Across Europe—and here in Transylvania—the conversation about how much power nations should share with the European Union is gathering momentum. On one side, the case for national sovereignty celebrates the right of each country to protect its own democratic choices, cultural heritage, and national laws. Advocates of a more federal Europe see strength in speaking with one voice, arguing that shared challenges—from economic shocks to climate change—demand shared solutions. 

Rather than framing these positions as winners or losers, this edition of the Transylvania Lectures invites you to explore the spaces in between. How can self-determination and shared decision-making coexist—and where might they clash? What do citizens gain or stand to lose when authority shifts and how can a stronger union reshape national identity?

Participants: 

  • Dr Teresa Nogueira Pinto is a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at the Lusófona University in Portugal. She holds a PhD in Globalisation Studies, and, beyond academia, she works as a political analyst.  
  • Dr. Radu Albu-Comănescu is a lecturer at the Faculty of European Studies, Babeș-Bolyai University. He is a member of the advisory board of the Rațiu Forum at the London School of Economics; associate of the think-tank Visegrad Insight in Warsaw. He is active in various international NGOs and Romanian public policy think-tanks. Deputy Director of the Institute of International Relations and Area Studies at the BBU. 
  • Moderator: Balázs Kató is a student at MCC. He is majoring in Psychology at Babes-Bolyai University, and in International Relations and European Studies at Sapientia University.   

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