Conference 2026
oct
& Online
Programme
OPENING SESSION: “HISTORY AT ALL COSTS”
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR, European Journalist
Opening words
Bjørn BERGE,
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR – European Journalist
Opening words
Bjørn BERGE – Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Francesca CAMILLERI VETTIGER – Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe, Representative of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers
Panel
Sofia ZACHARAKI – Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, Greece
Mykola TROFYMENKO (online) – Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Ukraine
Josep Anton BARDINA PAU – State Secretary for Education and Universities, Andorra
Dimitris P. SOTIROPOULOS – Chair of the OHTE Governing Board
OHTE Debate: “HISTORY AND POLITICS – THE UNBREAKABLE BOND?”
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR, European Journalist
In today’s world, citizens often find themselves trapped in echo chambers, swayed by emotion-driven content on social media, and pushed toward polarised views. Space for dialogue and mutual understanding is shrinking. Could debates help restore reasoned exchange? Could they offer citizens a way to shape their own opinions, in their own space, while recognising that no complex issue has a simple yes-or-no answer? Inspired by the Oxford model, the inaugural edition of the OHTE Debates will address the motion: “History should not be used as a political tool.” The event will spotlight outstanding students from several countries in a House debate, followed by an engaging exchange with leading European personalities.
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR, European Journalist
In today’s world, citizens often find themselves trapped in echo chambers, swayed by emotion-driven content on social media, and pushed toward polarised views. Space for dialogue and mutual understanding is shrinking. Could debates help restore reasoned exchange? Could they offer citizens a way to shape their own opinions, in their own space, while recognising that no complex issue has a simple yes-or-no answer? Inspired by the Oxford model, the inaugural edition of the OHTE Debates will address the motion: “History should not be used as a political tool.” The event will spotlight outstanding students from several countries in a House debate, followed by an engaging exchange with leading European personalities.
House Format
Jonah BERGER – PhD Researcher in History, European University Institute of Florence
Albana BIKAJ – MA in History of Political Thought and Intellectual History, University College London and Queen Mary University of London
Ellie DOUSKA – PhD student in Contemporary History, University Jean Moulin Lyon III – LARHRA Lyon
Andrii KARPENKO – MA in History, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
Pietro MASSAINI – PhD student in Political Sciences at University of Rome La Sapienza and University of Strasbourg
Anne DE MONTLAUR – Master student in English and American History at the ENS Paris-Saclay and in Public Policy at the Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas
Debaters
Sonja LICHT – President of the Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society
Markus MECKEL – Former Diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the German Democratic Republic
Observer
Alain LAMASSOURE – Former French Minister and Founding President of the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe
Plenary Session 1: “HISTORY EDUCATION: A SAFE BET FOR DEMOCRACY”
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR, European Journalist
Placing trust in history to reinforce democracy and its fundamental values seems a fairly safe choice. Yet, as with any venture, some risks remain: how can we ensure that history education truly reflects and supports these values?
This is a crucial question because if we fail, history teaching risks becoming a tool for ideologies that run counter to democracy.
Moderation: Alex TAYLOR – European Journalist
Placing trust in history to reinforce democracy and its fundamental values seems a fairly safe choice. Yet, as with any venture, some risks remain: how can we ensure that history education truly reflects and supports these values?
This is a crucial question because if we fail, history teaching risks becoming a tool for ideologies that run counter to democracy.
Panel
Joëlle ALAZARD – Chair of the Association of Professors of History and Geography (APHG), Lycée Louisle-Grand, Paris
Niklas AMMERT – Professor of History, Pro Vice-Chancellor at Linnaeus University, Member of the International Network of Historical Consciousness and Democracy (INoHiDe)
Lise BUTLER – Doctor in Modern History, Senior Lecturer in Modern History, City St. George’s, University of London
Eva-Clarita PETTAI – Doctor in Political Science, Free University of Berlin and Director of Studies at the Europäische Acadamie of Schleswig-Holstein
Villano QIRIAZI – Head of Education Department, Council of Europe
Screening: “IS DEMOCRACY WORTH THE TROUBLE?”
This session will present the documentary that gathers the learnings of “Changing Democracies”, a European project that explores how Europe’s living history about recent transitions to democracy can help us to grasp what processes are needed today for democracy to fulfil its promises for everyone. It is the result of a collaboration between 12 partners from 10 European countries and was coordinated by the Evens Foundation and EuroClio with funding from the European Commission.
This session will present the documentary that gathers the learnings of “Changing Democracies”, a European project that explores how Europe’s living history about recent transitions to democracy can help us to grasp what processes are needed today for democracy to fulfil its promises for everyone. It is the result of a collaboration between 12 partners from 10 European countries and was coordinated by the Evens Foundation and EuroClio with funding from the European Commission.
Presenters
Eugenie KHATSCHATRIAN – Project Manager and Operations Coordinator, EuroClio
Marjolein DELVOU – Programme Curator, Evens Foundation
OHTE Talk: “TEACHING HISTORY IN A WORLD WITHOUT CONSENSUS”
Moderation: Matjaž GRUDEN, Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
In this new OHTE Talk, the importance for democracies of investing in high-quality history teaching will be underlined. In a world marked by disagreements and polarisation, history education can both offer younger generations the prospect of a democratic and peaceful future, and equip them with the tools to understand and face today’s complex challenges.
Moderation: Matjaž GRUDEN – Director for Democracy, Council of Europe
In this new OHTE Talk, the importance for democracies of investing in high-quality history teaching will be underlined. In a world marked by disagreements and polarisation, history education can both offer younger generations the prospect of a democratic and peaceful future, and equip them with the tools to understand and face today’s complex challenges.
Yascha MOUNK – Political Scientist and author, Associate Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, Washington D.C., and Visiting Professor at Sciences-Po Paris
OHTE TALKS

