schifanoia and Badia Fiesolana. At Villa Schifanoia the central theme will be “The stability of the banking system” and Ignazio Visco, Governor of the Bank of Italy will be present, among others.
At the Badia Fiesolana the panels will focus on the main Conference’s theme of women and female figures in Europe and the world. The day will close with a live-streamed discussion from Rome in which EUI President J.H.H. Weiler will moderate a discussion between European Commission President Claude Juncker, President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz and European Council President Donald Tusk.
On the second day, Friday 6 May, the programme will continue at Palazzo Vecchio, and will include the participation of distinguished academics, intellectuals and policy-makers, including the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat.
On the closing day, Saturday 7 May, Villa Salviati will open its doors to visitors interested in touring the beautiful gardens and learning more about the European University Institute and the Historical Archives of the European Union.
A final element of the Conference has been realized thanks to the Italian news agency Ansa, one of the Conference’s knowledge partners, which has installed a photographic exhibition dedicated to migrant women, based on the news agency’s reporting in past months. The exhibition, entitled Women in the march will be held at Palazzo Strozzi from 5 to 10 May.
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