European strategic autonomy is no longer an abstract idea, but a political necessity. This volume presents Paolo Gentiloni’s lectio magistralis at the University of Hamburg, delivered within the Hamburg-Vigoni Forum four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It offers a clear reflection on Europe’s need to defend its interests, uphold its values, and strengthen its capacity to act in an unstable world. Strategic autonomy emerges here as a decisive step toward renewing the European project and shaping Europe’s future.
On February 16, former Italian Prime Minister and former EU Commissioner for Economic Affairs Paolo Gentiloni opened the Hamburg-Vigoni Forum at the University of Hamburg with this year’s “Hamburg Speech on the Future of Europe.” The Hamburg-Vigoni Forum has been in existence since 2021. Its goal is to promote dialogue between academia, politics, and society on the future of Europe.
The President of the University of Hamburg, Professor Hauke Heekeren, opened the event, which focused on European strategic autonomy four years after the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
In his speech, Paolo Gentiloni emphasized how urgently Europe needs strengthened political and economic capacity to act in order to achieve strategic autonomy. He noted that this capacity is not a distant future project, but a test of resolve in the here and now.
In the subsequent panel discussion, Liv Assmann, State Councilor and Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federal Government, the European Union, and for Foreign Affairs; Prof. Dr. Ursula Schroeder, Scientific Director of the IFSH; and the Italian President of Villa Vigoni, former Ambassador Luigi Mattiolo, explored the themes of Gentiloni’s speech in greater depth. Professor Markus Kotzur, President of the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg and Scientific Director of the Hamburg-Vigoni Forum, moderated the debate. Ambassador Mattiolo emphasized the central role of German-Italian cooperation in ensuring strong EU governance and European cohesion.
The previous evening, Gentiloni had already participated in the 8th “Schmidt-Gespräch”. The event (in cooperation with the Helmut and Loki Schmidt Foundation) was held under the theme “Speed Up.” The discussion focused on Europe’s economic future and the role of defense policy as a driver of integration, as well as economic policy coordination at the European level and the handling of national interests within the European Union.
Villa Vigoni organizes this forum in collaboration with the University of Hamburg, the Europa-Kolleg Hamburg, and the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg.
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