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SUMMARY:European Green Academy 2026
DESCRIPTION:The 2026 edition of the European Green Academy (EGA) in Brussels\, opens its doors this coming April\, creating an inspiring learning space that brings together Green thinkers\, political actors\, civil society organisations\, and engaged activists from across and beyond Europe. This year’s Academy is crucial – unfolding at a moment when democracy across Europe is under an intensifying attack\, and urgent questions of resilience\, autonomy and collective action demand fresh thinking and alliances. \nAbout the event\nEurope enters 2026 facing a stark political reality. Democratic backsliding\, shrinking civic space\, geopolitical instability\, and the rise of hybrid and technological threats are reshaping the political landscape towards fear\, rollback\, and polarisation. Civil society is being systematically constrained: its autonomy reduced\, its legitimacy attacked\, and its role in democratic life eroded. At the same time\, rapidly evolving technologies are transforming how citizens access information and participate in public life\, creating new vulnerabilities that authoritarian actors are quick to exploit.  \nAgainst this backdrop\, Greens and progressives face mounting challenges in organising\, building alliances\, and collectively envisioning alternatives. EGA 2026 meets this moment head-on: creating a space to deepen understanding\, strengthen transnational exchange and connections\, and develop fresh ideas to defend democracy and rebuild resilience – through stronger participation\, a reimagined and holistic approach to security and protection\, and ambitious ecosocial transformation.  \nOver 1.5 days\, and through a dynamic mix of plenaries\, workshops\, debates\, targeted training sessions and creative formats\, EGA offers an inspiring learning environment where participants can engage with diverse actors and forward-looking ideas. With a strong focus on political education and tailored methodologies\, EGA aims to equip participants with fresh insights\, practical skills\, and forward-looking perspectives to navigate today’s key challenges. It is a space for learning\, building resilience\, and mapping pathways for collective alliances in turbulent political times – as we work towards a just\, ecological\, and democratic Europe.  \nRead more about last years’ edition here.   \n\n  \nProgramme \nFind the European Green Academy programme in PDF here.\nAt the heart of the EGA 2026 programme lies a central question: how can we build resilient\, autonomous\, and vibrant societies amid technological capture\, geopolitical instability\, and deep ecological crisis? \nThematic pillars: \n\nDemocracy under pressure  \nDigital sovereignty and democracy   \nAutonomy & resilience \n\nAcross the Academy\, participants will engage in:  \n\nPlenaries with leading voices from politics\, academia\, activism\, and civil society \nWorkshops and training sessions offering practical tools\, skills\, and methodologies \nDebates and roundtables exploring forward-looking Green ideas \nNetworking spaces to foster collaboration and transnational exchange \nCreative and artistic interventions \n\nMeet the Speakers\n\nNika Kovač\, Activist\, My Voice My Choice\nAgnese Lāce\, Latvia Minister of Culture; co-chair of PROGRESĪVIE\nRosa Martínez\, Secretary of State for Social Rights\, Spain \nTarik Abou-Chadi\, Professor of European Politics\, Oxford University\nNicolae Ștefănuță\, Vice President of the European Parliament\, MEP\, Greens/EFA\nDominika Lasota\, co-founder of the Wschód (“Sunrise”) Initiative\, member of Fridays for Future Poland\nRenata Ávila Pinto\, CEO\, Open Knowledge Foundation\nShannon Vallor\, Co-Director\, Centre for Technomoral Futures\, author The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking \nJustyna Wydrzyńska\, Abortion Dream Team\nStefanos Loukopoulos\, Co-Founder & Director\, Vouliwatch\nZoya Miari\, Palestinian-Ukrainian Storyteller\, Peace Ambassador\nTomas Tomilinas\, MP Democrats for Lithuania\nGabriela Svárovská\, MP\, Co-Chair\, Zelení\nAtte Harjanne\, MP\, Vihreä liitto (Finnish Greens)\nAarti Narsee\, Senior Policy Officer & Lead for Rule of Law Advocacy\, European Civic Forum\nJean Cattan\, Head of the National Initiative\, Café IA; former Secretary General of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology Council\nNatalija Simović\, Local Councilor\, Zeleno Levi Front  \nRichard Wouters\, Researcher\, Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks\nAdam Reichardt\, Editor-in-Chief\, New Eastern Europe\nKaren Boers\, FARI\, the Brussels AI Institute for the Common Good\nAriane Giraneza Birekeraho\, Antwerp City Councillor\, Groen \nAlice Stollmeyer\, Executive Director\, Defend Democracy \nKristina Wilfore\, Co-Founder\, #ShePersisted & Director of Innovation and Global Projects at Reset Tech \nBenedetta de Marte\, Secretary General\, European Green Party\nAndrej Zlatović\, Co-Spokesperson\, Federation of Young European