The Foundation is a place for debate and meeting where ideas and reflections on the major challenges facing Europe and Switzerland’s place in Europe can be exchanged. The synergy between the presence of the archives and the opening to a public of scientists, politicians and citizens makes the Foundation a “high place of memory and inspiration”, as Jacques Delors, former President of the European Commission, put it.
The European Conferences of the Foundation
The Foundation regularly invites distinguished personalities to express themselves on topics related to current events in European integration.
Usually led by the President of the Foundation and lasting about 1h30, the format of the European Conferences gives the floor to a keynote speaker who speaks on the subject for about 45 minutes. The intervention then allows for a discussion with the public.
Over the years, the Foundation has had the pleasure of welcoming key speakers, including former President of the Republic of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski, former President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, former President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey, and Vice-President of the European Commission Viviane Reding.
The European Dialogues
Initiated in 2006 by Professor Bronisław Geremek, then President of the Foundation, the European Dialogues deal with major contemporary issues. The format of the Dialogues, which last approximately 2 hours, brings together leading Swiss and European personalities alongside the President of the Foundation.
The themes that have been discussed are, for example, Turkey and the European Union, the future of European integration, the United Kingdom and Europe.
The Foundation’s Gold Medal
The Foundation has a tradition of welcoming and honouring personalities who have worked for the common good of Europeans by awarding them its Gold Medal. This ceremony, which culminates in a conference of recipients, takes place approximately every three years.
Since 2000, the following personalities have been honoured at a ceremony (functions at the time of the award of the Gold Medal):
♦ José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission;
♦ Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Republic;
♦ Emilio Colombo, former President of the Italian Council, former President of the European Parliament;
♦ Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank;
♦ Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, former President of the French Republic;
♦ Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and President of the Eurogroup;
♦ Helmut Kohl, former Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany;
♦ Ferenc Mádl, President of the Republic of Hungary;
♦ Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, former President of the Italian Council;
♦ Helmut Schmidt, former Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany;
♦ Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament;
♦ Javier Solana, former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy;
♦ Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.
International scientific symposia
The Foundation organises international scientific symposia bringing together leading academics and practitioners, with priority given to the Dorigny university campus.
Among the topics discussed, the Foundation’s symposiums focused in particular on the crises and relaunches of European integration, the Action Committee for the United States of Europe, Euro-American solidarity in a multipolar world, and the forms of Europe.
The Foundation’s symposia attract an audience of around 150-200 people, academics, young academics and personalities interested in European themes.
Reception of visitors
Every year, several groups come to Ferme de Dorigny. Each of these visits is an opportunity for stimulating exchanges, nourished by the evocation of the figure of Jean Monnet and European current events, as well as by a presentation of the Foundation’s activities and documentary heritage.
Actions in favour of young people
In addition to the teaching it provides at the University of Lausanne through its Director and its activities on campus, in which it largely involves the university community, the Foundation regularly welcomes groups of young people from upper secondary and university levels. On the occasion of visits to its heritage, it strives to make them aware of a certain sense of history, which has enabled our continent to turn the page on a past full of clashes.