On 30 April 2009, Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy and 10th President of the European Commission, was hosted in Paris for a series of high-level exchanges on European affairs, global governance, and the Middle East. Prodi, one of Europe’s most prominent political figures, brought his extensive experience in EU leadership to discussions that touched on both institutional and geopolitical challenges.

The day opened with a breakfast attended by politicians, including Prince Turki al-Faisal, alongside leading journalists. Prodi used the occasion to reflect on the future of the European project, the EU’s response to global crises, and Europe’s role in fostering dialogue with its neighbours.

A lunch followed, moderated by François Roche, then director of Foreign Policy France — for which Fabien Baussart held the licence in France and Ukraine. This session gathered diplomats and policymakers for a more strategic conversation on international affairs, with particular attention to relations between Europe, the Middle East, and emerging global powers.