Rector Mogherini, dear Frederica,

Ministers,

Deputy Mayor,

Ladies and gentlemen, And most importantly,  dear class of 2025, good evening! 

I'm the last person speaking and thus standing between you and the well-deserved celebrations with your friends and family. That is why I promise to be brief. 

Dear class of 2025,

During this year in the beautiful city of Tirana you have worked on your dissertations and faced exams,  you have also written an important chapter of the history of this prestigious institution, of the College of Europe. 

And, yes, with it, of Europe. Congratulations to all of you!

Each of you personally, as you end this packed year in Tirana, can look back and reflect on what you've learned.

About the European Union, of course. But also about yourselves – your resilience, your adaptability, your quick responses. And these memories will stay with you. Resilience, adaptability and response

is also very much the story of the European Union in the first quarter of this 21^st century,

From financial crisis to pandemic response, to support for Ukraine, to the Next Generation recovery instrument,  the European Union has evolved, and with each passing step, succeeded and grew stronger. This is mostly thanks to our ability to react to crisis with vigour. But as we navigate an increasingly complex environment, our European Union can never rest. We must maintain a high state of readiness, and of preparedness. Investing in our resilience and keeping our eyes firmly set at the future. A safe, healthy and prosperous future. That is our objective. And that is where you come in. 

Having already had the immense pleasure to meet some, to meet most of you and discuss with you this morning. 

I can safely say: The College of Europe is home to the best and brightest! And this augurs well for the future of our Union. Because as you all know very well, the history of this institution is closely linked to the history of our continent. 

And so are our destinies and our futures. So wherever the wind of change is blowing, I'm sure that the College of Europe will be right at the centre of our Union.

As it has been from the 1948 Hague Congress, after World War II, when Salvador de Madariaga, a Spanish statesman, thinker and writer in exile proposed the founding of the College, to 1993 when after the fall of communism and in the wake of changes Eastern and Central Europe the second campus in Natolin was founded, until today, here, in Tirana. 

A today that is not only characterised by responses to multiple crises, raging war at our borders and humanitarian tragedies beyond our wildest imagination,  but by the historic opportunity to finally complete our European Union.

A historic opportunity representing hope for many,  and being a responsibility for all of us. And the College of Europe, with all its brilliant students, teachers and alumni,  is breathing the wind into the sails of change. It is not only driven by but often drives European history and integration. And this is, as much as it were, an observation, a lesson from European history,  as it is a task and an obligation for you, dear Class of 2025! 

You are and will be in the driver seat. And for that, I urge you to have a compass, your compass, always at hand. A compass that will guide you. A compass of values. The values of peace, human rights, inclusion, solidarity, equality, respect and democracy. A compass where pointing north means navigating through the challenges of our times to ensure the wellbeing of human-kind and humanity.

 Dear Frederica,

Let me thank you once again for this invitation,  because it is nice to be back to the College of Europe,  this time to a different campus. This time in Tirana, in Albania, in the Western Balkan region, where the future of Europe is at home.

I was in Bruges in March, when we kicked-off together the strategy that I am developing on intergenerational fairness. Developing this strategy is a historical necessity and a moral obligation. Just to give one example:

It is the first time in mankind's history that 5 or even 6 generations are living at the same time.

Intergenerational fairness is not a niche concern. Intergenerational fairness must be at the heart of all our policies. 

 From housing to financial policies and climate action. The cost of non-action would not be just measured in missed opportunities, but in growing inequality, instability and lost trust between generations. That is why we will come out with the intergenerational fairness strategy as early as already the beginning of next year. We will propose concrete measures, an intergenerational fairness index and intergenerational fairness compass. And for me it is clear:

Young people, students, you are the best ambassadors for Europe's future! And I will continue to count on your input.

Because Enlargement is also a question of intergenerational fairness. Enlargement is the EU's most ambitious intergenerational project. To me, intergenerational Fairness means the completion of our Union. It means enlargement. And enlargement is not a pledge, not just a promise, it's a clear path. It is the clear path to the future full membership of our Union. A path that, once successfully travelled, not only shapes the future of a region, the nation, but also that of many generations to come. Full Union membership,  being a European citizen, enjoying fully the freedoms of the internal market our Union; – all that affects greatly not one but many generations. 

