Enrico Letta

ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OPINION LEADERS ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE.

Prime Minister of the Italian Republic (2013-14). President, Institut Jacques Delors. Dean of the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at IE University.

Enrico Letta conferencias, speaker, futuro, Europa

Enrico Letta has played a key role in the conceptualization of the "Agenda 2028" and its implementation through his report Much More Than a Market, one of the most influential reports on the European agenda, which not only diagnoses problems but also proposes concrete solutions to rebuild the single market.

Through his theoretical and practical experience, Enrico Letta reinforces his commitment to the development of European leaders dedicated to renewed integration and the future of Europe.

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Enrico Letta, an experienced politician and former Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, is undoubtedly one of the most authoritative figures to discuss the current state of European democracies and the progress of European integration. He has authored several books on international and economic affairs, with particular reference to EU enlargement.

He holds a degree in International Law from the University of Pisa and a PhD in European Community Law from the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna.

Enrico Letta’s leadership skills and pro-European commitment are beyond question. At the age of 25, he became President of the Youth of the European People’s Party, and at 32 he was appointed minister for the first time, becoming the youngest minister in the history of the Italian Republic.

In April 2013, he was appointed President of the Council of Ministers after securing the necessary majorities in the general elections to form a government led by his political party, the Democratic Party, in coalition with the People of Freedom party led by Silvio Berlusconi and the Civic Choice party headed by Mario Monti.

He had previously held senior responsibilities in various government positions, including Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Industry, Handicrafts and Trade, Minister for European Affairs, and Undersecretary of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

Enrico Letta has also served as Vice President of Aspen Institute Italia, President of the Italy–Spain Dialogue Forum, and member of the Trilateral Commission. In 2024, he assumed the position of President of the Jacques Delors Institute, a European think tank dedicated to European integration. In November 2024, he was appointed Dean of the School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs at IE University in Madrid.

 

Letta is a staunch advocate of European integration. In 2024, he published the report Much More Than a Market, commissioned by the European Commission, in which he warned about the fragmentation of the European single market and proposed structural reforms to enhance the EU’s competitiveness vis-à-vis the United States and China.

 

In addition, Enrico Letta has expressed concern about growing political polarization in Europe and the tendency to postpone difficult decisions, which may have negative long-term consequences. He also emphasizes the need for Europe to act with urgency to avoid falling behind other economic powers.

He has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit by the King of Spain and the Legion of Honour by the President of France, François Hollande.

Conferences

Agenda 2028 – Much More Than a Market: A Vision for Europe’s Strategic Future.

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and current President of the Jacques Delors Institute, presented in 2024 his report titled “Much More Than a Market”, commissioned by the European Council. This report proposes a renewed vision of the European Single Market, adapted to contemporary challenges and aimed at strengthening the competitiveness, social cohesion, and strategic autonomy of the European Union.

The report comes at a critical moment, as the EU faces challenges such as global competition from powers like the United States and China, the need to adapt to new technologies, and the urgency of addressing security and defense issues. Letta emphasizes the importance of overcoming internal fragmentation to ensure that Europe can compete on an equal footing on the global stage.

Furthermore, Letta proposes the creation of a “Union of Savings and Investment,” intended to mobilize the financial resources needed for the energy and digital transitions, while reducing dependence on external investments.

Although the report was presented in 2024, its proposals remain highly relevant. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has urged Europe to undertake structural reforms to strengthen its competitiveness, echoing the concerns expressed in the report.

In summary, Enrico Letta’s conference on the Single Market and the next phase of European integration presents a comprehensive and strategic vision to adapt the EU to the challenges of the 21st century, aiming for a more united, competitive, and resilient Europe.

Leadership in a Fragmented World: Challenges and Solutions.

The conference addresses the current challenges Europe faces in a global context characterized by political, economic, and social fragmentation. Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and President of the Jacques Delors Institute, highlights the urgent need for greater European integration to ensure the continent’s competitiveness and cohesion in the face of powers such as the United States and China.

In his speech, Letta emphasizes that completing the European Single Market is not an option but an essential condition for Europe to regain its leadership in global prosperity. He underscores that a lack of consensus and leadership among Europe’s major countries would be disastrous given the challenges confronting the continent.

Furthermore, Letta proposes a European Union of Savings and Investment, encompassing banking and capital markets, as part of a roadmap for the new European political and institutional cycle 2024–2029. This initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s economy and competitiveness, as well as the well-being of its citizens within the Single Market.

Letta outlines a roadmap for the new European political and institutional cycle 2024–2029 with the objective of reinforcing Europe’s economy and competitiveness, as well as the welfare of its citizens in the Single Market.

The Future of Europe: Unity, Growth, and Democratic Renewal.

Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and current Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs in Madrid, has been a key figure in the debate on Europe’s future. His lecture, titled [insert title], is based on his high-level report, Much More Than a Market, presented to the European Council in April 2024.

