The surprise guest

Every month we will be introducing a public figure whose work and commitment are seen by others as a source of inspiration.

For the September edition, we have invited Sébastien Maillard, Director of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris. He shares with us his understanding of what it means to have a sense of "belonging to Europe", which is particularly important at this time of debate on the future of Europe, which will culminate in the French Presidency in the first half of 2022.

Sébastien Maillard is Director of the Jacques Delors Institute in Paris. With a team of 20 employees, this think tank analyses European issues and formulates operational ideas for advancing European integration in several key sectors, in conjunction with its partners in Berlin and Brussels. Its Académie Notre Europe raises awareness of European issues amongst 18- to 30-year-olds.

After an initial career as a journalist for La Croix, Mr Maillard joined the think tank founded by Jacques Delors, a former president of the European Commission. He was the correspondent in Brussels (2007-2010) and Rome (2013-2016), co-heading the international service, and he covered Emmanuel Macron’s campaign in 2017. A specialist in European affairs, which he has taught at Sciences Po in Paris and for Boston College, he has also worked with TheWorldPost, The German Times and other newspapers and magazines. He is a member of several European organisations (Mouvement Européen, Maison Robert Schuman and Maison de l’Europe). He is the author of Qu’avons-nous fait de l’Europe?, 2013, with a preface by Jacques Delors) and of a book of interviews with Enrico Letta, Faire l’Europe dans un monde de brutes, 2017, which came out in paperback in 2019 and has been translated into several languages. (ehp)