Greens  \nÁgi Fernengel\, Director\, School of Public Life\nLiza Bezvershenko\, Independent Civil Society & Advocacy Specialist\nCynthia Muthoni\, Local Councillor\, Green Party of England and Wales\n\nThe European Green Academy will be hosted by Eliza Popper\, Co-Founder of the Good Enough Company. \nFriday 24 April \n\n\n\nTime \nSession \n\n\n13:00-14:00  \nNetworking Lunch  \nRoom: Salle de Guichets\n\n\n14:00-14:20 \nOpening & Welcome  \nRoom: Salle de Guichets\n\n\n14:20-14:45 \nOPENING KEYNOTES \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \n\nAgnese Lāce\, Latvia Minister of Culture; co-chair of PROGRESĪVIE \nNika Kovač\, My Voice My Choice \nRenata Ávila Pinto\, CEO\, Open Knowledge Foundation \nZoya Miari\, Palestinian-Ukrainian Storyteller\, Peace Ambassador \n\n\n\n\n15:00-16:30 \nPARALLEL SESSIONS \n\nBuilding Resilience Through Values\,  Room: Zinneke\nRe-wiring for Democracy: Can We Build Tech Sovereignty from the Ground Up?\, Room: Brel\nThe Backlash Is Organised – Feminists Must Be Too\, Room: Magritte\n\n\n\n\n16:30-17:00  \nBreak \n\n\n 17:00-17:45\nStruggles and Horizons for Democracy in Europe   \n Room: Salle de Guichets \n\nTarik Abou-Chadi\, Professor of European Politics\, Oxford University \nRosa Martínez\, Secretary of State for Social Rights\, Spain \n\n\n\n\n17:45-19:15  \nPLENARY: Civil Society Under Attack: Europe’s Backbone Fights Back \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \n\nRosa Martínez\, Secretary of State for Social Rights\, Spain   \nNika Kovač\, My Voice My Choice   \nStefanos Loukopoulos\, Co-Founder & Director\, Vouliwatch \nAarti Narsee\, Senior Policy Officer & Lead for Rule of Law Advocacy\, European Civic Forum \n\n\n\n\n19:15-20:15  \nNetworking Dinner  \nRoom: Salle de Guichets\n\n\n20:15-20:50 \nSpotlight On: My Voice My Choice \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \n\nNika Kovač\, My Voice My Choice   \n\n\n\n\n\nSaturday 25 April \n\n\n\nTime\nSession \n\n\n09:30- 10:00  \nConnect the Dots – Coffee and Networking \n\n\n10:00-11:30 \nPLENARY: System Reset: Technology for a Democratic Europe   \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \n\nRenata Ávila Pinto\, CEO\, Open Knowledge Foundation \nFrank Karlitschek\, CEO NextCloud   \nProf. Shannon Vallor\, Co-Director\, Centre for Technomoral Futures\, author The AI Mirror\nCyrielle Chatelain\, MP\, Europe Écologie Les Verts\n\n\n\n\n11:45-13:15 \nPARALLEL SESSIONS \n\nUnder pressure but not powerless. Civil society strategies for challenging times\, Room: Zinneke\nUnderstanding Democratic Erosion from the Ground Up: Perspectives from Youth & Civil Society Organising \, Room: Magritte + Delvaux\nGender Information Warfare: Readiness\, Response\, Resistance\, Room: Brel\n\n\n\n\n13:00-14:30  \nNetworking Lunch  \nRoom: Salle de Guichets\n\n\n14:30-16:00  \nPARALLEL SESSIONS \n\nFrom Values to Vote: The Quiet Majority Goes Loud\, Room: Brel\nResilience & Momentum: What’s working for Green and Progressive Youth Movements?\, Room: Magritte (+ Delvaux)\nDaily Distortions: Democratic Life in the Age of AI\, Room: Zinneke\n\n\n\n\n 16:00-16:30  \nBreak  \n\n\n16:30-17:15 \nWhere Do We Go From Here? Shaping AI\, Shaping Ourselves: Thinking Together with Shannon Vallor \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \nProf. Shannon Vallor\, Co-Director\, Centre for Technomoral Futures\, author The AI Mirror: How to Reclaim Our Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking\n\n\n17:15-18:00 \nAcademy Closing  \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \n\nBenedetta de Marte\, Secretary General\, European Green Party\nCynthia Muthoni\, Local Councillor\, Green Party of England and Wales\n\n\n\n\n18:00-18:30 \nCLOSING KEYNOTES \nRoom: Salle de Guichets\n\n\n18:30-22:00  \nNetworking Dinner \nRoom: Salle de Guichets \nPerformances by Mahour\, Iranian singer-songwriter\, and Mahsa Bagheri\, Persian classic and miniature dancer.\n\n\n\nPractical Information\nPlease download our Practical Info Pack for Participants here. \n\nDate & Time:  24 April 2026 (13:00-22:00) – 25 April 2026 (09:30-22:00)\nLocation: Brussels Information Point (BIP)\, Rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat\, 1000 Brussels \nVenue Map\nLanguage & Format:  English\, in-person participation only\nAccessibility & safe spaces: GEF remains committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful environment for all participants. A safe spaces policy will apply throughout the event. \nContact: For any questions regarding the European Green Academy 2026\, please contact events@gef.eu. \n\n\nThis event is organised by the Green European Foundation with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.
URL:https://gef.eu/event/european-green-academy-2026-brussels/
LOCATION:Brussels Information Point (BIP)\, Rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat\, 1000 Brussels\, Rue Royale 2-4 Koningsstraat\, Brussels  \, 1000\, Belgium
CATEGORIES:Networking event
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