The programme for the 25th Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, which took place from Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 July 2025, focused on the theme “Facing the shock of reality”. This anniversary edition also featured four major new developments.
Over three days, more than 380 key personalities from 51 countries gathered in Aix-en-Provence to debate the major transformations taking place in our societies. Among the many distinguished speakers were:
• María Elena Agüero, Secretary General of Club de Madrid
• Dalia Grybauskaitė, former President of Lithuania and Member of Club de Madrid
• Carlos Alvarado Quesada, former President of Costa Rica and Member of Club de Madrid
• Anabel Díaz, Vice President EMEA of Uber
• Martín Redrado, President of Fundación Capital
• Silvia Elena Giorguli Saucedo, President and Professor, El Colegio de México
• Raquel López-Portillo Maltos, Secretary General of Youth Programme at Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI)
These names join a prestigious line-up including Bruce Andrews (former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce), Jean-Noël Barrot (Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs), Esther Duflo (Nobel Prize in Economics 2019), Mario Draghi (Former President, ECB), Nadia Fettah Alaoui (Minister of Economy and Finance of Morocco), Florence Parly (Chair of the Board, Air France – KLM Group), Patrick Pouyanné (CEO, TotalEnergies), Rodolphe Saadé (CEO, CMA CGM), François Villeroy de Galhau (Governor, Banque de France), Tao Zhang (BIS), among others.
With over 65 sessions and debates, economists and academics from all disciplines explored the key geopolitical, environmental, technological, and societal challenges ahead. One of the highlights of this year’s programme was a dedicated session titled: “How autonomous is Latin America from the United States?” This panel brought together eminent voices from the region, including:
• Sergio M. Alcocer, Former President, COMEXI
• Sarquis José Buainain Sarquis, Ambassador Delegate to Economic International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ricardo Hausmann, Director, Center for International Development, Harvard University
• Erika Mouynes, President, Atlantic Council, Latam Center
• Jose Manuel Salazar Xirinachs, Executive Secretary, ECLAC
• Arancha González Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po; Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation of Spain
“Facing the shock of reality” is based on the observation that we are not going through a succession of isolated crises, but rather a profound and lasting change. Geopolitical upheavals, climate pressures, digital disruption, the explosion of artificial intelligence, mistrust of institutions, rising inequality… these are all shocks that are no longer exceptional, but are part of a new framework within which we must now operate. The aim of this 25th edition is to take these realities and turn them into starting points for concrete, collective solutions to the challenges we face.
“The current crises are not temporary. They signal a profound change in our economic, social and political reference points. This year, the Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence has a major ambition: to become the laboratory where, through debate and the exchange of ideas, we can build responses to the fractures in the world, going beyond traditional solutions,”
explains Jean-Hervé Lorenzi, Chairman of the Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence.
As a leading forum, free and open to all, the previous edition brought together almost 7,000 participants and 380 speakers of 44 nationalities at the Parc Jourdan, and reached nearly 5 million views online.
Opening up the Rencontres to the international arena with the launch of the Global Economic Dialogue
This 25th edition also marked the inauguration of a global network of think tanks, with around thirty institutions from all five continents — including Club de Madrid (Spain), the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations – COMEXI (Mexico) and Fundación Capital (Argentina) — coming together to share insights, foster global dialogue, and propose concrete, actionable solutions. These discussions, organised during the Rencontres, culminated in a feedback session open to the public, before the conclusion of the event.
Through this initiative, Le Cercle des économistes aims to embed the Rencontres in a lasting process of intellectual cooperation to inform tomorrow’s economic and social policies.
Additional information | Club de Madrid participation
Context
Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix-en-Provence, launched in 2001 and organised by Le Cercle des économistes, is one of Europe’s foremost platforms for economic reflection. The 25th edition also marks the launch of the Global Economic Dialogue, an initiative bringing together think tanks from five continents — including Club de Madrid — to strengthen international exchange and propose actionable solutions to today’s global challenges.
Club de Madrid Members – Public sessions (streaming available)
Carlos Alvarado Quesada
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Session: Semi-plenary 12 – Preserving Common Goods
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Date: 5 July, 12:00–13:00 (Auditorium 2)
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Event page: https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/events/semi-plenary-12-preserving-common-goods/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/–Qf4IZ_RtA?si=VJojPc_Ywx-RlHJM
Dalia Grybauskaitė
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Session: Semi-plenary 13 – Restoring Leadership for a Stronger Europe?
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Date: 5 July, 14:30–15:30 (Auditorium 1)
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/IEHudJAsBiQ?si=tuJpSp776NLBCcWl
Participation of María Elena Agüero
Club de Madrid’s Secretary General, María Elena Agüero, took part in a closed-door think tank session within the Global Economic Dialogue. Although the session was not streamed live, an audio recording and a summary of key takeaways will be shared as part of the event’s follow-up.
Conclusions of the Forum
Further information
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Full programme: https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/programme/
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List of confirmed speakers: https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/speakers/
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Accreditation and registration: https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/en/register/
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General event website: https://www.lesrencontreseconomiques.fr/
Global Economic Dialogue – Final report (September)
The Global Economic Dialogue will conclude in September 2025 with the release of a joint report compiling contributions from all participating institutions, including Club de Madrid.
