19.03.2026 Webinar "Lessons of Europe 2026" - Lesson 1 "Understanding the European Union: institutions, policies and decision-making processes"

On Thursday, 19 March 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30, the first webinar in the "Lessons on Europe" series will be held, titled "Understanding the European Union: institutions, policies and decision-making processes".

The lesson will be coordinated by Daniele Pasquilucci, Europe Direct Siena, with contributions from Professor Giuliana Laschi, University of Bologna, and Professor Daniele Caviglia, University of Enna "Kore".

The first part of this lecture will examine the historical evolution of the main institutions of the European Union, with particular attention to the European Commission and Parliament, as well as common policies, with a focus on the Common Agricultural Policy. Knowledge of this historical path is crucial to understanding the dynamics that led to the birth, development and consolidation of the European integration process, which began on 9 May 1950 with the Schuman Declaration.
The second part of the lecture will be devoted to the analysis of a specific case study, the European Central Bank, established in 1998, which is responsible for implementing the monetary policy of the 21 countries that now make up the eurozone. Its historical origins, institutional structure, main functions and decision-making processes will be reconstructed.

The meeting will be held online from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and is free and open to all citizens, university and secondary school students, and journalists.

Final test (optional)
For those who need to take a final assessment of the skills they've learned, there's a final test.
The test will be in May, at the end of the 2026 European Lessons cycle.
The test is optional and will only be given if you ask for it, just to get your training recognised.