European Parliament Spring Talks 2026 - Europe's place in a rapidly changing world.

As 2025 kicked off, war still raged in Europe, four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a country hoping to join the EU by next year. Also in our neighbourhood, a very fragile cease fire between Israel and Hamas was in place after two years of death and devastation in Gaza. Across the Atlantic, the US started implementing its recent National Security Strategy, aimed at US hegemony over the Western Hemisphere: Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro was spirited out of his compound in Caracas to face justice in New York, while Denmark was given an ultimatum to cede ownership of Greenland. Faced with global disruption, the EU has been bolstering its own defence and security capacities, determined to defend European democratic freedoms and build alliances for a rules-based global order. Our speakers will analyse the current challenges and propose possible ways forward for Europe.

12 March: How can Europe protect children online?

19 March: Neutrality in a changing Europe: Ireland and Austria

26 March: Irish and European poetry in lesser-used languages

31 March: “Europa: Quo Vadis?” Reflections on Ireland’s place in a changing Europe

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