The European Union Ambassador to the United Kingdom, His Excellency João Vale de Almeida, will visit Lancaster University on Thursday, May 5, for Europe Day 2022.

Mr Vale de Almeida will deliver a lecture as part of Lancaster’s ‘Jean Monnet EU Studies’ activities in the Management School Lecture Theatre 15, from 5pm to 7pm, and this will be followed by a wine reception in West Pavilion.

He will also meet with the University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield, to discuss matters of mutual interest in higher education in the UK and EU.

All members of the University community and members of the public are welcome to attend the free event which but are asked to register at https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/ppr/events/europe-day-lecture or e-mail h.caton@lancaster.ac.uk.

The prestigious 'Jean Monnet' grant award is highly competitive to win especially in the current political climate and Lancaster was the only university in England to receive this particular funding in 2019. It funds research activities focusing on the European Union, including seminars, lectures and policy events focusing on EU Studies with the aim of explaining the work of the EU.

The Jean Monnet EU Studies academic co-ordinator at Lancaster University, Dr Martin Steven, says: ‘We are delighted that the Ambassador has chosen to come to Lancaster to mark Europe Day 2022. Ambassador Vale de Almeida is especially keen to meet with Lancaster University students to discuss what they regard as priorities for the future of Europe.”

Mr Vale de Almeida is the first European Union Ambassador to the United Kingdom since the UK formally exited the EU in 2020. Prior to this, he was the EU’s Ambassador to the United Nations. He studied History at the University of Lisbon.

Europe Day was set up to mark peace and unity in Western Europe after the end of the Second World War’