The State of the Union is an annual high-level event organized by the European University Institute for discussing the European Union and the world. It aims to provide a concrete contribution to the European and international debate on governance, integration and global challenges. The event annually gathers together leading figures from civil society, academia, business and political fields and has become over the years a reference point on the EU agenda for policy-makers.
The 2016 edition, which took place in Florence from 5 to 7 May, was mostly organized around the theme of “Women in Europe and the World”. Panels featured high-profile actors in politics and the law, in finance and economics, and in religious and associational life. During the event, pressing issues were analyzed, focusing on women’s condition in crisis situations and providing policy recommendations for improving the conditions of women from many different aspects.