Granada celebrates Europe Day with a focus on the European Universities Initiative and the Arqus Alliance

This morning, the University of Granada celebrated Europe Day in honour of the 74^th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, under the European Union’s guiding principle of “United in Diversity”. The commemoration events counted with the talk “European University Alliances”, by Lina Gálvez Muñoz, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Commission from July 2019 until April 2024. Lina is also Vice-President of the European Foundation for Progressive Studies and Chair of this Foundation’s Scientific Committee for Studies and Policies. The session started with the words of the Rector of the University of Granada, Pedro Mercado. Lina was then presented by Dorothy Kelly, Arqus Coordinator.

The University of Granada has celebrated today Europe Day with a series of activities at its Rectorate building, Hospital Real, starting at 10:30 CEST. The day began with an educational workshop at 10:30, exploring the history, culture, geography and symbols defining European identity, and focusing on 15^th-century European origins.

From 11:30 to 12:00 Pedro Mercado, Rector of the University of Granada, Dorothy Kelly, Arqus Coordinator, and Lina Gávez, Member of the European Parliament until April 2024, held a session about the European University Alliances. The Arqus Coordinator underscored “the pivotal role of European Universities in addressing the pressing challenges confronting the continent, such as the “threats to democracy manifested in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza”. She also emphasized their crucial contribution to the defence of European values such as peace and diversity.

Lina Gálvez, on her part, drew attention to the current demands faced by Alliances, particularly “the need of establishing financial mechanisms that promote their sustainability, as well as of fostering synergies with the European research programmes such as Horizon Europe and other initiatives for skills development and job creation”. Additionally, she underscored the significance of the Arqus Alliance in advancing the field of European studies, which is instrumental in furthering the European project. Lastly, Pedro Mercado concluded the session by emphasizing “European Universities’ pivotal role as key agents and catalysts for European transformation”.

The main event at noon started with an opening fanfare by a brass quintet representing the UGR orchestra, followed by the European flag raising to represent European unity. The quintet then played Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”, symbolising not only the EU but also wider European ideals of human brotherhood.

The event was hosted by Francisco Cuesta Rico, Granada Coordinator of the Andalusian Council of the European Movement, and included speeches by primary school children, university lifelong learners and a manifesto in defence of European values. Pedro Mercado, Rector of the University of Granada and Arqus Rectors’ Council member, closed the ceremony.

Original news in Spanish.