The International Office (IO) of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) successfully organized another major event on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. Held at 10:00 AM Makassar time in the Senate Room on the 2nd floor of the Rectorate Building, the guest lecture focused on “Parliamentary Diplomacy as Practiced by the European Parliament and Its Implementation in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.” The distinguished keynote speaker was Antoine Ripoll, Minister Counsellor for Parliamentary Affairs at the European Union Delegation to ASEAN, with Abdul Razaq Cangara, a lecturer from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, adeptly serving as the moderator.
Representing the UNHAS Rector, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nasrum Massi, Ph.D., Sp.MK(K) (Head of the Research and Community Services Institute) delivered the opening remarks. In his speech, Prof. Nasrum warmly welcomed the delegation and emphasized the strategic importance of the event. He highlighted that this guest lecture serves as a crucial stepping stone that could lead UNHAS toward deeper, more impactful academic and research collaborations with the European Union (EU) in the future.
Mr. Antoine opened his presentation by engaging the audience with a fundamental question: why does parliamentary diplomacy matter? He then illustrated the inner workings of the EU Parliament, breaking down its primary internal responsibilities into three pillars: law-making, supervision, and budget management. Furthermore, he outlined the current legislative priorities driving the EU, the core values underpinning their global actions, and the external diplomatic roles that the EU Parliament actively pursues.
Turning his focus to regional dynamics, Mr. Antoine described the operations of the ASEAN “antenna” in Jakarta and the burgeoning partnership between the EU and ASEAN. He summarized his presentation by stating that the European Parliament functions simultaneously as a lawmaker and a diplomatic actor, with its foundations deeply rooted in the rule of law, human rights, inclusivity, sustainability, and multilateralism. He concluded with a powerful message for the region, noting that in Southeast Asia, and specifically in Indonesia, parliamentary diplomacy helps transform shared interests into lasting cooperation, emphasizing that in a volatile world, strong institutions and steady dialogue matter more than ever.
The successful guest lecture concluded with a formal presentation of a token of appreciation to the speaker, handed over by Muhammad Ridwan, the Secretary of the International Office. Following the main event, the speaker was escorted to the UNHAS Hotel for a networking lunch. The momentum of the visit continued during the meal, as Mr. Antoine engaged in fruitful discussions with Ansariadi, Ph.D. (Director of Partnership) to map out concrete avenues for future institutional partnerships with the EU.
