Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund's speech at The European Diplomatic Programme, November 11, 2025.
Check against delivery.
It is a great pleasure and a great honour to be here with you today. The new generation of European diplomats.
The former French president, Charles de Gaulle, once said:
“Les diplomates ne sont utiles que par beau temps. Dès qu’il pleut, ils se noient dans chaque goutte.”
Or in English:
“Diplomats are useful only in fair weather. As soon as it rains, they drown in every drop”.
Of course, that isn’t true. De Gaulle was a military man. He led the Free French Forces during the Second World War and he believed in the power of force above all else. But if he could see what the European Union has achieved through diplomacy and collaboration over the past fifty years, I believe he would reconsider his words.
I quote him because all of you here today represent Europe’s future. A future that will be defined by how our continent navigates an increasingly complex and unpredictable world. There is no room for “fair-weather diplomats”. The challenges ahead will test your judgement, your courage and your ability to work together.
Each of you carries the potential to strengthen Europe’s voice, defend its values and shape its destiny.
And today, I want to speak to you about the three goals that will guide our common efforts: security, resilience, and prosperity.
They are deeply connected. Together, they form one vision: a Europe that is capable, confident, and united.
We meet at a time when the world feels both smaller and more fragile.
Conflicts are reshaping regions. Great-power tensions are rising. Cyberattacks, disinformation and economic coercion are all testing our stability. These challenges directly affect Europe’s security and our prosperity.
If we fail to act together, we risk losing what generations before us worked so hard to build. Peace, stability and trust.
Europe’s response to current challenges needs be anchored in our core values. Democracy, the rule of law, human rights and multilateralism.
These are our ideals. They are instruments of influence and the foundation of credibility in an unstable world.
Resilience, too, is about more than defence. It’s about building a Europe that can adapt and thrive.
The green transition and digital sovereignty strengthen our independence and sustainability while creating jobs and innovation. But recent years have shown that we must go further. Europe needs to stand on its own feet, take greater responsibility for its own security and act decisively when needed.
By 2030, Europe must be capable of defending itself. Not alone, but as a strong and credible partner within the transatlantic alliance.
That means more cooperation. More speed. More concrete action across all of Europe. Because security is not just about defence. It is about unity, confidence and purpose.
And it all begins with knowledge. Investment in research, innovation and education is one of the most powerful tools we have to secure Europe’s long-term future. Knowledge is our most important renewable resource. And it grows stronger the more we share it.
Research drives progress in areas that define our century. From cybersecurity and climate action to health and technology.
Through programmes like Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and digital education initiatives, the EU is building networks of cooperation that cross borders and disciplines. These networks reflect the true European spirit of openness and curiosity.
And we must continue to invest in them. Because a resilient Europe is not built on raw power alone. It is built on learning, innovation and adapting.
Now, let me turn to you. The new generation of diplomats.
Diplomacy has always been about building bridges. Between cultures. Between countries. Between people. And never has that mission seemed more urgent than today. You will be operating in a world where power is dispersed, information is instant and trust can vanish in a second. You will need adaptability, empathy and patience.
The best diplomats are those who listen carefully, understand deeply and act with integrity. The DNA of diplomacy is also the DNA of the European Union. Before the Berlin Wall fell, Europe was divided. Literally by concrete, but also by fear and silence.
Across the continent, people were desperate to talk again. To reconnect. To rebuild trust. To learn about the people who they had been cut off from for decades. And when the wall finally came down and the Soviet Union collapsed that is exactly what happened.
The silence was broken and all over our continent people started talking. Thousands and thousands of young people travelled all over Europe. Learned languages, made friends, experienced new cultures. I myself was one of them.
That yearning for dialogue and connection became the foundation for European integration.
Our Union was born out of the belief that talking is always better than fighting. That cooperation is stronger than conflict.
In that sense, the EU itself is a grand diplomatic project. Built on negotiation, compromise and shared purpose.
And you, as Europe’s next generation of diplomats, are the living continuation of that project.
But our generation will also face a new frontier: Digital diplomacy. Technology has transformed how we communicate and how influence works. Artificial intelligence, social media and new digital tools open vast opportunities. But they also create new vulnerabilities.
Misinformation and fake news spread faster than ever. Cyber threats undermine trust and transparency. In this landscape, diplomats are more than negotiators. You must be guardians of truth and credibility.
Your critical sense is as important as your language and negotiation skills. You need to be on the side of knowledge and truth. That means engaging with governments, companies, researchers and journalists. To defend facts, promote transparency and strengthen responsible digital governance.
Policy today is evidence-based. And thus, diplomacy must be informed by science, data and honest dialogue.
Even as a politician and somewhat experienced public speaker I have to accept that in this day and age the strength of our diplomacy will depend as much on our servers as on our speeches.
The Europe you will represent and help shape must remain united, innovative and sustainable.
Our long-term goal is clear: Peace, stability and sustainable development. Within the EU, with our neighbours and with partners across the globe.
We must continue to lead by example.
To show that democracy and diversity are sources of strength, not weakness. And to prove that cooperation delivers more security, more prosperity and more dignity than competition ever could. You are the custodians of that vision.
The choices you make, the partnerships you build the values you defend will all determine what kind of Europe future generations inherit. You are entering the world of diplomacy at a time of great uncertainty. But also of great opportunity.
The complexity of today’s world is not a burden. It is an invitation to lead. Europe’s success has always depended on those who believe in dialogue, in compromise and in cooperation.
Those are your tools. Use them boldly, and use them wisely.
And as you take on this responsibility, remember the words of Charles de Gaulle. He thought diplomats were useful only in fair weather.
Well, the world is not enjoying fair weather currently. The skies are uncertain and rain and storms are always on the horizon.
But I am confident in you.
You will stand firm, steady the umbrella and help guide Europe through the storm. I have no doubt that you will rise to the challenge with confidence, creativity and unity.
The road ahead will not be easy, but it will be meaningful.
Thank you.
