ESU Summer Academies (2010–2025) Fifteen Years of Lifelong Learning, European Dialogue and Leadership Development

Fifteen Years of the ESU Summer Academies: Learning, Dialogue and European Solidarity

From 24 to 26 September 2026, we will organse our Summer Academy in Cyprus. For fifteen years, the Summer Academies of the European Seniors’ Union (ESU) have brought senior leaders from across Europe together for learning, dialogue and cooperation. Since the first Academy in Vienna in 2010, the initiative has developed into one of ESU’s most valued activities—a place where lifelong learning, active citizenship and European solidarity come together.

The idea was developed in 2009, with the strong support of Dr. Marilies Flemming, whose vision was to create an annual opportunity for senior representatives to strengthen their knowledge, leadership skills and engagement in public life. The first Academy, held in 2010 under the theme “Seniors: An Active Life with Strong Values,” established the principles that have remained at its heart ever since.

Over the years, the Academies have addressed many of the key issues facing Europe, from demographic change and European elections to security, social development and the future of European cooperation. Country Reports have been a particularly important feature, allowing participants to share experiences, compare challenges and learn from successful initiatives in different countries.

Yet the Summer Academy has always been about more than lectures and debates. Cultural visits, shared meals and informal conversations have created lasting friendships and strengthened the sense of belonging to a wider European community. For many participants, the Academy has become a kind of European family reunion.

The tradition also demonstrated remarkable resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. When physical meetings were impossible, ESU and its partners turned to digital formats, culminating in the fully online 2021 Academy. In 2022, participants returned to Vienna, celebrating not only the resumption of the Academy but also the opportunity to meet again in person.

Since then, the initiative has continued to evolve. The 2023 Academy moved to Leuven, while the 2025 edition in Bruges focused on “Demographic Changes in Europe: Consequences for Seniors and Challenges for European Governance.” New partnerships and new locations have brought fresh perspectives while preserving the Academy’s founding mission.

Fifteen years on, the Summer Academy remains a valuable expression of ESU’s commitment to lifelong learning, active citizenship, European cooperation and solidarity between generations. As Europe faces demographic, technological, social and geopolitical challenges, the experience and engagement of senior citizens remain an important part of the conversation about Europe’s future.

The story of the Summer Academies is therefore not only a celebration of fifteen years of achievement. It is also an invitation to look ahead—with confidence, curiosity and a continued commitment to a stronger, more united and democratic Europe.