Ambassador Serrano’s visit began with a meeting with the Rector of Exeter College, setting the tone for a rich and engaging day. He then attended three insightful sessions from the festival: “Frontline Stories from Ukraine,” “UK and Germany: Our Changing Relationship” featuring John Kampfner, and the highly anticipated American Lecture delivered by renowned geopolitical author Robert D. Kaplan.

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In the afternoon, the Ambassador was interviewed by bright students from the Cherwell School, an EU Parliament Ambassador School, in an exchange that reflected his personal commitment to youth engagement and the importance of dialogue with future generations.

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The visit concluded with Ambassador Serrano delivering a keynote address at the festival’s official closing event, held in the historic hall of Exeter College. Addressing a gathering of authors, scholars, and literature lovers, he praised the Oxford Literary Festival as “a sanctuary for courteous dialogue” and “a beacon for free expression” in an increasingly polarised world, while underscoring the importance of narratives.

As EU Ambassador to the UK, Pedro Serrano highlighted the strong cultural ties between the EU and the UK, noting that their shared history, values, and creative expressions continue to foster a resilient relationship. Emphasising the vital role of literature, the Ambassador described it as a powerful means of building understanding, empathy, and unity by connecting people through diverse stories and shared human experiences.

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