25/06/2026
๐ This week marks the Closing Ceremonies of the ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑโ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ across the three campuses of the College of Europe - Bruges, Natolin, and Tirana.
It marks the end of an extraordinary chapter and the beginning of an exciting new journey for this yearโs graduates. ๐โจ
Last Friday, 19 June, we celebrated this important milestone in Bruges, where the Acting Rector, Prof. Ewa Oลniecka-Tamecka, welcomed distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Bruges, Dirk De fauw, and the President of the College of Europe Alumni Association, Dr Teona Lavrelashvili.
Addressing the graduates, our President welcomed them into the global College of Europe Alumni community and congratulated them on joining a network that spans generations, institutions, and continents.
In her speech, she reminded graduates:
โBeing an alumna or alumnus of the College of Europe is not simply a line on a CV. It is both a privilege and a responsibility: the privilege of belonging to a remarkable European community, and the responsibility to remain engaged, stay curious, uphold democratic values, and continue contributing to Europeโs future.
It is also a vocation - a commitment to serve, to build bridges, to resist indifference, and to help make Europe more understandable, more accessible, and closer to its citizens.โ
To all graduates of the ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑโ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ: as you begin this next chapter, may you carry with you not only the knowledge and friendships gained at the College, but also the courage to question, the openness to listen, and the determination to build bridges in a world that needs them more than ever.
Congratulations to the ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฑโ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ! ๐
Welcome to the College of Europe Alumni Association โ your lifelong community. We look forward to accompanying you every step of the way. ๐ค
๐ฅ You can watch the full speech of our President here (starting at 1:49:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3kmF2q5pok
College of Europe in Bruges College of Europe in Natolin