Fifty years after the signature of the Treaty of Rome, the HEC Europe Institute convened a high-level meeting to discuss the future of the European Union. The inaugural HEC Europe Symposium, under the patronage of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, brought together around 40 luminaries from European politics and business to discuss Europe's key priorities.

Representatives from 11 nations included Dick Roche, Ireland's Minister for European Affairs, Vaira Vīķe Freiberga, former President of the Republic of Latvia, Philip Maystadt, the President of the European Investment Bank, Nicolas Schmit, Luxemburg's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Pierre Simon, President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President of Eurochambres, and leading business figures such as Daniel Bernard and Louis Schweitzer, respectively the former CEOs of Carrefour and Renault. The HEC Foundation, which offered its support to the event, was represented by Jean-François Belorgey, while another HEC alumnus, Eric Woerth, was present in his capacity as Minister of the Budget, Public Accounting and Civil Servants.

"A market for citizens"
The two-day conference, held at the Château de Chantilly, north-east of Paris, pursued three strands of enquiry – Competitive Europe, Social Europe and Sustainable Europe – within a broader theme of "A market for citizens". As Noëlle Lenoir, former French Minister for European Affairs and Chair of the HEC Europe Institute, explains, "The existing European social and economic model, which rose from the ashes of two world wars, needs to be revisited to take account of the challenges of the 21st century. The Symposium brought together talented politicians and business people and provided them with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on changing political patterns and identify new ways in which we can support continued economic growth and social progress."

Learning without borders
The conclusions of the "Social Europe" panel are of particular interest to the HEC community, as they focus on the importance of research and internationalism in education. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who chaired the panel, noted the value of student exchanges, international study and language skills, three areas which HEC champions. The panel also highlighted the need to encourage people to develop careers that take them across Europe's borders while stopping the brain drain to other continents by increasing European research spending and implementing more favorable patent processes.

This first annual Symposium came at a critical time, shortly after the December 2007 signature of the Treaty of Lisbon, a blueprint for Europe's future, and shortly before France assumes the Presidency of the European Union. "We are delighted to be facilitating this independent discussion of European affairs," says Noëlle Lenoir. "The Symposium extends our understanding of and involvement in the European market. This can only benefit the HEC academic body and students."