First International Event and Kick-off Meeting – FREI – From Resistance to European Integration

The first international event of the project FREI – From Resistance to European Integration will take place in Vienna on 27 and 28 May 2025. Programme here.

This initiative, funded by the European Union's CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, brings together partners from Austria, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Romania to promote dialogue on the historical transitions to democracy and the construction of a European citizenship rooted in human rights.

Over the course of two days, the programme will feature presentations by experts, historical witnesses and civil society representatives, as well as a remembrance tour through key sites in Vienna. Discussions will address the different national experiences of resistance against authoritarian regimes and paths towards European integration, while also reflecting on contemporary challenges to democracy in Europe.

The Mário Soares and Maria Barroso Foundation will take part in the event with a delegation of six participants, bringing its experience in democratic memory and youth engagement. As part of the project, the Foundation will develop a national path focused on the Carnation Revolution, the legacy of colonialism, and post-colonial migration, with particular emphasis on engaging young people from post-colonial backgrounds.

The FREI project runs until March 2027 and will conclude with a final conference at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.