Herman Van Rompuy was the first full-time President of the European Council. He was elected for the first time in November 2009, then re-elected for a second term from June 2012 to November 2014. Before that, he was the Prime Minister of Belgium. He is currently President of the independent think tank 'European Policy Centre' and a visiting Professor in several universities, among them the College of Europe, UCL and KU Leuven. Herman Van Rompuy has been awarded many honours and prizes, among which the Charlemagne Prize (Karlspreis) in 2014. In 2015, King Philippe II of Belgium ennobled Herman Van Rompuy by making him a Count.

"Not only the  European Union (EU) but the whole world is going through a storm. In these times, the EU must remain faithful to its principles and opt for the (multilateral) order against the chaos. The EU must also become more autonomous, indeed more sovereign, and less dependent on non-European players in the field of new technologies, on a single supplier of energy, and more responsible for its own military security. The EU must work on its internal social cohesion and on the security of its external borders. The EU must become the world leader on climate. Brexit is a pity, but the European caravan is moving forward." - Herman Van Rompuy

This event will be moderated by Stephanie Hofmann, Professor of International Relations and Political Science at the Graduate Institute, Geneva. Welcome remarks will be given by Ambassador Walter Stevens, Head of the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva and Ambassador Geert Muylle of Belgium.

This conference is part of the EU Lecture Series “Europe Tomorrow”, which is organised by the Institute and the EU Delegation to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva to stimulate discussion on EU-related issues.

This event has the support of the Permanent Mission of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva.

A cocktail will be served after the event.