After weeks of intense negotiations, COP29 concluded at 2 AM on Sunday, November 24th, two days past its scheduled end. Despite hopes for significant progress, the conference yielded mixed results. Climate Finance Deal:Wealthy nations committed to increasing climate finance to $300 billion annually for countries most affected by climate change. However, this amount falls short of the $1.3 trillion deemed necessary or even the $500 billion minimum requested by many developing nations. While the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the deal “a base to build on,” critics, including an Indian delegate, labeled it “a paltry sum.” Developed countries stressed that private investment would supplement this commitment. Fossil Fuel Transition:Efforts to expand commitments to transition away from fossil fuels faltered. Saudi Arabia successfully blocked language referencing fossil fuels in the final text, frustrating many delegates. One UN envoy voiced disappointment that the progress made at COP28 in Dubai was not carried forward, highlighting persistent challenges in securing consensus on this critical issue. Looking Ahead:As the dust settles, attention now shifts to February 2025, when countries are due to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Experts and stakeholders are also calling for procedural reforms to make future COPs more effective. While COP29 made some progress, the gap between ambition and action remains significant, leaving much work to be done to address the escalating climate crisis.  

Finally, after much political drama, a new Commission should be able to start working in early December. Considering the many crises Europe is facing, leadership is urgently needed. Last week however did not make for a pretty sight nor did it provide for much clarity going forward. The centre-right EPP went to the clash with its supposed primary allies (Socialists, Liberals) to impose Italy’s candidate, from hard-right ECR, as Executive Vice-President of the Commission, threatening to derail the nomination of Teresa Ribeira (S&D), a key player of the future Commission in matters of green transition. While the move might have honourable motivations, preserving Italy as a constructive player, it is also a display of strength, preserving EPP’s ability to form alternative majorities on its right in the Parliament. One can only hope that such strength will now be put at the service of key aspects of the Commission's stated goals, as reaffirmed in the platform statement signed between the EPP, S&D and Renew, including a pro-integration approach, the implementation of the Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the search for sustainable agriculture. The long-term future of Europe, and the well-being of its citizens, from today and tomorrow, depend on it. We certainly will not stop advocating for it. Benoit Willemaers SJSecretary for European Affairs 

On Saturday, October 5th, the European Leadership Programme (ELP) officially launched its 12th cohort, welcoming a new group of Fellows in a friendly and lively atmosphere. This time, fellows came from Belgium, Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, Brazil, and Lebanon. The diversity and international background provided an opportunity to learn from each other and see different perspectives. It has been wonderful to see the fellows settling in and getting ready for the semester ahead. The day began with a warm welcome from ELP manager Botond Feledy, who introduced the program and its five core elements: Leadership, Volunteering, EU Affairs, Coaching & Mentoring and Community. Fellows spent the full day together, getting to know each other and diving deeper into the ELP segments and community building. As Benoit Willemaers, SJ, the spiritual guarantor of the Programme, reminded all, while each brings personal expectations for the semester, one of the most valuable contributions one can make is simply to be present for each other – listening and responding to the needs of others. In the afternoon, the day was enriched by the presence of the ELP’s coaches and mentors, who will accompany fellows during the semester. With their guidance, Fellows will learn how to navigate through inner questions and motivations. The day concluded with the celebration of the mass. Although each of the participants is at a different place in her/his spiritual journey, it was a moment that brought the community together, in a calm and sharing way Once again, ELP looks forward to seeing the Fellows of this new Fall 2024 Cohort grow personally, spiritually, and professionally, and the enthusiasm shown in the Inauguration Day promises much fruit for the months ahead. Lucia TrubenováJESC ELP team

As climate change continues to wreak havoc worldwide—from severe droughts in Southern Africa to unprecedented floods in Central Europe—the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) has announced a comprehensive campaign ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The campaign, which already started and runs until the end of the COP event on 22 November, marks an expanded collaboration of JESC with established partners Jesuit Missions (UK) and the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (Ireland), now joined by African partners Jesuit Missions (UK) and the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (Ireland), now joined by African partners: the Jesuit Centre for Ecology and Development (Malawi) and Centre Arrupe (Madagascar). These new additions bring crucial first-hand experience of climate change impacts on vulnerable communities. The campaign features three key initiatives: A resource-rich campaign webpage including a COP29 Guide and a Prayer Guide, Daily bulletins during the conference providing analysis of negotiations and side events, with registration being done on the campaign page, Also on the campaign page, a direct-action platform enabling citizens to petition their governments. Also, the Society of Jesus has issued a Global Statement endorsed by all six Conference Presidents and numerous Provincial leaders. The statement outlines three urgent calls for action during COP29, emphasising the critical timing as countries prepare to submit updated national climate plans under the Paris Agreement by early 2025. Individuals and institutions are wholeheartedly invited to join and sign.The Jesuits for Climate Justice initiative aligns with the broader Jesuit mission of fostering environmental justice and ecological care for our Common Home.

