Patriots for Europe Holds Its First 'Patriots Academy' in Ericeira

Ericeira is hosting the first edition of the Patriots Academy, a three-day conference running from 25 to 27 September at the Vila Gale Ericeira hotel. Organisers, the Patriots for Europe Foundation, describe the event as being about "leadership, freedom and Europe's future," with the stated aim to "defend freedom, restore sovereignty, act for Europe."

Patriots for Europe is the group formed in the European Parliament in 2024 that brings together national-conservative and right-wing populist parties, including Hungary's Fidesz, France's Rassemblement National, Austria's FPO, Italy's Lega, Spain's Vox, Belgium's Vlaams Belang and Portugal's Chega. It is the European Parliament's third-largest group, and is generally described in the international press as the chamber's hard-right or far-right bloc.

The programme runs across three days. Friday opens with a welcome reception addressed by Andras Laszlo, President of the Patriots for Europe Foundation and a Fidesz MEP, and Antonio Tanger Correa, a Chega MEP and foundation board member. Saturday is built around five panels, covering the EU's future, economic and energy policy, what organisers call "Europe's moral foundations," transatlantic relations, and freedom and civil liberties, plus a round table for younger party representatives, before closing remarks from Chega leader Andre Ventura. A farewell breakfast on Sunday closes the weekend.

Attendance runs from a free day pass for Saturday's conference sessions up to a 700-euro package for two covering the full three days, a shared hotel room, and return flights from anywhere in the EU. Confirmed speakers include MEPs from Fidesz, Rassemblement National, FPO, Lega, Vox and Vlaams Belang, alongside Chega figures including Andre Ventura, Rita Matias and Pedro Frazao.