King of Spain and Italian President greet Marcelo
The University of Coimbra, Portugal's oldest higher education institution, will bestow honorary doctorates on two distinguished global leaders: King Felipe VI of Spain and President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. King Felipe VI receives an honor in law from the Faculty of Law (FDUC), whilst President Mattarella receives an honor in economics from the Faculty of Economics (FEUC).
The ceremony recognizing these esteemed individuals takes place on May 13, 2025, with a reception at 5:10 pm and a formal event at 6 pm. Notable speakers at the event include two doctoral students, professors Rui de Figueiredo Marcos and Raquel Freire, and a closing address by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Interestingly, King Felipe VI's father, Juan Carlos I, received a similar honor from the Faculty of Law in 1989. The honorary degrees are given in appreciation of their respective contributions to innovation.
This event coincides with the 18th Cotec Europe summit, during Portugal's early legislative election campaign period. Leaders from Portugal, Spain, and Italy will participate in the summit, where the former president of the European Central Bank (ECB) and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will engage in a discussion about Europe's future.
This marks what is likely to be the final Cotec Europe meeting, as it occurs less than a year before Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa ends his second and final presidential term. Each year, Cotec Europe meetings occur on a rotating basis in Spain, Italy, and Portugal.
Previous meetings featuring Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the heads of state of Spain and Italy, were interrupted by a cancellation in 2024 due to forest fires in Portugal.
In summary, the University of Coimbra honors King Felipe VI and President Sergio Mattarella with honorary doctorates in recognition of their contributions to innovation, as part of the annual Cotec Europe summit.
- Amidst the 18th Cotec Europe summit and Portugal's early legislative election campaign period, discussions about Europe's future will be led by former ECB President Mario Draghi and various heads of state, including King Felipe VI and President Sergio Mattarella, who have recently received honorary doctorates from the University of Coimbra.
- The University of Coimbra's honorary doctorate ceremony for King Felipe VI and President Sergio Mattarella in 2025 was not the first instance of a Spanish or Italian head of state receiving such an accolade; King Felipe VI's father, Juan Carlos I, received a similar honor from the Faculty of Law in 1989.
- The annual Cotec Europe meetings, which take place in Spain, Italy, and Portugal on a rotating basis, have previously been disrupted, with a cancellation in 2024 due to forest fires in Portugal, but this event is likely to be the final Cotec Europe meeting before Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa ends his second and final presidential term.
