Video message by President von der Leyen opening the European University Institute's 50th Anniversary Celebrations

Thank you, Professor Patrizia Nanz, for the invitation.

President Costa, dear Antonio,

President Metsola, dear Roberta,

Distinguished guests,

But most importantly, dear students and faculty of the European University Institute,

Happy 50^th anniversary to all of you! EUI is a unique place in Europe. A research university, created by Member States, to study and to reimagine our continent. The Institute was born in a moment of global turmoil. In the 1970s, the post-war monetary order was collapsing. And war in the Middle East sparked the first global oil crisis. It was a time of great transformation. And Europe decided to change, too. We launched the first-ever enlargement, deeper economic integration, but also a new era of academic cooperation. Because a stronger Europe needed stronger research foundations. And this is why the European University Institute was born. 

Fifty years later, we are again in a moment of global transformation. We are dealing with a new energy crisis, the effects of climate change, Russia's war on our continent, the redrawing of global alliances. Our task is clear. Europe must break free from the tyranny of global crises. We must take responsibility for our defence and security. We must secure the energy, the technology, the raw materials and the export markets of tomorrow. And we must have the freedom and the power to determine our own destiny. This is Europe's independence moment.

To meet this moment, we need unwavering political commitment and massive investment. But we also need world-class research institutions like EUI. All of you understand why. Europe must be at the forefront of scientific and technological progress. This is the foundation of our independence. And it requires that we retain and attract the best talents from across the world. This is exactly what EUI has always done. You have become a global point of reference for European studies. You attract students and scholars from over 100 countries. We need the same power to attract talent all across the board. And this is why we have created the Choose Europe initiative, with roughly 900 million euros in funding. Since we launched it, applications from abroad for European Research Council grants have more than doubled. We choose science. And science is choosing Europe.

Of course, I am not only talking about natural sciences. Social sciences are just as important. As we embark on our independence mission, we need the best advice on the great policy issues of our times. How must our institutions adapt in a new era? How do we respond to the rise of new technologies? How do we defend democracy and the rule of law in a world where might makes right? This is where policy-making meets academia. This is where knowledge meets our values. And where the EUI has always excelled. 50 years after your foundation, we need you more than ever. So happy birthday to the whole EUI community.

Long live the European University Institute. And long live Europe.