In response to the urgent challenges of our time and aligned with the ongoing Future Generations Initiative, the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC), in collaboration with Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) and the University of Barcelona, organised a Future Generations Conference on October 3rd at UCLouvain’s Brussels campus. The event provided a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on the political and societal responsibilities we face in shaping the future for upcoming generations. The goal of the conference was to explore and discuss how Future Generations should become represented in European decision-making. What are our political options to address intergenerational conflicts? How is society thinking about its long-term future? Is it legally, and ethically possible to represent them in the political process without their presence? What new methods, laws, and processes are necessary to address these questions? Morning Plenary: Thought Leadership on Intergenerational Fairness The day started with a lively presentation by Malcolm Fairbrother, a Sociology professor from Uppsala University in Sweden, questioning why many democracies fail to plan adequately for future generations, and examining many people’s distrust and disengagement towards this necessary concern. It was followed by a compelling keynote speech from Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General of the European Commission’s Legal Service, who outlined what we can expect from the newly established role of the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture, and Sport, and stressed the Commissioner’s horizontal role across policy areas, aiming to ensure that decisions made today are sustainable for the long-term future. After a short break, the morning session featured Iñigo González, associate professor from the University of Barcelona, who presented a paper on behalf of Charlotte Unruh, discussing institutional mechanisms that could be implemented to counteract the short-term focus of current policymaking. Maija Setälä, a political scientist from the University of Turku, explored how decision-making processes, when conducted without meaningful public engagement, often result in policies that do not resonate with the broader concerns of citizens – therefore highlighting the need for deeper participation to foster long-term vision. Interactive Afternoon Sessions: Tackling Key Themes After a refreshing vegetarian lunch, the conference transitioned into interactive afternoon panels, where attendees could engage directly with experts in smaller, focused discussions. Participants could choose between three panels: Participative Methods to Represent Future Generations, chaired by Judith Ferrando y Puig, who led the audience through a journey across 7 generations.  Future-Fit Economic Policies, chaired by Gael Giraud SJ, where both theoretical and already-existing foresight models were presented and discussed. Rights of Future Generations, chaired by Olivier De Schutter, who discussed the legal and moral imperatives of safeguarding the rights of those yet to be born, and how to best embed them into current legal frameworks, The discussions across these panels were rich with debate and aimed at finding actionable solutions to the challenges facing future generations.  A Day of Reflection, Joy, and Commitment The overall atmosphere of the conference was one of lively intellectual exchange, combining moments of joy with moments of deep concern for the future. The presentations from the key speakers were compiled and published in a special conference publication, which serves as a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the themes discussed. The full agenda of the conference is available here. Finally, a short video capturing the essence of the day can be watched here, and the full recording of the morning plenary is also available here. 

From September 20th to 22nd 2024, the Passion for Europe Workshop gathered once again in the Jesuit Spiritual centre of La Pairelle near Namur, for its sixth edition. This year’s edition had for theme “European Democracy in the light of the War in Ukraine: something worth fighting for?” and aimed to explore the impact the Russian attack on Ukraine had on Europe’s understanding of its own democracy, and how it revealed its value, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Organised by the Passion for Europe group, a group of Christians of different nationalities and confessions involved in EU activities, in collaboration with JESC, the workshop brought together about 40 participants from all over Europe. As in previous years, the financial support from Renovabis enabled younger participants from Central and Eastern Europe to join the session, enriching it with more varied perspectives. Professor Antoine Arjakovsky, co-director of the Politics and Religions research department at the French Collège des Bernardins, was the keynote speaker of this edition. He started with a thought-provoking conference on Friday evening. Drawing from his experience as a diplomat in Moscow and Kyiv, as well as from his work in ecumenical theology, Prof. Arjakovsky offered a passionate account of the roots of the conflict, its complexity, and possible avenues to bring about a just peace. His open and frank input set the tone for later discussions. The next day, two panels continued exploring the topic. In the morning, Karl Heinz Lamberts, former President of the European Committee of the Regions, and Domenico Rossetti, Deputy Head of the Research and Innovation Unit at the Commission as well as Secretary General of the Belgian section of the European Union of Federalists, offered their assessments of the state of European democracy. They highlighted the challenge posed by populism and disenchantment in the European peace project but also offered some thoughts on how to bring citizens closer to the European Union’s institutions. The essential, but often undervalued, role played by cohesion policies was stressed in the discussion. In the afternoon, Sébastien Maillard, from the Jacques Delors Institute and Chatham House, Josianne Gauthier, from International Cooperation for Development Solidarity (CIDSE), and Edmond Grace SJ widened the perspective. From the role played by the EU on the world stage in the search for peaceful development to the renewal of local politics by citizens’ panels, they explored possibilities while acknowledging the very real challenges the EU faces today. At the forefront of their concerns was the danger of Europe adopting a purely defensive stance, economically and politically, at the risk of setting aside the values it was founded upon. The Passion for Europe workshop is not just about rich conferences and panels. Its interest also lies in the occasion it offers to participants to debate among themselves more in-depth, in smaller, mixed groups. And the more social times, during the breaks, the meals and the beer-tasting evenings, are also a key component of the experience. Over the weekend, they helped to create a trusting setting, allowing for deeper and more truthful discussions. Also, the weekend was wonderfully sunny, allowing participants to enjoy fully La Pairelle and its gardens and green surroundings.  More information on the workshop and the group “Passion for Europe” can be found on the group’s website at passionforeurope.com. Benoit Willemaers sjJESC Secretary for European Affairs