The Vice President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, closed this Thursday the first course of the European Leadership Academy, the leadership school launched by the former leader of the Unió Democràtica de Catalunya and former CiU leader, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida.
The conservative leader of the community entity, who had met this Thursday before with the president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, has given the diplomas to the students.
"Europe has been able to withstand threats with unprecedented responses," Schinas pointed out during a brief speech in which he made reference to the covid pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, two unforeseen events just three years ago and with a strong impact. "Catalonia is a social and economic showcase for Europe", added the Vice President of the EC in reference to the relationship between Catalonia and Europe.
Regarding the students, Schinas stressed that they are the third generation of Europeans: the first were the founders, the second were those who anchored it and the third "has the obligation to improve Europe, not just preserve it". "It is a difficult challenge because we have a tougher geopolitics. It is a challenge but it can also be an opportunity," concluded the Greek politician, who is fluent in Spanish since his wife is Spanish.
For its part, Duran i Lleida has very positively assessed the success of this first year of the academy, both due to the level of the speakers and the involvement and commitment of the students.
