EU Commissioner Michael McGrath receives Trinity European Laureate Award in Brussels

Europe’s values of peace, solidarity, cooperation, and human dignity are what make it the EU ‘more than a transactional arrangement,’ says Commissioner McGrath.

24 Jun 2026

At an event in Brussels, the Trinity Long Room Hub presented Commissioner Michael McGrath with a Trinity European Laureate Award in recognition of his work on strengthening democratic resilience across Europe.

As Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Commissioner McGrath’s work is focused on upholding and strengthening the core values and principles that underpin the European Union – values of peace, solidarity, cooperation, and human dignity.

After receiving the award, spoke of how these principles are what make Europe more than a ‘transactional arrangement’.

He also spoke of the role of universities in upholding these values.

Universities do more than prepare people for jobs, important though that is. They help societies think. They create spaces where complexity can be explored rather than denied. They strengthen our ability to distinguish evidence from assertion, argument from noise. In a world of rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty, Europe will only remain competitive and cohesive if it invests in knowledge, skills and mobility.

European Commissioner Michael McGrath

Linda echoed his sentiment on the power of universities to serve and challenge society in her speech where she highlighted the need for increased funding for research across Europe, highlighting the ‘soft superpower’ of programmes such as Horizon Europe, the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - and its next iteration, FP10.

Rectangle gallery of two images. One features Linda speaking at the event with the audience blurred in the foreground. Behind her, a screen displays a slide reading Trinity European Laureate Award. The second photo is a close up shot of the Commissioner standing at the lectern during his speech.

Commissioner McGrath is the sixth recipient of a Trinity European Laureate Award. The awards form part of a broader programme of events at Trinity marking Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They are organised by Prof. Patrick Geoghegan in the Trinity Long Room Hub, and his team; and their partner, Teneo.

The evening concluded with a Q&A with Commissioner McGrath and Michael O’Keefe, CEO of Teneo Ireland; and words from former Tánaiste and MEP Frances Fitzgerald.

Hear Commissioner McGrath’s thoughts on democracy in a video on Linda’s social media.

Read Commissioner McGrath’s acceptance speech.