On March 25 & 26, the Service of International Relations and Cooperation at the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), in conjunction with the UMH Jean Monnet Chair, hosted the “What Do You Know About the Values of the European Union?” international conference in Arenals Hall on the Elche Campus of the university.

The conference began with opening remarks from Inma Blaya Salvador, Director of the Service of International Relations and Cooperation, and associate professor Elena Crespo Navarro, who also serves as Coordinator of the UMH Jean Monnet Chair. Both speakers underscored the forum’s vital role as a space for thoughtful reflection, celebrating values such as freedom and the privilege of living under the rule of law in today’s complex world.

The first of two panel discussions opened with remarks by Elena Crespo, who also served as the session’s moderator. This panel featured Francisco Pascual Vives, Professor of public international law and international relations at the University of Alcalá; Laura E. Aragonés Molina, assistant professor in the same field at the University of Alcalá; and Monica Parodi, associate professor of EU law at the University of Florence (Italy). Together, they explored the values upheld by the European Union and its role in defending them, focusing on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, both within the EU and in its external relations.

Following a coffee break, the session resumed with a second panel discussion, where the speakers explored key issues related to artificial intelligence, disinformation, and gender equality within the EU. The panel featured Rocío Pozo Tomás, Adela Rodríguez Mañogil, and Alessandra Nasoni, all professors of public international law and international relations at the UMH, who offered insights into these pressing contemporary challenges.

On the second day of the conference, an interactive workshop was held, in which the theoretical content was reviewed using gamification tools, followed by a discussion on current issues selected by the participants themselves.

It is also worth noting that this conference is strategically aligned with the internationalization initiatives at the UMH Vice Rectorate for Internationalization and Cooperation, as well as with the objectives of the Erasmus+ Program. This alignment reinforces the UMH commitment to fostering a solid and critical European civic consciousness among its student body.

These international conferences are designed to serve as spaces for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collaboration through panel discussions and practical activities. They provide the university community with foundational training and thoughtful reflection on the importance of EU values, as well as the need for active citizen engagement in defending and upholding them.