This report, the result of an extensive consultation across 65 European cities and over 400 meetings, proposes a comprehensive reform of the European Single Market. Letta identifies six key areas for its modernization:

- Integration of strategic sectors: Incorporate finance, telecommunications, and energy into the Single Market to enhance competitiveness.
- Creation of a “fifth freedom”: Promote research, innovation, and education as pillars of growth.
- Financing strategic objectives: Establish a Union of Savings and Investment to channel resources toward pan-European projects.
- Reduction of bureaucracy: Simplify the regulatory framework to facilitate business activity, particularly for SMEs.
- Strengthening social cohesion: Ensure social justice and inclusion throughout the integration process.
- External dimension of the Single Market: Balance integration into the global market with European security and interests.

Letta also highlights three major themes that will shape the EU over the next decade: the dual transition (digital and green), enlargement, and EU security.

Equity as a Framework for Economic and Social Policy.

This conference focuses on the need to integrate equity as a guiding principle in the European Union’s economic and social policies. Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and current Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, has addressed this topic in various public and academic interventions. Key topics include:

- Equity as a guiding principle: Letta argues that equity should be at the core of economic and social policies, promoting social and territorial cohesion within the EU.
- Economic competitiveness and sustainability: In his presentation at Faconauto 2025, Letta highlighted the importance of strengthening economic competitiveness through investments in innovation and sustainability, without neglecting social cohesion.
- Territorial inequalities: He proposed that disparities between regions be monitored within the context of the European Semester, suggesting policies that generate opportunities in declining regions to prevent forced migration.
- Strengthening public administrations: He advocated for the creation of a European mechanism to assist member states in enhancing their administrative capacities, facilitating the implementation of equitable policies.
- Recognition of professional qualifications: He suggested the widespread adoption of an automatic recognition system for professional qualifications across the EU, improving labor mobility and reducing inequalities in access to employment.

Enrico Letta’s conference underscores the need for a deeper integration of equity in the EU’s economic and social policies. He proposes an approach that combines economic competitiveness with social cohesion, addresses territorial inequalities, and promotes sustainability. His vision aims for a more cohesive and just Europe, capable of facing current global challenges.

From Crisis to Cooperation: The Role of the European Union in Global Governance.

The conference takes place at a critical moment for the EU, which faces economic, geopolitical, and social challenges. Letta has been an advocate for a more integrated and proactive Europe. He supports deeper integration in key areas such as energy, telecommunications, and financial services, and proposes the creation of a “fifth freedom” in the single market focused on research, innovation, and education.

During the conference, Letta delves into how the EU can overcome its internal fragmentation to play a more active role in global governance. He emphasizes the need for greater cooperation among member states and with international actors to address common challenges such as climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.

The conference offers an opportunity to reflect on building a more united and resilient Europe. Letta’s participation, as an influential European leader, provides valuable insight into how the EU can adapt to an ever-changing global environment.

In summary, the conference serves as a key forum to discuss the future of the EU in global governance, exploring how to overcome current crises through cooperation and integration.

Books

Europe: Last Chance.

A call to action to work for a stronger and more competitive European Union capable of standing up to the United States, China, or India.

Today, the European Union is carving its path in a world full of conflicts of all kinds. How to face them and seek the most effective solutions is a paramount objective for all its member states and for those aspiring to join.

This is the purpose of Europe: Last Chance, where Enrico Letta presents the conclusions of a nine-month journey across European territory, during which he held over four hundred meetings with numerous figures and groups from all sectors, in sixty-five cities.

His conclusions and proposals led to the Letta Report (2024), drafted at the request of the Belgian and Spanish Presidencies of the EU Council and supported by the entire European Council, which forms the central core of this book.

Carefully detailed throughout these pages, these proposals aim to relaunch Europe, deepen the single market to accelerate the energy transition, innovation, and reindustrialization, and strengthen the European bloc in security and defense.

Europe is imperfect, but it is irreplaceable. The time to act is now. This is our last chance. Never before has inertia meant decline as much as it does today.

Europe: Last Chance.

Make Europe, Not War: A Pro-European Stand Against Trump and Brexit.

The European Union is experiencing the longest economic crisis in its history and is facing a wave of migration and refugees unlike anything seen in a long time. It is also the first time, with Brexit, that a country has left the European project. We could continue listing the tensions confronting the EU: terrorist attacks, exorbitant youth unemployment in Mediterranean Europe, the peculiar situation in Greece… On top of that are the provocations from Trump, Putin, and Erdogan from abroad.

We are facing an unprecedented situation, one without precedent and without any reliable compass. And yet, Enrico Letta, who was Italy’s Prime Minister during the stormy years of the euro crisis, has no doubt that European integration must continue, against all odds. The future, he argues, lies in “de-Brusselizing” Europe, democratizing its functioning, and bringing the project closer to those who feel ignored by it.

In short, it means presenting the European Union not as an alternative to the worst but as a bet on the best. Emmanuel Macron’s victory in France may contribute to this. Europe must rediscover itself and become a power in values—the very values that can make it an ethical reference for the rest of the world.

Make Europe, Not War: A Pro-European Stand Against Trump and Brexit.

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