Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
▶️ Session One: Welcome and introductory remarks
Europe Towards 2040
Today, strategic foresight is a key tool in strategic planning and policy-making in Europe, and elsewhere in the world. Foresight can help us anticipate, prepare better for the future and shape the future we want, rather than reacting or being driven by events. In this opening session, leaders of the European Parliament and the European Commission will share their insights on Europe's path to 2040, the challenges ahead of us, the role of foresight in policy-making, and consider ways in which we can make the right strategic choices to ensure our resilience and achieve EU long-term goals. In the years to come, politicians will face enormous challenges in guiding our societies, economies and peoples through turbulent times in an increasingly fragmented world. How can foresight help shape the right policies for the future? How can the European Union demonstrate leadership in an era of uncertainty and rapid change? How can we make sure that today’s strategic choices do no harm to future generations, but instead secure their well-being and opportunities?
Welcome and introductory remarks:
Pascal Leardini, Chair of ESPAS; Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Operating Officer, Secretariat-General, European Commission
Speakers:
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport
Victor Negrescu, MEP Vice-President, European Parliament
Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Republic of Cyprus
▶️ Session One: Welcome and introductory remarks
Europe Towards 2040
Today, strategic foresight is a key tool in strategic planning and policy-making in Europe, and elsewhere in the world. Foresight can help us anticipate, prepare better for the future and shape the future we want, rather than reacting or being driven by events. In this opening session, leaders of the European Parliament and the European Commission will share their insights on Europe's path to 2040, the challenges ahead of us, the role of foresight in policy-making, and consider ways in which we can make the right strategic choices to ensure our resilience and achieve EU long-term goals. In the years to come, politicians will face enormous challenges in guiding our societies, economies and peoples through turbulent times in an increasingly fragmented world. How can foresight help shape the right policies for the future? How can the European Union demonstrate leadership in an era of uncertainty and rapid change? How can we make sure that today’s strategic choices do no harm to future generations, but instead secure their well-being and opportunities?
Welcome and introductory remarks:
Pascal Leardini, Chair of ESPAS; Deputy Secretary-General and Chief Operating Officer, Secretariat-General, European Commission
Speakers:
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport
Victor Negrescu, MEP Vice-President, European Parliament
Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Republic of Cyprus
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See the paper publication behind this podcast:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2023)753159
Subscribe to EPRS Science and Technology Podcasts:
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See the publication behind this podcast:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/762469/EPRS_BRI(2024)762469_EN.pdf
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Subscribe to EPRS Policy Podcasts: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/audio-podcasts.html
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https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2023)753948")
