In recent years, populist parties – both right- and left-winghave gained ground in many European countries, profoundly transforming the political landscape. While their domestic impact has been widely analyzed, it is increasingly evident that their rise is also influencing the European Union’s foreign policy.
This meeting aims to explore how populist forces are shaping the EU’s international projection, its relations with major powers, and its ability to present itself as a unified actor on the global stage. Sovereigntism, skepticism toward EU institutions, and a growing distrust of multilateralism often clash with the EU’s traditional approach, which is based on shared rules, cooperation, and diplomacy.
At the same time, some populist movements adopt pragmatic or strongly ideological stances in foreign affairs, sometimes promoting closer ties with actors such as Russia, China, or countries in the Global South-thereby challenging historic alliances and Europe’s strategic alignment.
What populist narratives are influencing European positions on NATO, the war in Ukraine, migration, and neighborhood policies? Are populist parties weakening or redefining the European consensus on foreign policy? What does their rise imply for Europe’s role in a multipolar world?
Through dialogue between political analysts, diplomats, international relations experts, and institutional representatives, the event seeks to provide a critical and updated reading of the complex-and at times contradictory-role of populism in shaping European foreign policy, navigating between national interest, ideological redefinition, and geopolitical realism.
