Upcoming events

The last Leader of the UK Labour Party's MEPs

Title of the event: Brexit 10 Years On: A Broken Legacy?

Date: Wednesday, 14.10.26 (Week 1)

Time: 17:30

Location: University College, tbc

Award-winning journalist & CEO of All For Ukraine

Title of the event: How NOT to Flee a War

Date: Thursday, 22.10.26 (Week 2)

Time: 17:30

Location: Brasenose College, Amersi Room

Professor of European Studies and Best-Selling Author

Title of the event: Europe in 7 1/2 chapters - book launch

Date: Friday, 28.10.26 (Week 3)

Time: 17:00

Location: St Antony’s College

British writer, journalist, security specialist and politician

Title of the event: The Next Battlefield Is Your Mind: How Russia and China Wage Influence Wars

Date: Thursday, 29.10.26 (Week 3)

Time: 17:00

Location: Brasenose College, Amersi Room

The Ambassador of Finland in the UK

Title of the event: From Neutrality to NATO: In Conversation with H.E. Teemu Turunen, Ambassador of Finland to the United Kingdom.

Date: Tuesday, 03.11.26 (Week 4)

Time: 17:00

Location: Brasenose College, Amersi Room

An Associate Professor at Vilnius University

Title of the event: Can Europe Resist a World of Spheres? The EU after the Return of the Monroe Doctrine

Date: Wednesday, 06.11.26 (Week 4)

Time: 16:00

Location: Merton College, tbc

Research Fellow in Climate, Energy and Defence, Organised Crime and Policing at RUSI

Title of the event: Energy Security in a Changing Europe: Energy Independence, Resilience and Geopolitical Risk

Date: Thursday, 12.11.26 (Week 5)

Time: 17:00

Location: Merton College, tbc

A British novelist and popular historian

Title of the event: Englishness, Britishness and Modern Politics: A Historical Perspective

Date: Friday, 20.11.26 (Week 6)

Time: 14:30

Location: University College, tbc

German Ambassador to the United Kingdom

Title of the event: Rethinking European Security: Britain, Germany and the Changing Character of Conflict

Date: Friday, 27.11.26 (Week 7)

Time: 11:00

Location: Lincoln College, Oakeshott Room

Journalist & European Affairs correspondent

Title of the event: Europe in a turbulent world

Date: Wednesday, 29.04.26 (Week 1)

Time: 17:00

Location: Lincoln College, Lower Lecture Room

Best-selling author & Professor

Title of the event: The European Crisis

Date: Wednesday, 06.05.26 (Week 2)

Time: 17:00

Location: Lincoln College, Oakeshott Room

Deputy minister for communities, territories and infrastructure of Ukraine

Title of the event: Rebuilding Ukraine: A Fireside Chat with Oleksandra Azarkhina

Date: Friday, 08.05.26 (Week 2)

Time: 17:00

Location: Lincoln College, Oakeshott Room

Member of European Parliament

Title of the event: Democracy under attack – how foreign powers seek to divide Europe

Date: Thursday, 14.05.26 (Week 3)

Time: 17:00

Location: Lincoln College, Langford Room

Moldovan politician and expert on EU accession

Title of the event: Moldova at the Crossroads: Surviving the Russian Hybrid War, Democratic Resilience, and the European Future

Date: Monday, 18.05.26 (Week 4)

Time: 17:00

Location: Brasenose College, Old Library

Former Director General of the European Parliamentary Research Service

Title of the event: Six ideas for increasing European power: How to help the EU survive its next 75 years

Date: Wednesday, 20.05.26 (Week 4)

Time: 17:00

Location: Lincoln College, Langford Room

Author & Lecturer in Politics

Title of the event: EU populism & democratic backsliding including lessons from Hungary

Date: Thursday, 28.05.26 (Week 5)

Time: 17:30

Location: Lincoln College, Langford Room

Talk: Will Orbán win? National Elections in Hungary and the Future of Europe, March 2026

Miklós Hajnal is a Hungarian opposition politician and Member of Parliament for the Momentum Movement. Known for his pragmatic and reform-oriented approach, he has been an outspoken critic of Viktor Orbán’s government, advocating for democratic renewal, fairer political competition, and closer alignment with European values.

Rountable: Europe at a Crossroads: Decline or Renewal?, March 2026

Outi Slotboom is a Managing Director at the European Commission, responsible for supply chains and Business Analysis at DG GROW. Slotboom plays a central role in shaping EU industrial policy to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy of European industry. Her work focuses on securing critical supply chains, responding to global disruptions, and advancing policies to integrate the Single Market in an increasingly volatile geopolitical and economic environment.

Panel Discussion: How Wars End: Military Scenarios for Peace in Russia´s War Against Ukraine, March 2026

Captain Dmytro Donskoi (Armed Forces of Ukraine), Vice-Admiral Luc Raynal (French Armed Forces), LtCol Nadir Attar (German Armed Forces), and Col Wolfgang Weichselberger (Austrian Armed Forces) bring a uniquely grounded and European-wide perspective on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Drawing on their respective national and operational roles, they will reflect on the war’s trajectory, the realities on the ground, and the conditions under which a sustainable peace might emerge, offering insight into how military developments shape diplomatic possibilities and Europe’s future security landscape.

