Ventotene - Houjarray School on European Memories. European unity and the quest for peace

A total of 25 young participants will take part in the third edition of the Spring Edition of the Ventotene-Houjarray School on European Memories. The event will take place from 5th to 8th May 2025 at the Jean Monnet House in Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, France.

Fostered by the Jean Monnet House and the European Observatory on Memories, this three-day activity is co-organized in collaboration with the Istituto di Studi Federalisti Altiero Spinelli and JEF Europe.

Through the organisation of conferences, workshops, debates and practical activities, participants will become familiar with the latest research on memory studies and will be able to contribute to raising awareness of Europe's past as a key to making informed choices for the present and future.

This year, the seminar will focus on the European unity and the quest for peace.

Program

MONDAY, MAY 5

2pm - Group meeting at Maison de l’Europe, opening remarks with:

           Martí Grau, Jean Monnet House

           Jordi Guixé, EUROM (online)

           Stefano Moscarelli, Istituto Spinelli (online) 

           Christelle Savall, JEF (online)

4.30pm - Arrival at the Jean Monnet House

5.00pm - Speech: "The Island of Ventotene and the Manifesto in the European memory” 

           Mario Leone, Istituto Spinelli

5.45pm - Presenting the exhibition “L’esprit des lieux, l’invitation à la paix” 

           Fabienne Veverka

6.30pm - Workshop - first session “From Reflection to Recording: A Memory Podcast Workshop” 

           Fernanda Zanuzzi (EUROM) and Xesc Mainzer (JEF) 

9pm - Ice-breaker activities and film screening “Flow”, by Gints Zilbalodis (2025)  

TUESDAY, MAY 6 

9am - Lecture and debate: “European federalism and the quest for peace”           

           Giulia Rossolillo, Professor of EU Law at University of Pavia

10.30am - Lecture and debate: “Contested memories: an obstacle for peace? - Some reflections on the Ukraine–Russia Conflict” 

           Dietmar J. Wetzel, Professor of Social Sciences at the Medical School of Hamburg

10.30am - Talk with Domènec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF and former MEP

2.30pm - Lecture and debate: “The dividends of peace: memory and the defence of the European social model in times of geopolitical instability”

           Francesco Saraceno, Deputy Department Director, OFCE-Sciences Po 

4pm - Workshop: “Memory practices and their impact on today’s society” 

           Oriol López Badell (EUROM) and Margherita Orsi (Jean Monnet House)

5.30pm - On the footsteps of Jean Monnet – Walk in the forest (with Liz Petim) 

9pm - Eurovision Song Contest night led by Lucas Favier and Margherita Orsi/Natalia Papageorgiou

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7 

9.15am - Visit of the Jean Monnet House (Martí Grau)

10.30am - Lecture and debate (online): “The Founding Myth of Europe and how it has changed over time” 

           Aline Sierp, Professor of European History and Memory Studies at Maastricht University 

2.35pm - Workshop: “Building a coherent European narrative”

           Natalia Papageorgiou (Jean Monnet House) and Lucas Favier (Jean Monnet House)

4.30pm - Plenary session

6pm - Closing session of the workshop "From Reflection to Recording: A Memory Podcast Workshop"

           Fernanda Zanuzzi and Xesc Mainzer, and ceremony of diplomas  

THURSDAY, MAY 8 

9am - Departure