February 25th, 2026 english

In February 2026, Dublin City University was honoured to welcome former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta to campus for the official launch of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence COMPETE, hosted by the Dublin European Law Institute at the Helix.

COMPETE – Competitiveness, Opportunity and Money: Promoting the Economic Transformation of the EU – is funded by the European Commission and explores how EU regulation, public investment and private finance can support Europe’s long-term economic transformation. Its work is structured around three pillars: Regulation, Public Money and Private Money.

The visit marked a significant moment for DCU, strengthening the University’s engagement with European partners and institutions at a time of renewed focus on Europe’s economic future.

In his keynote address, Letta spoke about the evolution of the EU’s Single Market and the need for deeper integration in response to global pressures. Speaking at the event, he said:

“Strengthening and integrating Europe, moving from Single Market to One Market, is the most effective response to Trump challenges to Europe.”

The establishment of COMPETE positions DCU at the centre of important European policy discussions, reinforcing its role as a convening space for academic expertise and high-level dialogue shaping Europe’s future.

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Photo: Kyran O’Brien

Dublin City University News

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