“Narrative is strategy in story form.” When President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing championed this philosophy, he wasn’t speaking of mere messaging. He understood that Europe’s progress depends not only on institutions and policies, but on a compelling vision that gives meaning to shared ambition. At moments of profound change, strategic clarity becomes essential. The 2026 Annual Meeting of Re-Imagine Europa’s Advisory Board takes place at such a moment. After years of reactive crisis management, Europe now has the opportunity to define its strategic direction and offer a coherent alternative in a fragmented world.
Re-Imagine Europa’s Advisory Board, chaired by Maria João Rodrigues, brings together distinguished European leaders from politics, academia, business, civil society, and culture—, united by a singular mission: contributing to safeguard the European by reimagining its social and political contract, while moving from reactive governance toward a new vision of European power. Building on Re-Imagine Europa’s ingrained identity as a convener of talent and a catalyst for change, Board members will work to transform shared insight into intellectual and political momentum. By leveraging RIE’s unique position at the intersection of academia, policy, and industry, the session aims to accelerate the transition from diagnosis to design. In this capacity, the Board functions as an intellectual laboratory—blending the necessary voices to identify failures, while building the new narratives that will define the continent’s next chapter.
This two-day working session is designed to bridge the gap between abstract insight and systemic action. Leveraging the findings from the European Narrative Observatory and other analytical tools developed by Re-Imagine Europa—which map how citizens are making sense of change— the Board and distinguished guests will diagnose where Europe’s dominant narratives are failing and where new openings exist. Through strategic dialogue, the meeting will explore what kind of power Europe should be, and what tools, alliances, and ideas are needed to support that vision.
The meeting unfolds in three phases: Evidence and Insight (Day 1 afternoon), Strategic Dialogue (Valéry Giscard d’Estaing Dinner and Day 2 morning), and Commitment to Action (Day 2 closing). Discussions will shape Re-Imagine Europa’s strategic priorities and help frame Europe’s choices in the critical years ahead.
As we welcome this new chapter, we express our deep gratitude to our outgoing Advisory Board members Irene Milleiro, Monica Maggioni, Ángel Gurría, Dusan Sidjanski, and Étienne Davignon for their exceptional commitment, wisdom, and leadership over the years. Their contributions have been instrumental in advancing RIE’s mission and the European project.
You can find the full list of Advisory Board members here.
