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#SOU2021

THE STATE OF THE UNION 2021

Europe in a Changing World

6, 7 and 8 May 2021

About this edition

On 6 and 7 May 2021 The State of the Union, the EUI’s annual summit for high-level reflection on the European Union, celebrated its tenth anniversary. The event took place in hybrid form at the Badia Fiesolana in the Florentine hills with selected sessions happening on stage in the EUI’s production studio. This year’s theme Europe in a Changing World fostered high-level debate, discussion and audience engagement on eight key topics: artificial intelligence, climate, geopolitics, the global economy, multilateralism, peace and human rights, public health and strategic autonomy.

With 161 speakers, 44 sessions, 45 recording hours, 8 overarching topics and 3 parallel streams, this year’s hybrid edition was a daring feat into the unknown! Over 10,000 people around the world participated in the online audience via the live stream and shared their opinions and questions during the sessions. #SOU2021 was supported by 24 local and international partners whose collaboration was instrumental in its success.

SOU2021 Report

Last update: July 23, 2025

SOU2021 Programme

Last update: July 23, 2025

Europe in a Changing World
State of the Union 2021: EUI President Renaud Dehousse with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen
Participants in Badia during State of Union 2021
Luigi Di Maio speaking during State of Union 2021
Cloister in Badia Fiesolana during State of Union 2021
Giacomo Calzolari in State of Union 2021
Alexander Stubb speaking during State of Union 2021

Partners

Media Partners

Ansa

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Euronews

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Financial Times

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Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

With the contribution of

Banca d’Italia

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Camera di Commercio di Firenze

Commissione Europea - Rappresentanza in Italia

Comune di Firenze

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European Investment Bank (EIB)

Parlamento Europeo Ufficio in Italia

Findomestic

Fondazione CR Firenze

Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen - Institute for Human Sciences

McKinsey Global Institute

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Open Society Foundations

Regione Toscana

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Stiftung Mercator

The Wilson Center

Data Partners

GlobalStat

YouGov

Supporting Partners

Genius Eventi

Studio Riprese Firenze

Studio Riprese Firenze

SSD Lab

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Tecnoconference – TC Group

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