Jointly organised by the Robert Schuman Centre and the EUI Department of History, Dr. Viviane Reding (Luxembourg) will deliver the 2025 Ursula Hirschmann Lecture.
Delivered by Dr Viviane Reding (Luxembourg), a distinguished voice in European integration, this lecture traces the trajectory of women in the European Union, drawing upon personal experience to illuminate the progress achieved, the barriers surmounted, and the pivotal objectives that remain to be met.
In her decades-long career as a European leader, Dr Viviane Reding served multiple terms as a Member of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies and the European Parliament (1989-1999 and 2014-2018) and three consecutive mandates as European Commissioner (1999-2014). As European Commissioner for Education and Culture (1999-2004), she initiated, among other major projects, the Erasmus World Programme. As Commissioner for Information Society and Media (2004-2010), she paved the way for a digital Europe, achieving a 70% reduction in mobile roaming charges. As the first Vice-President of the European Commission in the Barroso II Commission (2010-2014), Dr Reding shaped EU policy on justice, fundamental rights, and citizenship, championing equality, the rule of law, and stronger protections for women, minorities, and people with disabilities, as well as a common European sales law and the reform of the EU data protection rules. Throughout her career, she advanced landmark initiatives such as strengthening citizens' rights, pushing for gender balance in leadership, defending media freedom and internet openness, and promoting the EU's accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. Widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to justice, democracy, and human rights, Dr Reding has been a driving force in shaping a European area of justice that is more inclusive, equal and citizen-focused.
The annual Ursula Hirschmann Lecture series was started at the EUI in 2001. It is named after Ursula Hirschmann, anti-fascist, feminist, European visionary, and founder of the Brussels group Femmes pour l'Europe, a movement to promote gender equality. The 2025 Ursula Hirschmann Lecture is supported by the Robert Schuman Centre, the History Department and the Conference on "Women and Europe – Interdisciplinary approaches, innovative prospects, new sources", funded by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History at the University of Luxembourg, the Alcide de Gasperi Research Centre, the Historical Archives of the European Union, and with the support of the Robert Schuman Initiative for European Affairs at the University of Luxembourg.
The full transcript of an interview Elena Danescu conducted with Viviane Reding on her life story and her action in European integration is available under the following link
An audiovisual version of another interview focused on the role of women in international relations and Viviane Reding’s personal experience (ITW, 2022)
Registration is mandatory.
This event is associated with the EUI 50th anniversary celebrations.