Talk: The deconstruction of our society and the end of enlightenment – can we save Western democracy?, February 2026

Andreas Zivy is President of the Swiss Democracy Foundation and a Swiss entrepreneur engaged in promoting democratic governance and civic engagement. In his work, he focuses on the challenges facing liberal democracies, including declining public trust, polarisation, and the impact of technological change on political discourse. In this talk, he reflected on the deeper forces reshaping Western societies and asked whether the values of the Enlightenment can be renewed in the face of growing pressure on democratic systems.

Talk: European Security Today: Challenges in the Baltic Region, February 2026

H.E. Ambassador Asta Radikaitė is the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Kingdom, with nearly three decades of diplomatic experience across Europe and within the EU. Having served in senior roles at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the heart of EU policymaking in Brussels, she brings a Baltic perspective shaped by both national and European security concerns. Radikaitė reflected on the strategic importance of the Baltic region, Lithuania’s leading role in supporting Ukraine, and what these developments mean for European defence, resilience, and the future of security on the continent.

Talk: Spanish Foreign Policy in an Era of Uncertainty, February 2026

H.E. Ildefonso Castro is a senior Spanish diplomat and former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with extensive experience across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Having served in key roles within Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the heart of government, he brings a broad and strategic perspective on international relations. Castro offered insight into Spain’s foreign policy and the often underexplored southern dimension of European security, highlighting how developments in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and beyond shape the EU’s broader geopolitical priorities.

Talk: The ECA's role in the EU: Contributions to the Union and emerging challenges, January 2026

Tony Murphy is President of the European Court of Auditors, the EU’s independent body responsible for scrutinising how public funds are spent. With a career spanning the European Commission and the ECA, he plays a central role in ensuring accountability and transparency in EU budget implementation, particularly at a time of rising expenditure following the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Known for his focus on fiscal discipline and reducing inefficiencies, Murphy offered a key institutional perspective on how the Union manages its finances and delivers on its policy ambitions.

Talk: Greenland, Trump, and the EU’s Strategic Wake-Up Call: Can Europe Protect Its Interests?, January 2026

Sir Ivan Rogers is a senior British diplomat and former UK Permanent Representative to the European Union, with extensive experience at the heart of European policymaking. Having served as Adviser on Europe to the Prime Minister and as Principal Private Secretary to Tony Blair, he brings a deep understanding of EU politics, UK–EU relations, and transatlantic dynamics. Known for his candid and strategic analysis, Sir Ivan offered an internal perspective on Europe’s role in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment.

Workshop: European student activism in times of rising populism, December 2025

Valentin Doupuey is Director of External Relations, Communication & Events at the College of Europe, where he leads strategic outreach and engagement. He has broad experience across EU institutions, including the European Commission and political youth networks. He also co-developed the European Green Party campaign for their 2021 election cycle, pioneering grassroot political campaigning and tailored social media engagement.

Fireside Chat: On the Frontlines - Ground support for Ukraine, December 2025

Jonas Ohman is the founder of the Lithuania-based NGO Blue/Yellow, which has provided continuous frontline support to Ukraine’s armed forces and civilians since 2014, with a focus one drone innovation. Under his leadership, the organisation has become a key channel for delivering equipment, medical aid and logistical support provided by European countries to Ukraine in its defence against Russian aggression.

Panel Discussion: After the Break: How Brexit Reshaped Britain’s Power and Prosperity, November 2025

Anand Menon is a British political scientist and Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King’s College London. He is also Director of UK in a Changing Europe, a research initiative focusing on the UK–EU relationship and its broader political implications. John Springford is an associate fellow at the Centre for European Reform in London, specialising in the economic and political impacts of Brexit and EU–UK relations.

Talk: Europe's Survival and the Politics of German “Zeitenwende”, November 2025

Johannes Volkmann is a German politician and Member of the Deutscher Bundestag for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In parliament he serves as an ordinary member of the Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development, where he engages in shaping Germany’s foreign policy and international relations. Before his election to the Bundestag he worked in the European Parliament.

Talk: Protecting Europe’s Southern Flank: The New Scramble for Africa, November 2025

Charlie Stuart is a senior EU diplomat serving as Chief Peace & Security Advisor on Africa at the European Union’s External Action Service (EEAS). In this role he advises on peace, security and strategic engagement with African partners, drawing on extensive experience in EU external affairs, several postings to African countries and policy development to inform Europe’s approach to security challenges and partnerships on the continent.

Talk: Towards a military union? The role of the military within the EU, October 2025

Coenraad Reumer is Political Advisor to the Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS). A former officer in the Dutch Armed Forces, he has served on several international missions and brings extensive operational and policy experience. His current work focuses on coordinating European rearmament efforts and advancing collective defense readiness in response to evolving security challenges.