Dealing with artificial historians: disinformation in the age of AI
This OHTE Talk will explore the transformative impact of emerging technologies on the ways history is researched, taught and understood. By examining both the opportunities and the challenges created by digital tools, artificial intelligence and new forms of knowledge production, the session will invite reflection on how technological developments are reshaping access to historical information and the transmission of historical knowledge. It will also address the need to balance innovation with methodological rigour, highlighting how educators and institutions can harness new technologies to support critical thinking, strengthen historical understanding and promote responsible engagement with the past in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
MARNIE HUGHES-WARRINGTON
Bradley Distinguished Professor of History/Philosophy, School of Humanities, Adelaide University, Australia

The machine of lies: propaganda and the misuse of history
This OHTE Talk will explore the historical roots, mechanisms and contemporary manifestations of propaganda and disinformation, examining how narratives are deliberately constructed to influence public opinion and shape collective memory. By viewing these phenomena through a long-term historical lens, light will be shed on the strategies used to legitimise power, mobilise societies and manipulate perceptions of the past and present. The session will also invite reflections on the role of education in equipping learners with the analytical tools required to recognise these processes, fostering critical awareness and strengthening democratic resilience in an increasingly complex information environment.
FABRICE D’ALMEIDA
Professor of History, Chair of the Department of Information sciences and communication, Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas
Gen Z are better equipped to identify manipulations of History than Baby Boomers
Are younger generations better equipped than seniors to spot and question disinformation on history. Let's make a debate out of it.
OHTE Debates aim to break opinion echo chambers, stimulate critical thinking, and contribute to the Council of Europe’s New Democratic Pact and its broader mission to renew democratic culture across the continent.
Are you under 30 and do you want to join the Gen Z House? Have a look at the conditions to apply below.

Real or Fake?
ONE STEP AHEAD
IN HISTORY EDUCATION
This year, we want to showcase innovative initiatives in history education for countering disinformation on history.
Apply now for one of the categories:- Recognising historical disinformation inside and outside the classroom
- Pedagogical approaches in the age of fake news
- Public history - the perfect place to debunk disinformation
Conditions in the download link here.

OHTE DATA VIZ
#LearnersFirst
of the OHTE Annual Conference
Download below the “Council of Europe education strategy 2030” report
Glimpses from the conference
Teaching History, Grounding Democracy
Resources

































