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Everything is ready in Madrid for the last cultural weekend organised by the Ecr Party – the Party of European Conservatives and Reformists – in this legislature before the elections on 8 and 9 June. It is no coincidence that the event, called ‘Europa Viva 24’, will focus precisely on the future of the Union, on the Europe that will emerge from the next round of elections. Immigration, tourism, traditions, artificial intelligence, ecological and digital transition: the themes of the three-day event, which will take place in the Spanish capital from 17 to 19 May, are therefore forward-looking, with the desire to create debates that will overcome the ideological barriers of a left-wing that has risked not only debasing the values on which the European peoples are founded, but also sinking the economies of the various Member States. In this way, the ECR wants to offer a truly communitarian vision of Europe, which sees cooperation between states as the real weapon for overcoming the challenges of the coming years. A cooperation that does not degrade the culture of each people, but elevates it to a fundamental key to the future.
Culture, the environment, immigration, the future: the Europa Viva 24 programme
Participants are expected to arrive between Thursday 16 and Friday 17, when there will be a morning and afternoon tour of the streets of Toledo, the ‘city of three cultures’. Then, from 18:00 to 20:30, the ECR Youth Forum will take place, followed by the ECR Youth Ball. The day of Saturday 18th May will begin with other cultural and tourist activities, such as a bus tour through the streets of Madrid and a visit to the Prado Museum, one of the most important museums in the world: a collection of works by the greatest European artists, a journey through Christianity, mythology and history. After the afternoon’s work, it will be possible to attend a traditional Spanish dinner. On Sunday morning, it will be possible to attend the VIVA event organised by the Spanish conservative party Vox. Guests will be staying at the Melia Castillia Hotel, where young people will be able to take advantage of some discounts.
But it is on Saturday afternoon that the debates really come into their own: from 16.30, several panels will be held in which many conservative personalities from all over Europe will speak. The first debate, from 16.30 to 17.15, will be entitled “Efficient and humane, a conservative alternative to illegal immigration”. It will be an opportunity to analyse the new approach that Europe must adopt to the issue of migration: no longer allowing and encouraging the relentless entry and illegal crossing of our borders, but an efficient plan to ensure the rational management of flows, promoting development in the countries of origin and transit as well, in order to reduce the motivations that lead thousands of migrants to leave their homeland.
The debate will be attended by Adela Mirza, President of Alternativa Dreapta, a Romanian conservative party; Zvonimir Troskot, International Secretary of Most, a Croatian party; Rocio de Meer, Spanish MEP; Manuel Fraga, political advisor to the European Parliament; Sara Kelany, Italian MEP. The debate will be moderated by Marilù Lucrezio, RAI journalist and Brussels correspondent.
Then, from 17.15 to 18.00, it will be the turn of the panel entitled “Tourism in the light of Europe’s Judeo-Christian foundations”. Once again, a debate on the future of Europe, on tourism, the cornerstone of many countries, which must respect and not distort the cultural origins of our Europe. The debate will be attended by Gianluca Caramanna, Italian Member of Parliament; Michael Kelly, Director of Aid to the Church in Need and former editor of the Irish Catholic; Andrzej Sados, Ambassador and former Permanent Representative of Poland to the EU; Patricia Rueda, Spanish Member of Parliament; and Gonzalo Santonja, Regional Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in the Junta of Castile and Leon, Spain. The debate will be chaired by Alessandra Priante, President of ENIT.
The debate will then focus on the subject of artificial intelligence, a resource for humanity but at the same time an unspeakable danger: it will be the task of the current and future ruling classes to contain its excesses and make it a resource for Europe, through a path of accelerating political choices in a way that goes hand in hand with technological transformations. The title of the panel is “Artificial Intelligence transforms our societies: adapt and prosper or fall behind”. The speakers are Marta Schifone, Italian MEP; Pavel Zacek, Czech MEP; Aurelijus Veryga, Lithuanian MEP; Pedro Narro, Spanish candidate for the European Parliament. The panel will be chaired by Elisabetta Migliorelli, Italian journalist and TV presenter.
The fourth panel will be devoted to the issue of sustainability, a fundamental issue for the future of the continent, already at the heart of the policies of the current centre-left Commission, but too easily hostage to highly ideological readings that are ruining the economies of nation states and destroying entire farms in an attempt to follow foolish diktats in the name of a transition that does not take into account the fundamental role of man in nature and society. It will therefore be up to the new ruling class to reformulate the content of left-wing policies in order to achieve a transition that is healthy for the environment and takes into account the real needs of citizens. Giedrius Surplys, Lithuanian MEP; Neno Dimov, former Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water, founder of the Conservative Institute; Robert Roos, Dutch MEP; Julio Utrila, Spanish MEP; and Mireia Borras, candidate in the European elections and former Spanish MEP, will take part in the panel entitled ‘Challenges and opportunities of sustainability and green energy’. Simona Petrucci, Italian Senator, will moderate the debate.
The Ecr party manifesto: for a conservative future
The last moment of the day will be dedicated to the Ecr Party Manifesto, which sets the course for a conservative future for the whole of Europe. Ten fundamental points to which the European Union born after 9 June must aspire, read out by various representatives of European conservative parties at a moment as historic as it was solemn. Ten different points, ten strategies to overcome the current European approach, which has reduced the Union to a mere union of bureaucrats and bankers. In order to finally free our continent from purely financial interests and thus begin to take shape as a union of peoples and nations, proud of their own traditions.
1. Preserving national identity: reforming the European Union and safeguarding the sovereignty of member states. Robert Zile, Latvian Member of the European Parliament, will speak;
2. Protecting our citizens: a strong defence, a united front;
3. Protecting our borders: a global migration strategy. Carlo Fidanza, Italian Member of the European Parliament, will speak;
4. Tomorrow’s harvest: sustainable agriculture and fisheries for a better future;
5. Reviewing the Green Deal: rebalancing climate action and prosperity. Charlie Weimers, MEP from Sweden, will speak;
6. Driving economic growth: unlocking the potential of the single market and Europe’s small businesses;
7. Energy and innovation: lighting the way to a resilient future. Marko Milanovic Litre, member of the Executive of the Croatian ECR Party, will speak;
8. Driving global economic growth: A bold vision for trade. Jürgen Joost, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, will speak;
9. Smart spending, smart future: revolutionising the EU budget for the 21st century: Fernand Kartheiser, Member of the Luxembourg Parliament will speak;
10. Charting Europe’s course: Strengthening global security in the face of further enlargement in the new geopolitical context: Radslaw Fogiel, Vice-President of the Ecr Party, will speak.
In conclusion, “Europe Viva 2024” stands as a seminal gathering that not only anticipates the electoral outcomes but strives to shape the future trajectory of Europe through a conservative lens. This manifesto and the discussions held throughout the event aim to refocus the European narrative away from transient trends and towards a sustainable, culturally rich, and economically vibrant future. The ECR’s commitment to a dialogue that transcends traditional political divisions reflects a mature approach to addressing Europe’s complex challenges.
By revisiting foundational values while embracing innovation and diversity, the ECR envisions a European Union that is resilient, sovereign, and unified in its diversity. As participants return to their respective countries, the ideas and strategies shared here will likely influence conservative policies and have a ripple effect across political landscapes, potentially reshaping the EU’s approach to critical issues.
This weekend in Madrid is not just a culmination of current conservative thought; it is a proactive step towards a renewed and robust European Union, ready to face the challenges and opportunities of the coming decade.