- Today, H.M. the King presided over the closing ceremony of the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Prince of Asturias Chair. This initiative is an academic programme promoted by the Endesa Foundation, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Georgetown University, and the Embassy of Spain in the United States.
- King Felipe was welcomed at Endesa’s headquarters by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, the President of Endesa and the Endesa Foundation, Juan Sánchez-Calero, the CEO of Endesa, José Bogas, and the CEO of the Enel Group - Endesa’s parent company - Flavio Cattaneo.
- The event provided an opportunity to discuss the present and future of Spain-U.S. relations. It also involved the chair’s contributions over the past 25 years to strengthen these ties and build academic and scientific bridges between both nations.
- To date, 14 distinguished academics have held the chair, with Federico Steinberg now joining their ranks. Appointed in November 2024, he joined Georgetown University in January of this year.
The Prince of Asturias Chair marked its 25th anniversary of promoting a richer and more diverse image of Spain internationally, with an event presided over by H.M. the King at Endesa’s headquarters in Madrid. In his remarks, King Felipe emphasised that ‘Spain and the United States are partners, allies, and above all, friends.’ In this context, he stated, ‘The chair is today an outstanding instrument of Spanish public diplomacy. It is a valuable asset for connecting academic life on both sides of the Atlantic, laying the foundation for greater mutual understanding. Spain has an Atlantic vocation. Therefore, this perspective drives us to share a diverse agenda of common interests.’
His Majesty expressed his gratitude to the four founding institutions of the Prince of Asturias Chair - the Endesa Foundation, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Georgetown University, and the Embassy of Spain in the U.S. - for their efforts in ensuring that this academic institution has reached its 25th year with a strong legacy of contributions to ‘improving transatlantic relations and fostering mutual understanding.’ King Felipe also congratulated the new chair, Federico Steinberg, and recognised the work of the 14 scholars who preceded him.
The event, hosted by journalist Carlos Franganillo, was attended by 250 prominent representatives from various sectors of society, such as politics, business, and diplomacy. Notable attendees included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares; Enel CEO Flavio Cattaneo, President of Endesa and the Endesa Foundation Juan Sánchez-Calero, Endesa CEO José Bogas, Spanish Ambassador to the United States Ángeles Moreno, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Spain Rian Harris;, Dean of the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University Joel Hellman, and current Prince of Asturias chairholder Federico Steinberg, as well as his predecessor Juan Luis Manfredi.
The event also featured the participation of significant figures in international relations over the past quarter-century, including Josep Borrell, former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Javier Solana, former NATO Secretary General.
25 years of academic and cultural dialogue
The Prince of Asturias Chair was established 25 years ago through the initiative of the Endesa Foundation. It aimed to promote relations and knowledge of Spain in the United States through academic and cultural dialogue. In this regard, Minister Albares highlighted that the 25th anniversary of the Prince of Asturias Chair ‘represents a milestone symbolising the promotion of shared values: humanity, understanding, talent development, truth, and common sense.’
Federico Steinberg, the newly appointed head of the chair, remarked, ‘as an academic, this is a fascinating time. Washington hosts the best group of specialists in transatlantic relations. There is intense competition for attention. So, it is essential to provide explanations and bring voices that reinforce the Europeanist message and multilateral cooperation, while highlighting the weight of the EU and Spain. Educational exchanges, civil society engagement, and cultural ties are expanding. The United States is increasingly interested in what Spain has to offer.’
Endesa CEO José Bogas acknowledged King Felipe VI’s role as a ‘key promoter’ of the chair and as a Georgetown University alumnus. He also highlighted the ‘successful public-private collaboration of the four founding entities.’ This has created an ‘excellent forum for the exchange of ideas and the building of bridges between Spain and the United States.’
Similarly, Juan Sánchez-Calero, President of Endesa and the Endesa Foundation, expressed gratitude to the 14 scholars who have held the chair for their work in ‘positioning Spain in the United States and worldwide.’ In particular, ‘at a historic moment that presents great challenges but also opportunities for transatlantic relations, with education - a strategic priority for the Endesa Foundation - as a key element for social and economic development.’
The present and future of Spain-U.S. relations
Throughout the morning, discussions examined the present and future of Spain-U.S. relations. The session was conducted as a roundtable featuring Ana Palacio, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and visiting professor at Georgetown University; Arancha González Laya, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs, and Alberto López San Miguel, Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission.
Palacio emphasised that ‘the United States remains indispensable; it is more than just a presidency. From Spain, we must advocate for leadership and a vision for the future of the world. Peace, exchange, and prosperity - this is the vision that Europe must champion.’ González Laya pointed out that, in a time of significant volatility in top-down relations, it is crucial to anchor international ties ‘in bottom-up relations. In particular, in academic, cultural, and scientific spheres. That is why, in this moment of great uncertainty, it makes perfect sense to invest in this chair. I would like its audience to be young people, whose primary goal is learning from history, building a shared agenda, and channelling disagreements constructively.’ López San Miguel underscored the chair’s importance in raising Spain’s profile and linking it to the prestige of Georgetown University.
The event also featured an overview of the Prince of Asturias Chair’s 25-year history through contributions from representatives of its founding institutions. Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Universities, spoke on behalf of the Ministry, highlighting ‘the significance of knowledge diplomacy and the importance of Spain’s position on technology ethics.’ Georgetown University’s Joel Hellman, Dean of the School of Foreign Service, reflected on King Felipe’s time at Georgetown and emphasised that the chair’s value lies in its ‘ability to bridge cultures and explore shared values through intellectual collaboration and dialogue.’
Former Prince of Asturias head of the chair Juan Luis Manfredi (2021-2024) also contributed to the discussion, stating that the chair enables scholars to be in Washington, ‘where ideas are being debated. Every major issue on the international agenda is shaped in the U.S. capital. Being here is a great opportunity.’
The Prince of Asturias Chair was established in 1999 through a collaboration agreement recently renewed until 2027 between the Endesa Foundation, the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, Georgetown University, and the Embassy of Spain in the U.S. It is intended for highly esteemed specialists with teaching experience in Spanish universities in fields such as political science, history, economics, sociology, humanities, and related disciplines. Similarly, these areas are part of the catalogue of academic activities of the American university.
Since its inception, 14 distinguished academics have held the chair, with Federico Steinberg Wechsler, professor of economic analysis at the Autonomous University of Madrid, joining in November 2024. His proposal stands out for the dialogue surrounding international and European policies. Furthermore, it also includes transatlantic relations in economic, political, social, and diplomatic spheres, as well as the green economy, through teaching, academic, and research activities.
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