Talk: Democracy in exile. Perspectives on how the EU can support democratic movements worldwide, October 2025

Lobsang Sangay is the former Kalon Tripa (President) of the Central Tibetan Administration and a leading advocate for Tibetan rights and democratic governance, having worked with the EU to advance minority rights in China. He is a lecturer and visiting fellow at Harvard Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies Program, where he contributes to research and dialogue on international law, human rights, and East Asian affairs.

Talk: Courageous or Coerced? Europe´s future in a changing geopolitical order, June 2025

Lukas Mandl is an MEP from Austria, representing the European People’s Party group. He serves on a number of key European Parliament committees including Foreign Affairs, Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Security & Defence, and is Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee on Security & Defence. Mandl is also President of the Assembly of European Regions, leading several interparliamentary friendship groups.

Talk: Zeitenwende? Europe between Putin, Trump and Xi, June 2025

Timothy Garton Ash is Professor of European Studies at Oxford and one of Europe’s most prominent historians. A best-selling author whose works on the revolutions of 1989, free speech, and the future of democracy have been translated into more than 30 languages, he shapes public debate beyond academia. In recognition of his contributions to European thought and unity, he was awarded the Charlemagne Prize.

Fireside chat: Resilience and the future of Ukraine, moderated by Dr. Jody Laporte, May 2025

Kateryna Yushchenko served as First Lady of Ukraine from 2005-2010. She also served in various positions in the White House, Departments of State and Treasury, and currently works to increase global support for Ukraine and its reconstruction. Dr. La Porte focuses her research on dynamics of politics and policymaking in non-democratic regimes, with a regional focus on post-Soviet Eurasia.

Talk: Trump changes everything: How a new UK approach to Europe became essential, May 2025

Jonathan Freedland is a prominent Guardian columnist and host of the Politics Weekly America podcast, offering in-depth analyses of transatlantic relations and European affairs. Freedland has an extensive network spanning the continent, providing him with first-hand insight into Europe's evolving role on the global stage, European internal politics and valuable insights into applied journalism.

Talk: From Free-riders to Front-loaders. A shift in European defence policy, April 2025

Steven Blockmans is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) in Brussels and at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS) in Tallinn. A leading expert on EU foreign policy and defence, Blockmans regularly advises policymakers and the Council of the EU, making significant contributions to strategic initiatives like the EU's "Readiness 2030" defence plan and the emerging "coalition of the willing".

Talk: What does it mean to be European? Reflections from Philosophy, April 2025

Simon Glendinning is Head of the LSE European Institute and Professor in European Philosophy. A leading thinker on questions of identity, culture, and politics, his work examines how European and British traditions intersect and diverge. Author of Europe: A Philosophical History, he brings a uniquely philosophical lens to contemporary debates on what it means to be European and how notions of Britishness continue to evolve.

Talk: The EU in the Trump Age: Evolution, Expansion and the UK’s role, March 2025

John Peet is Political Editor at The Economist and formerly served as the magazine’s Europe Editor, where he covered the EU, Russia, and the Balkans. A former British civil servant, he combines policy experience with decades of journalism, offering a sharp perspective on Europe’s institutions, politics, and global challenges. His long career makes him one of the most authoritative voices on the UK’s relationship with Europe.

Talk: EU/UK relations in light of the Trump-Zelensky meeting, March 2025

Sir Nick Harvey is the CEO of European Movement UK, a veteran Liberal Democrat politician who served as MP from 1992 to 2015. He was Minister of State for the Armed Forces between 2010 and 2012, and in 2012 he was knighted for his public service. With deep experience in defence, diplomacy, and political campaigning, he now leads EMUK in its mission to rebuild strong UK-EU ties and promote European values post-Brexit.

Fireside chat: The EU´s role in promoting peace in the Horn of Africa, February 2025

Annette Weber is the European Union´s Special Representative (EUSR) for the Horn of Africa since 2021. Weber previously worked as a journalist, a human rights defender and most recently as the regional expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. As a German political scientist, specialised in Northeast Africa and gender studies, she will provide deep insights into the EU´s regional strategy.

Talk: Inside the Brussels System: How do the EU institutions really work, February 2025

Anthony Teasdale is the former Director General of the European Parliamentary Research Service (2013 - 2022) and currently serves as Professor at the LSE and Columbia University, as well as Director of the Europaeum in Oxford. With three decades of experience in the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers, he brings unparalleled insight into the workings of Europe’s institutions and their role in shaping policy.

Talk: Building European Democracy: Lessons from the Parliament, January 2025

Klaus Welle is the former Secretary-General of the European Parliament (2009 - 2022), where he played a pivotal role in strengthening the Parliament’s legislative and political influence within the EU. Before that, he served as Head of Cabinet to the President of the EP and Secretary-General of the European People’s Party. Welle has been central to shaping the Parliament into a more assertive actor in European policymaking.