The Opening Ceremony of the EUI 50th anniversary will take place in Florence on 7 May 2026
The Opening Ceremony marks the official launch of the European University Institute’s 50th anniversary celebrations at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
This institutional event will bring together the highest national and European authorities, alongside the EUI community, alumni, local authorities, and students from Florentine high schools.
Young people will play a central role in the event, transforming the ceremony into a symbolic generational handover that connects Europe’s political and academic leadership with its future citizens. This unique gathering offers an exceptional forum for representatives of European institutions, national governments, academia, and civil society to reflect on five decades of scholarly contributions and to look ahead to the challenges shaping Europe’s future.
Hosted in the prestigious setting of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the programme will feature institutional welcomes and high‑level interventions by Italian and European authorities. The event sets the tone for the wider anniversary celebrations and reaffirms the EUI’s mission to advance knowledge, foster democratic dialogue, and strengthen the bridge between academia and society.
10:30 – 10:35, Opening by
- Armando Barucco, Secretary General, EUI
- Maria Tadeo, Head of EU News and Correspondent, Euronews
10:35 – 11:00, Welcome
- Sara Funaro, President, Fondazione Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, and Mayor of Florence
- Cristina Scaletti, Mayor of Fiesole
- Bernabò Bocca, President, Fondazione CR Firenze
- Alessandra dal Verme, Director, Italian State Property Agency
- Eugenio Giani, President, Tuscany Region
11:00 – 11:15, Opening speech
- Patrizia Nanz, President, EUI
11:15 – 11:30, The EUI ‘Reimagining Europe’ Award 2026
- Laureate: Sabino Cassese, Former Judge of the Italian Constitutional Court
- Awarded by Patrizia Nanz, President, EUI
11:30 – 11:45, Keynote speech
- by António José Martins Seguro, President of the Portuguese Republic
11:45 – 11:50
Message by Nicușor Dan, President of the Romanian Republic. Read by Sorin Costreie, Advisor to the President
11:50 – 12:00
Collective voices from a new generation of Europeans with the students of the Liceo Artistico Porta Romana of Florence
12:00 – 12:20
A conversation with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, President, European Parliament . Interview with Maria Tadeo, Head of EU News and Correspondent, Euronews and interaction with students of Officine d’Orizzonti
12:20 – 12:40
A conversation with the President of the European Council António Costa, President, European Council with Henry Foy, Brussels Bureau Chief, Financial Times
12:40 – 12:45
Video message by Ursula von der Leyen, President, European Commission
12:45 – 12:50
Video message by Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank
12:50 – 13:00
Closing by
- Mihai Dimian, Minister of Education and Research, Romania
- Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, European Commission
Registrations for the event have closed. You can follow the livestream at this link.
For further information, please contact the secretariat at flagship.events@eui.eu.