Present generations, future generations. And enlargement is a transformative experience. For the Union, for a country, for every citizen. Here I speak from experience. Because in my teenage years, I was a witness to my own country, Malta, joining the EU. That was 21 years ago. Malta's EU accession to the EU was a life changing experience for me and for many generations of Maltese citizens. And today I can safely say, Malta's membership of the European Union is a success story: Today in Malty, two-third (66% May 2025) of the population are optimistic about the EU's future. And in no other EU Member State are young people as optimistic about the future of Europe as in Malta. 

That fills me with great pride. As a Maltese and as a European. As a citizen and as a Commissioner. 

But it has also taught me one important lesson: When the wind blows against you, against your inner convictions, don't give up your hope. The “Wind of change” may finally change its direction. For the good, for the better. 

For a future in the European Union. Dear class of 2025, ladies and gentlemen, The fifth meeting of the Accession Conference between the European Union and Albania was held on 22 May this year. That was less than four weeks ago. And Albania has opened the Cluster 3: Competitiveness and inclusive growth, which contains eight negotiating chapters. With a total of 24 out of 33 negotiating chapters now opened, Albania has now surpassed many. 

That is a great achievement. Congratulations! This is European history in the making. 

It is European history in the making that you studied, watched and experienced first-hand. 

Dear class of 2025, When opening this academic year nine months ago,  President Ursula von der Leyen referred, as you all know, to the Scorpions song “Wind of change”.  And I have just had the great pleasure of listening to your masterful interpretation of this music piece by Klaus Meine.  Today I would like to quote one of my favourite artists,

Bono, the Irish singer and songwriter from U2. A great artist but also a great European. Bono said a few years ago:

 "Europe is a thought that needs to become a feeling."  As always, Bono is right.  We need to strengthen the feeling of Europe.  A feeling which expresses itself in many, very different ways. And I want to mention here three ways: 

The feeling of community.  Community in unity and diversity. It's no coincidence that the European motto is ‘united in diversity'. A motto which stands for our values for a quarter of a century. It symbolises how we Europeans have come together to work for peace and prosperity. Your class of 32 students from 21 countries is a living community in unity and diversity. And a model example on a small scale, which also applies to Europe on a large scale. 

Keep this feeling alive, cultivate the friendships you have built up over the past 9 months and be always open to welcome new members to your community! Europe is also a feeling of art, culture and tradition. 

Art, culture and traditions form our unique yet diverse identities. They are the ties that bind us together. 

Cherish your traditions, art and culture, but never lose sight of the new!  And Europe is a feeling of responsibility.

A responsibility that we have because of our freedom. Freedom that generations have had to fight for. 

It is the responsibility, it is your responsibility, to take action wherever it appears necessary. To challenge, to push boundaries. And it is the responsibility, it is your responsibility, to stand up for our values when they are trampled on, whether in Europe or elsewhere on our planet. And it is the responsibility, it is your responsibility not to remain silent but to raise your voice facing injustice. To be the voice of those who are voiceless. Of the citizens, youth and children in Ukraine whose life was interrupted because of the illegal war of aggression. Of children being starved to death, deprived of their childhood, blindfolded, taken prisoner in Gaza and the Westbank. Of those still being excluded and marginalised in our societies because of their disability, their background or identity. And of those suffering in silence from loneliness, anxiety, stress or depression. Be it caused by financial insecurity, cyberbullying or social pressures. 

These were just my three feelings of Europe. The many ways and varieties in which the feeling of Europe comes, is for you to discover! And it is up to you to make this feeling in its many ways and varieties tangible and to bring it to life. 

Dear class of 2025, President von der Leyen also said in her opening speech that she  “heard” that the nightlife in Tirana “is also quite amazing”. The President added: “Just do not stay up too late if you have classes in the morning.”

First of all, I hope that after nine months you now know more about Albanian nightlife than just from hearsay,  in contrast to our Commission President. And secondly, earlier today your Rector, the dear Frederica, told me that there will be no classes tomorrow. So, celebrate and party like there's no tomorrow.

You deserve it.

Thank you!