Circle EU.lympics 2nd Edition: Europe in Uncertain Times

During these uncertain times, the second edition of the Circle EU.lympics we attended was a breath of fresh air. The event took place in Aarhus, Denmark, and it brought together students from across Europe to explore the past, present, and future of Europe. Through workshops, presentations, tours, and discussions, this event fostered meaningful dialogue about Europe’s identity, challenges, and aspirations.

A meaningful setting: Denmark and the city of Aarhus

The choice of Denmark was especially relevant. With its long tradition of democratic debate, high civic engagement, and pragmatic relationship with the European Union, Denmark offers a fascinating case study of Europe in motion. From saying “no” to the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, in a time of optimism and expansion after the fall of the Berlin Wall, to lifting the defense opt-out in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Denmark showed a nation both sovereign and deeply European. It has become one of the EU’s most engaged and committed partners today, illustrating both the tensions and the resilience of European integration, and showing that democracy and flexibility can coexist.

Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city and a major university hub, also Erasmus City of the Year, was the perfect setting for this event. Known as The City of Smiles, Aarhus combines a youthful energy with a deep sense of civic responsibility and sustainability. We were welcomed warmly by organizers and local students, creating a supportive and open environment from the start.

Learning, debating, building visions

The week was packed with engaging sessions. Through lectures, we reflected on unity, climate change, democratic values, and youth empowerment. Discussions often returned to key questions such as:

• What does it mean to be European?
• How can we defend democracy in the face of rising populism?
• What kind of Europe are we building, and for whom?

Sustainability: From awareness to action

Aarhus is a pioneer in urban sustainability. One of the event’s highlights was the session at City Hall led by Søren Winther Lundby, expert on globalization and sustainability, who introduced us to Aarhus’ Climate Action Plan. The city aims to become climate neutral by 2030, focusing not just on local emissions but also on indirect emissions from global production and consumption.

We learned about key concepts like ENROI (Energy Return On Energy Invested) and the fundamental difference between transition and mere energy addition. These ideas and the very large scope we went through challenged us to reflect not just on technologies, but on our lifestyles, behaviors, and expectations. The message was clear: the future of sustainability is not just technical, it is cultural.

The Kitchen – A fitting finale of innovation and vision

Choosing The Kitchen, Aarhus’ innovation, creativity and student entrepreneurship hub, as the venue for the final session of the event was no coincidence. Surrounded by start-ups and collaborative workspaces, we were invited to step into a space that embodies what it means to imagine and build the future, and to give further impact in the way we want Europe to thrive through uncertain times. These group projects showed that students are not just observers but participants and future decision-makers.

Ending the week in such an environment felt symbolic and energizing. It reminded us that ideas only come to life when paired with action, and that collaboration across disciplines and backgrounds is key to making meaningful change. The Kitchen offered the perfect space to transform visions into projects, and to close the Circle EU.lympics with a sense of momentum and inspiration.

Key themes discussed and developed

The discussed and presented themes were articulated around:

• The urgency of climate action and a new approach to sustainability
• Empowering young people to take the lead, through enhanced mobility and a harmonized but diverse education system
• A renewed commitment to democratic values in the face of populist pressures
• The importance of shared responsibility in defense and security
• And perhaps most profoundly, the idea of unity in diversity: How can we continue to value our cultural, linguistic, and historical differences, while building a stronger, more cohesive and effective Europe?

This last theme echoed throughout the week as a kind of moral compass, a reminder that Europe’s strength lies not in uniformity, but in the way we embrace and build upon our differences together.