State of Europe 2020: The festival of politics and ideas to transform Europe — Summary Report

Only one theme could provide the focus for State of Europe in 2020. The virus which forced us online has infected over 40 million people, killed more than a million and debilitated the world economy.
State of Europe heard how the pandemic is dragging millions back into poverty, exacerbating social, economic and gender divides and straining superpower relations. Yet, the debates searched for the positive.

This time of turmoil opens opportunities to rethink healthcare and social protection; invigorate Europe’s green and digital transitions; reboot European solidarity and global cooperation. State of Europe’s four-day online debate generated a profusion of concrete ideas for post-pandemic progress. They point the way for strengthened European leadership in line with citizens’ aspirations for more engagement on the environment and economic recovery, as shown by Friends of Europe’s latest #EuropeMatters citizens’ poll.

As the EU prepares to deploy its biggest-ever funding package and national governments borrow on an unprecedented scale to overcome the most disruptive economic shock since World War II, the festival of politics and ideas focused on the search for solutions that break with the past and build new models of growth, innovation, industrial policy and public-sector preparedness. The debates’ positive tone was reflected in celebrations of musical diversity from award-winning concert pianist Alexandra Dariescu and the Belgo-Syrian Damast Duo.