PROFILE OF SPEAKERS

Monica BALDI

Monica Baldi, architect and urban planner, is Grand Officer of Merit of the Italian Republic. Deputy and Secretary of the Commission for Foreign and Community Affairs at the Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2006. MEP and Deputy President of the Committee for Culture, Youth, Education, Media and Sport from 1994 to 1999. She is Vice President of the European Parliament Former Members Association (FMA) and of ARS PACE.

Baldi was Vice President of the Red Cross of Pistoia and President of the associations: Pinocchio di Carlo Lorenzini, Pinocchioworld, Laurus and Professional Cycling Groups League. She is a speaker and promoter of conferences on: international politics, cooperation and development, culture, urban planning, environment. She has always been committed to the defence of Human Rights and in particular for the Rights of Women.

Monica Baldi is currently Vice-President of the Former Members Association.

Georg PFEIFER

Georg Pfeifer is the Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) in Germany. With a long-standing career in EU institutions, he has held various roles focused on communication and public affairs. Previously, he served as Head of the EPLO in Austria and worked in the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Communication. Pfeifer has been dedicated to strengthening the connection between EU institutions and citizens, promoting democratic engagement, and enhancing public understanding of European policies and values.

Teresa RIERA MADURELL

Teresa Riera Madurell  is a former Member of the European Parliament from Spain, where she served from 2004 to 2014. A member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, she focused on research, innovation, and digital policy. She was part of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and acted as rapporteur for several key files on science and technology. Ms. Riera Madurell is also a university professor and has remained active in promoting science and gender equality in policymaking.

Teresa Riera Madurell is currently Honorary Secretary of the Former Members Association.

Enrique BARÓN CRESPO

Enrique Barón Crespo is Former President of the European Parliament (1989-92), President the Socialist and Democrats in the EP (1999-2004) and Member of the European Parliament (1986-2008). He also was the FMA’s President from 2014- 2018. In his function as MEP, he was the Former Chairman to the Foreign Affairs Committee and to the International Trade Committee of the EP.

He is the Former Minister of the Spanish Government which adhered to the EC (1982-85) and a Former Member of the Spanish National Parliament (1977-87). He is a Chair Jean Monnet “ad honorem”, visiting Professor in Universities all over the World and a lawyer and Economist. P.H.D. in Law and Economics (Universidad Complutense, ICADE-Madrid) & Diplômé Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC). He is President of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation Spain, ARS PACE and Chancellor of the United Nations Peace University. He is Vice President of the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation.

Laura BAEZA

Laura Baeza Giralt is a senior European diplomat and former Head of the European Union Delegation to Tunisia, a position she held from 2019 to 2023. During her mandate, she played a key role in strengthening EU-Tunisia relations, promoting democratic governance, economic cooperation, and human rights. With a long career in the European External Action Service and EU foreign policy, she has served in various capacities, including in the Mediterranean and North African regions. Her leadership has been marked by a strong commitment to dialogue and partnership with civil society.

Laura Baeza is also the widow of Mr. Jannis Sakellariou (deceased in 2019), the former Member of the European Parliament, who wrote the book of this discussion. Their shared European values continue to shape her work and legacy.