In 2019, French President Emmanuel Macron described NATO as “brain dead”. He said this during the first term of US President Donald Trump. Now, with Trump back in the White House for a second term, that diagnosis has become a starting point for many debates on Europe’s future security and sovereignty.

But what comes next? How close is Europe to being able to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity by military means in these turbulent times? How strong is Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the clause governing mutual assistance among EU member states in the event of an armed attack? How dependent is Europe on non-European arms manufacturers? And are Europeans prepared to defend their liberal democracy, based on the UN Charter and the rule of law, if necessary by force?

This topic emerged from a joint brainstorming exercise among participants in MeetEU’s biweekly events on the prerequisites for EU sovereignty. It was ranked as one of the most urgent issues.

To discuss these questions, we have invited Dr Gesine Weber. She is a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies for Global Security at ETH Zurich. Her research focuses on European security and defence in the context of global power shifts, grand strategy, the global order, and relations between Europe and China.

Memes are like ideas: they spread fast, stick in our minds, and shape how we see the world. They can be hilarious, but they can also be deeply political.

What makes a meme effective?

Join us with Mihaela-Georgiana Mihăilescu, a PhD researcher with a special interest in political memes and the ways they shape public discourse.

In this free online event, you will discover how memes work and how to use them effectively for your cause.

This is the last of six interactive events on how to make the digital world yours, funded by the EU’s ERASMUS+ Programme. All participants under 30 can receive a Youthpass Certificate – a European recognition of non-formal learning that looks great on your CV.

TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are not neutral public spaces. Designed to maximise attention and engagement, these platforms play a major role in shaping public opinion in Europe. They amplify misinformation, polarisation and hate speech, while also encouraging patterns of use that harm mental health.

The EU has begun to respond through the Digital Services Act. Yet success up to now is limited.

Could Europe build a public-service social media model, inspired by public broadcasting – social media that protect democratic debate, strengthen Europe’s digital sovereignty and offer a healthier online environment?

This event will explore that question and introduce a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for a European public-service social media infrastructure.

With Lukáš Mikulecký, Co-Leader of the European Citizens’s Initiative “European Public Social Network”.

New! 1:1 Conversations!
After our one-hour open discussion, we invite you to stay for another 30 minutes. You’ll be paired up randomly and answer four questions together in a one-on-one conversation.

The idea behind: meet new people from across Europe and exchange ideas in a more personal setting. The breakout rooms will stay open for as long as you like.

What drives people to engage with an ad? What makes a social media ad truly impactful? How can different audiences be reached effectively, even with limited resources? And how does the EU approach advertising? What strategy helped it to succeed in the past? These are some of the questions Nastja Klemenčič will explore with you. She is Head of the Social Media and Digital Multipliers Unit at the European Parliament.

This is the fifth of six interactive events on how to make the digital world yours, funded by the EU’s ERASMUS+ Programme. All participants under 30 can receive a Youthpass Certificate – a European recognition of non-formal learning that looks great on your CV.

Everybody is talking about European Sovereignty. Yet the meaning of this demand has changed over the last few years. When President Macron brought forward his passionate call for European Sovereignty just about 5 years ago, most of us thought about the military aspect: The ability to defend our borders and our interests.

The events of the last 5 years have taught us, though, that Strategic Sovereignty, requires more, much more. Together with you, the participants in this event, we want to develop an understanding of the critical requirements. Based on results, we want to organize a series of events with knowledgeable speakers on each of the requirements generated during this event.

New! 1:1 Conversations!
After our one-hour open discussion, we invite you to stay for another 30 minutes. You’ll be paired up randomly and answer four questions together in a one-on-one conversation.

The idea behind: meet new people from across Europe and exchange ideas in a more personal setting. The breakout rooms will stay open for as long as you like.

We’re excited to see how you like this new add-on.

Social media can mobilise communities, change minds or trap activism in echo chambers. In this session, you’ll explore what actually works in digital activism today and how platforms like Instagram shape what people see and think.

You’ll learn the difference between mobilisation and advocacy, how algorithms affect visibility, and how to design messages that reach beyond your bubble without losing your values. The session offers practical tools you can apply to your own campaigns and youth projects.

Led by Yuliia Havryliuk, a civic activist from Ukraine with hands-on experience in Instagram fundraising and advocacy campaigns during the war, turning online reach into real support on the ground.

This is the fourth of six ERASMUS+ special events on how to make the digital world yours, funded by the EU’s ERASMUS+ Programme.

All participants under 30 can receive a Youthpass Certificate – a European recognition of non-formal learning that looks great on your CV.

This Tuesday, MeetEU will host its annual assemblies for the legal entities in the different countries. Unfortunately, this event is only accessible for members, volunteers and invited guests. Stay tuned for other events in the future!

How can you see the full picture behind today’s political events? How do you critically assess what politicians say and spot one-sided arguments? And how can you avoid narrative traps and personal bias? Chavdar Vlachkov, political economist and analyst, appears regularly on TV as an independent voice. He has studied the art of impartial analysis in depth and will share the key questions you should ask to get closer to the truth.

Every swipe, like, and share feeds a billion-euro business built on your data. Platforms track what you look at, how you behave, and how long you stay. Algorithms sort, rank, and push content to keep you scrolling as long as possible.

Together with Dr. Oliver Marsh, a digital policy researcher, you will understand how social media and search algorithms capture and hold your attention. Learn how your behavior becomes valuable commercial data for personalized ads and explore the social consequences of this business model.

By the end, you will understand how platforms monetize your attention. You’ll walk away with practical strategies to protect your data and navigate online spaces more consciously.

With Dr. Oliver Marsh, digital-policy researcher, who wants to ensure that algorithms and AI do not undermine democracy and human rights but strengthen them.