Paolo Gentiloni, Distinguished Fellow of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, confronts European challenges at IE University: “Europe needs a wake-up call”

In a series of events, including discussions, mentoring sessions and seminars, Paolo Gentiloni shared his experience as a top-level politician with unique insights. Furthermore, he discussed his view on some of the most pressing challenges for the European Union, including questions such as Trump’s second presidency, the future of transatlantic relationships, and the main challenges for the European Union, including the need for a greater union for common defense. 

In particular, he advocated for debt restructuring to fund common defense at the European level in a discussion with Dean Enrico Letta, moderated by Ilke Toygür, Director of the IE Global Policy Center.  In Enrico Letta´s words, “Europe has to take care of itself.” In this context, Distinguished Fellow Gentiloni made it clear to IE University students, firsthand, that supporting European champions to build a competitive industry is a priority for the coming years. He also pushed future changemakers to be involved in multilateral organizations. Students were left with some strong statements, such as the fact that “The UN might need to improve, but a world without the United Nations is a disaster”.  

Gentiloni additionally addressed the concern shown by students to the re-election of Donald Trump. The former Italian Prime Minister claimed that the main concern should lie in the “dangerous” messages he is spreading globally. “What is a stake is the quality of our system and the leadership of Western democracies”, he warned. Alluding to misinformation leads one to assume that transparent communication for strong institutions is a challenge for future generations, he said. In this scope, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence, as well as the presence of social media in the political sphere, is increasingly approached by professors and students at IE University.

In line with IE University’s methodology, which is based on practical experiences, students had the opportunity to directly interact with Paolo Gentiloni. Some of the most active aspiring decision-makers from the student body participated in discussions, seminars and mentoring sessions with him. These encounters included events to share insights on how to become a prime minister and small group discussions.

Distinguished Fellow Gentiloni talked to students about the skills needed to become a high-level politician, including resilience, both in interacting with public opinion and in negotiating with stakeholders. Additionally, he motivated them to connect with other universities and to embrace the European symbols. He urged them to take advantage of the international environment of IE University, together with the resources and opportunities of the institution, which is part of prestigious international alliances, such as the CIVICA Alliance, the European University of Social Sciences.  He emphasized the importance of studying Political Science, International Relations, and Economics to better understand current global issues.

In mentoring sessions, a small number of students had the chance to ask him for personal and professional advice. Students were particularly interested in how to consolidate a career in politics or bodies like the External Action Service, and the future alliances of the European Union, facing challenges such as the emergence of AI. Paolo Gentiloni also met with master's students at the María de Molina campus in the city center of Madrid, where they discussed economic topics. On multiple occasions during his Fellowship, he advised students to enjoy and make the most of the education and extensive network offered by IE University.