The 18th Rencontres Économiques of Aix-en-Provence has now ended! We welcomed 270 speakers from 35 countries and 5000 participants for a three days exchange on the “World's Metamorphoses.”
This year’s theme invited participants to think over the great economic, technological, geopolitical and social challenges facing the world: what to preserve, what to change, and how and when to do it? Environmental crisis, demographic shock, fracturing of social dialogue, digital revolution, rebalancing geo-strategic positions: how can the different actors involved adapt to these new circumstances? Everyone eagerly brought their visions and solutions to address these crucial challenges.
To restore multilateralism, construct a Europe that is stronger politically and economically, establish a strategy to welcome asylum seekers, rethink the politics of support for emerging countries, recreate social connections, especially in France: le Cercle des économistes presented five themes of approach to respond to these great transformations taking place in the world.
With its 18th edition, Les Rencontres asserts itself as a space for open discussion necessary in the face of withdrawal and distrust. The testimonials and the proposals presented by our contributors have made this edition an unmissable event, combining ideas and opinions of all actors who transform our societies: academics, entrepreneurs, thinkers, students, political figures . . .
Your trust and loyalty are our success and we look forward to welcoming you to the 19th edition of the Rencontres Économiques of Aix-en-Provence on July 5, 6 and 7, 2019!
Cercle des économistes Team
FINAL DECLARATION
RELIVE THE RENCONTRES ÉCONOMIQUES OF AIX-EN-PROVENCE 2018
STUDENTS SPEAK UP
100 students selected as part of the Call for Ideas of Student Voices and invited to Les Rencontres Économiques actively participated in the sessions and debates held during the three days of discussion. Spoted by their orange polos, the students contributed their attention and ideas as well as interviewed speakers during special meetings and spontaneous introductions.
Etienne Klein, president of the Jury LPAE 2018, emphasized: “By reading their contributions, we discover how young and bright minds question, in their own way, the notions of power and progress.”
Just as the past year, five students were selected to introduce sessions on Saturday, July 7th.
At the closing session on Sunday, July 8, Bruno Le Maire, Minister of Economy and Finance, Etienne Klein, and Jean-Hervé Lorenzi awarded the Prix de La Parole aux Étudiants to three winners selected by the jury.
On this occasion, one of the students bravely concluded, quoting Victor Hugo: “To us to surprise catastrophe with the little fear she gives us.”
"Realistic, committed and responsible. At the end of my meeting with students at the Rencontres Économiques d’Aix en Provence, these are the three qualities that I think of to define the new generation" - Hervé Helias, CEO Group Mazars
"On souhaitait revenir aux Rencontres Économiques parce que pour nous c'est l'anti-Davos : ouvert à tous et en particulier aux étudiants et aux jeunes" - Simon Klee, student
"I love this event! It’s great with this high level of panelist and debates but also in inviting ordinary people to come here, to listen, to ask questions. I really think it’s the kind of dialogue that we need more often to be able to take on the challenges and opportunities together" - Yvla Johansson, Minister of Labor and Inclusion, Sweden
"Les Rencontres Économiques sont devenues un vrai moment d’échanges sur la situation économique en France, en Europe et dans le reste du Monde avec beaucoup d’intervenants de grandes qualités et c’est devenu un moment important de la vie économique du pays" - Bruno Le Maire, French finance minister
"From a tech perspective, we’re living in an exceptional moment in time. There’s never been a better opportunity to look at the world's metamorphoses. Thanks to Le Cercle des économistes for having me aux Rencontres Économiques to discuss my vision for the future of France" - John Chambers, Chairman Emeritus Cisco
"Ancien du monde économique et nouveau du monde politique, les rencontres d’Aix me permettent de mettre les deux en cohérence. La politique au service de l’économie et les économistes au service de la politique !" - Roland Lescure, Deputy and President of the Commission on Economic Affairs
"C'est un endroit unique en France, avec une qualité d'échanges et de rencontres unique, essentielle pour le journaliste que je suis. Rencontres, possibilités, opportunités sont les maîtres mots de ces trois jours" - François Lenglet, journalist
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to all our partners, lecturers and students without whom these Rencontres would not take place. A big thank you to l’Université Aix-Marseille, the city of Aix-en-Provence and the Lyric Art Festival of Aix-en-Provence.
See you next year for the 19th Annual Rencontres Économiques of Aix-en-Provence on July 5th, 6th and 7th, 2019!