From 27 to 30 October 2026, the University of Salento hosted four days of international dialogue bringing together academics, public audit officials and institutional representatives. Supported by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence EUmanity Demos, the seminar concluded with the adoption of the Lecce Charter, a shared agenda to strengthen institutional cooperation and improve the quality of public policies.
What role can public institutions play in promoting sustainable, inclusive and democratic development? How can the effectiveness of public policies be assessed beyond mere compliance with administrative procedures? And how can international cooperation help strengthen citizen participation, transparency and institutional accountability?
These were some of the central questions explored during the Italian-Brazilian Seminar on Law and Public Oversight – “Institutions, Governance and Public Value: From Local to Global”, held in Lecce from 27 to 30 October 2026, with the support of the EUmanity Demos – Democracy for Europe and Humanity Jean Monnet Centre of Excellenceat the University of Salento.
The event brought together academics, representatives of Brazilian Courts of Accounts, international law experts and public officials, fostering a dialogue between European and South American experiences on some of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary governance.
Organised through cooperation between the University of Salento, the Instituto Rui Barbosa, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and the Association for Supranational Democracy, the seminar benefited from the involvement of a broad network of institutions and organisations committed to improving public administration and promoting international cooperation.
From Administrative Oversight to the Creation of Public Value
A central theme running through the four-day seminar was the need to move beyond a purely formal understanding of public oversight towards an approach capable of assessing the tangible impact of public administration on society.
The first day, dedicated to territorial planning, external oversight and cooperation between Brazil and Italy, explored the relationship between institutions, development and collective well-being. Particular attention was paid to the protection of the Amazon rainforest, the rights of forest communities and the contribution of public audit institutions to achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In this context, Professor Saverio Di Benedetto of the University of Salento contributed to the discussion on sustainability and development in Brazil–Italy relations, while Professor Fabiano Teodoro Rezende Lara of UFMG presented the experience of academic cooperation with the Brazilian judiciary in connection with the Brumadinho industrial disaster.
These contributions highlighted the role universities can play as partners of public institutions, providing scientific knowledge, analytical tools and interdisciplinary expertise to address complex societal challenges.
Ecological Transition, Digital Transformation and Fundamental Rights
The second day focused on the relationship between public policy financing, administrative accountability and environmental sustainability.
Discussions addressed children’s rights, public expenditure governance, environmental oversight and strategies for the energy transition in European and Brazilian cities.
An additional European perspective was provided by Professor Francesco Spera of the University of Salento, who delivered a presentation on European Union digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
On 29 October, attention shifted to the transformations brought about by artificial intelligence in public administration, digital auditing systems and the emerging challenges of technological regulation.
Among the contributions was a presentation by Professor Susanna Cafaro, of the University of Salento and Director of the EUmanity Demos Centre, addressing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and global trends in AI regulation.
The discussion highlighted a fundamental challenge for contemporary democracies: how to reconcile the opportunities offered by technological innovation with transparent public decision-making, human oversight and the protection of fundamental rights.
The same day also provided opportunities to explore institutional training, the international exchange of knowledge and the relationship between civic participation and social accountability, including contributions from the Portuguese Court of Auditors.
Democratic Governance and Cooperation Beyond National Borders
The international dimension of the seminar reflects the broader scientific and educational mission of EUmanity Demos, the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the University of Salento dedicated to the study of European and global democracy.
At a time when major challenges increasingly transcend national boundaries, from climate change to digital transformation, strengthening democracy requires new forms of collaboration between different levels of government, universities, public institutions and civil society.
The exchange between European Union and Brazilian experiences provided an opportunity to examine different models of public accountability, mechanisms for democratic participation and the need to make institutions more responsive to the needs of their communities.
Particular attention was devoted to the relationship between multilevel governance and the protection of common goods, especially in areas where local decisions have global consequences, such as forest conservation, climate change and natural resource management.
The Lecce Charter: A Shared Agenda for the Future
The final day, held on 30 October at the Department of Legal Sciences of the University of Salento, focused on climate resilience, the protection of public assets and institutional cooperation.
Presentations explored the connections between climate change and migration, approaches to assessing the effectiveness of climate adaptation policies, and the environmental and social consequences of mining activities.
Among the contributions from the University of Salento, Professor Silvia Solidoro examined the relationship between climate-related migration and the World Bank, while Elisabetta Marzo discussed international frameworks for measuring climate resilience. Eduardo Giugliano Garcia analysed the implications of excluding mining activities from the European Union Deforestation Regulation.
The seminar culminated in the adoption by acclamation of the Lecce Charter, a programmatic document establishing shared commitments to improve public oversight and strengthen cooperation between Brazil and Italy.
Presented by Professor Sebastião Helvecio Ramos de Castro, Vice-President of the Instituto Rui Barbosa for Development and Public Policies, the Charter identifies four main priorities: directing public oversight towards the creation of societal value, integrating sustainability and innovation into auditing practices, strengthening institutional cooperation, and promoting citizen participation.
The document also emphasises the importance of responsible artificial intelligence in public administration, based on transparency, human oversight and respect for fundamental rights.
The concluding lecture was delivered by Professor Luigi Melica of the University of Salento.
Building an Academic and Institutional Bridge Between Europe and Latin America
The Italian-Brazilian Seminar on Law and Public Oversight provided an important opportunity for dialogue between different institutional systems, united by the common objective of improving the effectiveness of public policies and strengthening citizens’ trust in public institutions.
For the EUmanity Demos Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, supporting this initiative forms part of a broader commitment to international engagement and interdisciplinary debate on democracy, rights and governance beyond national borders.
The Lecce Charter represents a starting point for ensuring continuity in cooperation between universities, public oversight bodies and institutions, transforming the exchange of knowledge into concrete joint initiatives.
The overarching message emerging from the four-day event is that the quality of democracy cannot be measured solely through rules and procedures, but must also be assessed through the ability of institutions to deliver tangible results, protect fundamental rights and generate public value for the communities they serve.
