The past week – Brussels and Stockholm
President’s blog 29 September, 2024.
Last week was busy. It included, among other things, three days in Brussels where I participated in Nordic University Days, which takes place every two years. In addition to meetings between Nordic university presidents they also include meetings with EU parliamentarians and representatives of the European Commission. This was followed by a meeting arranged by Stockholm Trio’s Brussels office, where we, met several representatives of the various directorates as well as representatives of Swedish functions in Brussels, from the Swedish representation to research financiers and business.
One of the most rewarding meetings was with Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General of DG Klima, who spoke with his customary outspokenness about the current situation within the EU from his perspective. He emphasized that the efforts towards climate neutrality continues with full strength, but nowadays there is often more talk about “Clean deal” than “Green deal”. It does not only concern ecology, but equally to a high degree circular economy and security, concepts that seem to be politically more salable today. It would be excellent if this simple semantic shift could help to keep up the intensity of the work for the transition that Vandenberghe emphasized is “both essential and existential for Europe”.
He saw three particularly important areas for us as universities: 1) knowledge is needed about what is going on in the climate system and its health effects, 2) more research is required both in “geoengineering” and in behavioural science, 3) climate-smart solutions are required. All of this in turn requires an increased budget within the next framework program, FP 10 – which everyone surprisingly seemed to agree on during a breakfast meeting with Nordic EU parliamentarians.
On the Friday, our annual inauguration and conferment ceremony was held in Stockholm City Hall. This year, 27 new professors were installed. Six honorary doctors, 13 jubilee doctors and 166 new doctors were conferred, and three medallists and four pedagogical prize winners received their awards. It was my last annual ceremony celebration as president, which I was I was very proud and happy to attend.
Astrid Söderbergh Widding
President
Last updated: 2024-10-11
Source: Communications Office