The European Observatory on Memory (EUROM) hosts its 8th annual Taking Stock of European Memory Policies meeting, a leading forum where scholars, policymakers, practitioners and civil society will explore how public memory shapes democracy across Europe.
Jointly organized with the Commissioner for the commemoration “Spain in Freedom. 50 Years”—an initiative of the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory—and with the support of Barcelona City Council and the CERV programme, this edition underscores the vital role of collective memory in safeguarding democratic values and civil rights in times of uncertainty. Over two days, participants will engage in conferences and panel discussions featuring leading experts and academics, representatives of the European Commission, CERV-funded organizations, Members of the European Parliament, and 17 master’s students from across Spain who have been awarded scholarships to attend.
The meeting is open to the public and aims to offer a unique space to discuss challenges, achievements, and strategies for building inclusive, democratic, and resilient societies through memory work.
The event will be conducted in Catalan, Spanish, French, and English, with simultaneous interpretation provided, ensuring inclusive and multilingual dialogue.
Entrance is free, but previous registration is required.
Cover picture: Demonstration in Madrid demanding full rights at age 18 and solutions to youth unemployment. June 11, 1978. Archivo de la Transición.
Videos’ playlist
Programme
Click here to download the PDF (English, Catalan, and Spanish)
Thursday, 9 October 2025
The event will take place in two different venues inside the historical building of the University of Barcelona (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 585), clearly signposted from the main entrance.
- Morning: Aula Magna
- Afternoon: Aula Capella
09:30 a.m. Welcome words
- Zuzana Dorazilová, Deputy Head of Unit, Non-Discrimination: Anti-Racism and Roma Coordination, DG Justice, European Commission
- Carmina Gustrán, Commissioner, “Spain in Freedom: 50 Years”, Ministry for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Spain
- Jordi Guixé, Director, European Observatory on Memories (EUROM), University of Barcelona Solidarity Foundation
- Raúl Ramos, Vice-Rector for Internationalization Policy, University of Barcelona
10:00 a.m. Opening session. Memory Politics in Europe: crossed visions
- What history and what memories for which Europe?
Georges Mink, Emeritus Research Director at CNRS-ISP and former President of ICCEES. Since 2013, Permanent Professor at the College of Europe (Natolin, Warsaw) - Memory policies in Spain: the complex management of the Francoist legacy
Matilde Eiroa San Francisco, Senior Academic of History at Carlos III University of Madrid, guest lecturer at Harvard, Sheffield, and Prague. Founder of the Chair of Historical Memory at Complutense University.
Moderated by Jordi Guixé i Coromines, Historian, Founder director of the EUROM, and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Barcelona.
11:30 a.m. Coffee break
12:00 p.m. Panel 1. Priorities and new challenges of the EU memory policies
- Zuzana Dorazilová, Deputy Head of Unit, Non-Discrimination: Anti-Rascism and Roma Coordination, DG Justice, European Commission
- Srd Kisevic, Deputy Head of Unit, Citizens and EU Values, EACEA
- Uladzislau Belavusau, Senior Researcher in European Law at the T.M.C. Asser Institute (The Hague) – University of Amsterdam.
Moderated by Oriol López Badell, Historian, coordinator and international relations officer at the EUROM.
1:00 p.m. Lunch
3:30 p.m. Keynote. Rethinking Memory Work and the European Narrative
- Géraldine Schwarz, author, journalist, and filmmaker. Her latest book, D’où nous venons… (Flammarion, 2024), explores Europe’s shared history and won the Jacques Delors Institute’s “Better Understanding Europe” award
Moderated by Sílvia Marimon Molas, culture journalist specializing in history
5:00 p.m. Panel 2. Memory against democracy: hate speech and contested heritage
- Tania Lobato, Journalist and PhD in Politics and International Relations at Keele University. Adjunct professor at Webster University. Author of Los niños de Bosnia (2013)
- Steven Forti, Associate Professor of Contemporary History at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Author of Extrema derecha 2.0 (2021)
- Queralt Castillo Cerezuela, Freelance journalist based in Athens, covering Greece and the Balkans on ethnic conflicts, migration, climate change and social movements
Moderated by Carmina Gustrán, Commissioner, “Spain in Freedom: 50 Years”, Ministry for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Spain
6:30 p.m. Cocktail & Music
Duo Aramai, formed in 2020 by Adriana Aranda (voice) and Simón Maisano (guitar), explores art songs with a focus on Latin American composers. The current programme weaves memory and music around the experience of exile, uprootedness, and the search for new roots
Friday, 10 October 2025
Venue: Aula Magna
10:00 a.m. Panel 3: The Future of European Memory Policies
An open discussion with Members of the European Parliament.
- Ana Miranda Paz
- Diana Riba Giner
- Jaume Asens
- Juan Fernando López Aguilar
Moderated by Marije Hristova, Postdoctoral researcher at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), focusing on exhumations and transnational memory politics in Spain and Poland
11:30 a.m. Coffee Break
12:00 p.m. Panel 4: Confronting the Past in an Interconnected Europe
Organizations funded through CERV Operating Grants will showcase how their projects help strengthen and improve democratic life
1:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
1:45 p.m. Lunch
3:00 p.m. Working Session (by invitation only)
Meeting with beneficiaries of the CERV programme Operating Grants (Remembrance strand)
Venue: Room Ramon y Cajal
Click here to explore the full photo album on Flickr.
Press Releases
- October 07, 2025 – The University of Barcelona becomes a meeting point to debate how memory can strengthen European democracy
- October 09, 2025 – The 8th EUROM Annual Meeting opens with a call for active engagement and democratic resilience
Previous editions
Since 2018, the Taking Stock of European Memory Policies meeting has previously been held in Brussels, Barcelona, and Paris, bringing together a vibrant community dedicated to exploring the impact of public memory policies across Europe and beyond.
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
Survey
This activity is co-financed by the European Commission and for its evaluation we kindly ask your collaboration in filling out this survey. It will take about 10 minutes, and you will need the information indicated below. Thank you very much!
- Reference of the Project: 101194553
- Type of activity: Mutual Learning
- Title: Taking Stock of European Memory Policies 2025
- Duration of the event in days: 2
- In Person
- University of Barcelona