Repubblica Futura took part in the 22nd congress of the European Democratic Party (EDP) in Athens, held on 23 and 24 October 2026, represented by party leader Mara Valentini and international affairs officer Francesca Piergiovanni. The gathering brought together more than one hundred European delegates and over three hundred participants from Greece, under the title The Final Countdown – It’s Time for Europe.
The political thrust of the event is summed up in a statement from the San Marino party: “Defending democracy requires cooperation, solidarity and shared responsibility, beyond Europe’s borders.”
Discussions focused on how democratic forces should respond to the rise of nationalism, authoritarianism and disinformation, as well as growing public distrust in institutions. The proposal put forward was to strengthen international cooperation, extending it beyond the borders of the European Union.
Among the speakers was EDP secretary general and Renew Europe MEP Sandro Gozi, who argued for a stronger, more sovereign Europe capable of taking responsibility for its own future.
EDP president François Bayrou, meanwhile, spoke about the relationship between democracy and citizen involvement.
The statement sums up his message as follows: “Democracy cannot be built for the people without being built with the people.”
Senator Enrico Borghi, president of the Institute of European Democrats and deputy leader of Italia Viva, warned of the risks of political inertia in Europe and excessive conservatism, which could pave the way for a return to predominantly national policies and weaken European integration.
Participants were welcomed by Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of the Greek party Demokrates, and the mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas.
Part of the congress was devoted to testimonies from those defending fundamental freedoms and rights. In the panel Fighters for Freedoms, moderated by European Parliament vice-president Pina Picierno, speakers included Anna Victoria Politkovskaya, who works to preserve the civic and journalistic legacy of Anna Politkovskaya; Jewher Ilham, who campaigns for her father’s release and for the rights of the Uyghur people; and Shervin Haravi, who is engaged in defending women’s rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran.
The statement also reports a video message from Ekrem İmamoğlu, the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, which was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation.
Oleksandra Romantsova, executive director of the Ukrainian Center for Civil Liberties, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, addressed the protection of human rights and the pursuit of justice amid Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“The congress made clear the will to promote a Europe capable of protecting individual freedoms, combining economic opportunity with social responsibility, upholding the rule of law and strengthening democratic participation,” the statement reads.
For Repubblica Futura, the trip to Athens is part of its ongoing cooperation with European political forces that share the principles of freedom, democracy and solidarity.
“Even a reality like the Republic of San Marino, with its own history of independence and institutional traditions, can contribute to this debate, bringing the experience of a community that regards freedom and participation as the foundations of its political identity.”
