The opening panel of European Voices focused on young Europeans and political expression in the digital public square, a space increasingly influenced by EU digital regulation and platform accountability standards. Moderated by Izabella Nilsson, the discussion examined how digital platforms shape political participation, public debate, and generational engagement across Europe. Speakers included Markus Johansson-Martis, Hlédís Maren Guðmundsdóttir, Stig Even Lillestøl, and Marlon Uljee. The panel highlighted the tension between openness, regulation, and political agency in Europe’s digital debate, underlining the strategic importance of safeguarding democratic participation within the European Union.

The keynote address, Defending Freedom of Speech in Europe: Transatlantic Lessons, was delivered by James O’Keefe, Founder of OMG Media. The speech addressed the structural challenges facing freedom of expression in Europe and examined how EU regulatory frameworks interact with media accountability and investigative journalism. Drawing comparisons with the American experience, it reflected on institutional pressure, transparency standards, and the future of dissent in democratic systems.

Panel II examined investigative journalism, regulation, and control over public narratives in Europe. Moderated by Hanne Tolg, the panel brought together James O’Keefe, Jacob Hagnell, Holger Thuss, and Nora Junco García. The discussion focused on the balance between regulation, media freedom, and the public’s right to information within the EU’s evolving legal architecture.

A featured interview titled Europe’s Last Democratic Frontier: A conversation on courage, truth, and political expression explored the state of democratic debate in Europe. Moderated by Katie Hagström, the discussion brought together Sebastian Tynkkynen and Mateusz Morawiecki, President of the ECR Party, who addressed the audience via video message.

The closing panel, The Battle for the Western Public Square, addressed the future of open debate in Europe and the transatlantic space. Moderated by Chang Frick, the panel featured Greg Swenson, Matias Turkkila, and George Simion. Speakers discussed structural challenges to free expression, the institutional resilience of European democracies, and the role of media in shaping the Western public square in an era of geopolitical realignment.

A morning full of meetings today in New Delhi. Among them I had the pleasure of meeting Sanjeev Sanyal – Member of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi – and Ram Madhav, President of India Foundation. An inspiring exchange on global challenges, the IMEC corridor and the Mattei Plan, strengthening strategic connectivity and cooperation between India, Europe, and Mediterranean.

The ECR Party Secretary General Antonio Giordano met Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Parliament and national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the conservative party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The success of conservative governments in India and the growth of conservative movements in Europe represent significant milestones. It is important to further intensify contacts and relations between our political and institutional communities, with a view to building an increasingly structured.

ECR Party Secretary General Antonio Giordano met with Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Member of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, and member of several Parliamentary Committees, including the one for the Ministry of Finance, the Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice, and the Committee on Ethics. They discussed the new EU–India trade agreements and the important opportunity to develop, through a transnational interparliamentary group, the IMEC project in coordination with the Mattei Plan.

The President of the ECR Party took part in a conference dedicated to transatlantic cooperation in the context of growing geopolitical challenges. The event, organised by New Direction in cooperation with the Warsaw Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation, brought together political leaders and experts from both sides of the Atlantic. The discussion focused on the role of sovereign nations, security, and the future direction of international cooperation