December 2020
Dr Paul Flather retires from the Europaeum
Dr Paul Flather, Secretary-General of the Europaeum 2003-2017, and since then Special Projects Director, has formally retired from the Europeaum on 31 December 2020. The Europaeum is deeply grateful for his outstanding commitment and his extraordinary leadership over several decades. On behalf of the entire organisation, the Executive Chair, Dr Hartmut Mayer, formally thanks Dr Flather very warmly for his life-time achievements with the Europaeum. Dr Mayer states:
‘Even though this very day, i.e. the UK finally leaving the EU completely, represents the opposite what the EUROPAEUM stands for, its mission remains even more alive than ever: Linking Oxford University with other leading European Universities and fostering close ties between academic communities across the continent with the purpose of educating new generations of leaders devoted to making a difference in Europe and beyond. Nobody has done more than Paul in building the EUROPAEUM. All scholars, students and colleagues involved with our network owe much to his creativity, determination, intelligence, and humanity. The EUROPAEUM has seen many phases in almost 30 years, and Paul has been at the heart of most of them. The whole Europaeum team in our new head office, our Trustees and our friends in the Academic Council are trying to build on these wonderful foundations. We hope to sustain and advance a strong EUROPAEUM for many years to come. There is no doubt that we would not be where we are without Paul and his remarkable work for us. Paul has had many outstanding professional achievements in his hugely impressive career in academia, journalism, politics, political advocacy, and charity work. In fact, I know very few people who have had such a wide range of successes in so many different fields. In my personal view, building the EUROPAEUM over so many years is his most important professional legacy. Congratulations and thank you again, Paul!’
