The Institute for Political Studies (IEP) of the Catholic University of Portugal is the winner of the 1st edition of the FLAD Rui Machete Award

The FLAD Rui Machete Award, established on the occasion of the celebrations of FLAD’s 40th anniversary, awards a pecuniary value of 100 thousand euros biannually to personalities or institutions that stand out for their contribution to the development of transatlantic relations.

The Award, created in 2024 at the initiative of the then President of FLAD, Nuno Morais Sarmento, aims to pay tribute to Rui Machete, who chaired the Foundation between 1988 and 2010 and played a decisive role in consolidating its mission and promoting Portuguese-American cooperation.

The jury, chaired by José Manuel Durão Barroso, is composed of: Cristina Fonseca, Estela Barbot, José Arantes, José Maria Ivo, Luís Amado, Maria João Avillez, Mariana Van Zeller and Vítor Cruz.

The choice of the winner was taken unanimously, and the president of the jury, as he is also President of FLAD, having relations with potential candidates, did not participate in the nomination process, nor in the voting.

Commenting on the decision, Luís Amado, spokesman for the jury said: “By unanimously deciding to award the Rui Machete prize to the Institute of Political Studies of the Catholic University, the jury recognizes the academic and institutional work developed by the IEP in favor of transatlantic relations. Over the last three decades, the IEP has developed an intense program of activities that has greatly contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Portugal and the USA. Since its foundation, the IEP has contributed to the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries, through knowledge, study and dissemination of their respective academic, scientific, cultural and educational realities. The jury also took into account the current moment, of particular sensitivity for the future of the Atlantic Alliance and the relations between the United States and Europe, valuing the work of the IEP in this particular field”.

About IEP:

The Institute of Political Studies (IEP) of the Catholic University of Portugal is a reference institution in the areas of international relations, political science, international security and transatlantic relations. Over the last decades, he has promoted research, training and strategic debate on foreign policy, defence, democracy and Euro-Atlantic cooperation, contributing to the strengthening of relations between Portugal, Europe and the United States.

The Institute organizes prominent international conferences, such as the Estoril Political Forum, the Security Summit and the Summit of Democracies, bringing together academics, diplomats, policymakers and international experts. At the same time, she develops specialized research through the Center for European Studies and the CIEP, addressing topics such as NATO, European security, the war in Ukraine, the liberal international order and the challenges to democracy.

With a strong international dimension, the IEP maintains cooperation networks with North American universities and think tanks, promoting academic exchange, joint research and advanced training of new generations of diplomats, researchers and decision-makers. Its academic and institutional work affirms it as one of the main Portuguese institutions dedicated to the study and promotion of transatlantic relations.