Florence: third edition of the David Sassoli best thesis award, winners awarded.

The President of the Regional Council Antonio Mazzeo: “A recognition for young excellences who have had the ability to look at Europe through another point of view”.
The President of the European Policies Committee Francesco Gazzetti: “Highlighting these works is a way to support the growth of new generations.”

by Angela Feo, January 30, 2025

Three years after the death of the former President of the European Parliament, a meeting was held in Pegasus Palace, in Florence, the award ceremony of 'Best David Sassoli Thesis' Award on the topic 'Europe, the regions and the citizens', aimed at young graduates of the tuscan universities and arrived to his The third edition.

The prize and the winners

The prize, announced in 2022 by Regional Council of Tuscany and established with the regional law 21 of 2023, enjoys thehigh patronage of the European Parliament and is part of the initiatives for the 'Europe Day'.

Il first prize, of the value of 6mila euros, was assigned to Samuel Bernardi, graduated fromUniversity of Pisa and student of the Sant'Anna High School.

The other four winners, ranked second ex aequo, received 3 euros each:

• Julius Buoncristiani, University of Pisa
• Beatrice Marin, University of Florence
• Gabriele Sciuto, University of Florence
• Alberto Tognarelli, University of Florence

A special mention it has been attributed to the thesis of Tanja Hilpold, graduated from the University of Florence.

The value of recognition

Antonio Mazzeo, President of the Regional Council, underlined the importance of the award as a message of hope and recognition of youth excellence:

"In a time when autocracies are growing and international relations are increasingly complex, there is a need for more Europe, understood as a place of peace and prosperity. David Sassoli was a great man of institutions, capable of bringing Europe closer to its citizens."

Francesco Gazzetti, president of the European Policies Commission, highlighted how the prize has become a consolidated institutional activity:

"It is not just an award ceremony, but a bridge with the younger generations. Highlighting these theses means supporting the growth of young people and enhancing the quality of our universities."

The Legacy of David Sassoli

The ceremony was also attended by Alessandra Vittorini, wife of the former President of the European Parliament:

“Among the many initiatives dedicated to David, those that speak to young people are the most important. This award is not a celebration, but an investment in the future through study and research.”

Also the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Pina Picerno, sent a video message from Brussels, praising the value of the initiative:

"The memory of David Sassoli continues to accompany us in the institutions. For the future of European integration, courage, passion and intelligence are needed, qualities that inspired these theses".

The awarded theses

The winning works address issues of great relevance for the future of the European Union:

• Samuel Bernardi analyzed the European strategic security in his thesis 'From EU strategic autonomy to EU public order and security. Towards the framing of an EU strategic security?'.
• Julius Buoncristiani has deepened the Competition law and access to energy infrastructure ('Abuse of dominant position for access to essential infrastructures in the energy sector').
• Beatrice Marin he studied the Cross-border cooperation between Italy and Slovenia ('Multilevel governance and cross border cooperation: the case of Italy and Slovenia').
• Gabriele Sciuto explored EU regulations on fashion, sustainability and digitalization ('For an ethical future of the fashion industry: intellectual property, sustainability and digitalisation in the European single market').
• Alberto Tognarelli analyzed the role of regions in EU cohesion policy, with a focus on Toscana ('The application of partnership in cohesion policy implementation: evidence from the programming of RPS 2021-2027 in Tuscany').
• Special mention for Tanja Hilpold, who studied the EU sanctions against Russia ('EU sanctions against Russia: a legal analysis').

The winners have said their piece honored of recognition, underlining the value of thepolitical and cultural legacy of David Sassoli.