The 2022 Schuman Lecture: "Strengthening Relationships in Challenging Times"

The ANU Centre for European Studies is honoured to have the EU Ambassador-Designate to Australia, His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin present the 2022 Schuman Lecture.

The transborder impact of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine together with crises in global health and climate change require states and societies alike to work together towards global peace, stability and the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. To that end, the EU and Australia continue to deepen their relationship, working with other, like-minded states and communities, to promote, protect and defend the rules-based international order and the rule of law. His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin, Ambassador-Designate of the EU to Australia will address these themes in his lecture. He will comment on the ways in which the EU and Australia, working with our neighbours and friends, continue to cooperate, engaging in dialogue and developing mutual understanding and support for new strategies to promote the rule of law, global peace, security and stability for future generations.

His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin is the EU Ambassador-Designate to Australia. Prior to taking up this appointment, he was the inaugural EU Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific having been appointed to this position in September 2021. Mr Visentin has been an official of the European External Action Service since 2011, where he served as Head of the Parliamentary Affairs Division. Earlier in his career, he served as the representative of the European Commission to the Committee for the civilian crisis management of the EU, among others. Mr Visentin holds a degree in law and is specialized in International and Community law.

The Robert Schuman Lecture series celebrates the remarkable achievements of European integration since its modest beginnings in the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, announced in a declaration by French Foreign Minister Schuman. The Australian National University has recognised this achievement and foresight by coordinating the annual Schuman Lecture since 1996. The first lecture was delivered by Lord Leon Brittan, the then Vice-President of the European Commission. Since then, the University has coordinated annual Schuman Lectures by many distinguished speakers.

This year's Schuman Lecture is part of the ANUCES Jean Monnet project Culture in International Relations: Europe and the Indo-Pacific (CIR).

Please arrive by 5:15pm for 5:30pm start.