A Soul for Europe - Jean Monnet House Meeting 2026
The upcoming “A Soul for Europe” meeting is dedicated to the theme “Belonging Europe - Identity as Practice", serving as a working platform to shape the key results, conclusions, and recommendations for the Berlin Conference on 5 & 6 November 2026.
"Belonging Europe - Identity as Practice" will address a pivotal moment in European history characterised by global power shifts and a growing alienation from abstract institutional structures. The conference asserts that fostering a sense of belonging is essential to ensuring democratic stability, extending the concept beyond formal citizenship to include a subjective experience of recognition and empowerment.
The event underscores the significant role of arts and culture in cultivating inclusion, offering valuable emotional and sensory perspectives on complex issues related to solidarity and responsibility. A key principle of this vision asserts that a sustainable European identity should be cultivated through authentic practices of belonging, rather than imposed as an overarching narrative.
This encounter is part of the annual Berlin Conference, organised by Stiftung Zukunft Berlin and A Soul for Europe, together with other organisations. The results, conclusions and recommendations of the meeting will feed the debate and the outcomes of the upcoming Berlin Conference, taking place on 5 and 6 November 2026.
On this gathering you will have the opportunity to:
- Engage with MEPs: Bridge the gap between European institutions and civil society at the local level.
- Empower cities and municipalities: Discuss how local authorities and mayors act as catalysts for democratic practice and social identity formation.
- Mobilise the arts: Explore how artists, creators, and cultural institutions act as essential "translators", turning abstract European values into shared emotional and realistic experiences.
- Redefine Identity: Reclaim the concept of European identity from exclusive narratives, positioning it as an open and democratic practice.
Programme highlights 19–22 April
- Monday, 20 April: Arrival and welcome lunch to invoke the "Spirit of Houjarray". The lunch is followed by the opening session, and keynote speeches. The afternoon includes workshops with MEPs, National and local politicians, artists, intellectuals, professionals from the cultural sector and the SG on the "Europe in Common" framework, the power of art as political practice.
- Tuesday, 21 April: Continuation of the workshops and preparation of a strategic roadmap for the Berlin Conference 2026, network mapping, and an inspirational closing through the historic Jean Monnet House gardens.
- Wednesday, 22 April: Closing lunch and departure day.
Organisational and registration details:
- Accommodation at the Jean Monnet House (30 rooms available) and meals will be kindly provided by the Jean Monnet House from lunch on 20 to lunch 22 April. Please note that participants are expected to cover their own travel expenses.
- Participation in this event is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending, please send an email to ana[@]european-festivals.eu expressing your interest.