New captains for stormy seas: How will they navigate Europe’s foreign relations?

Change is in the air—and not just within the EU and NATO. As we await the results of the US presidential election, one thing is clear: European leaders must prepare to navigate a rapidly shifting global landscape with new narratives and challenges on the horizon.

Closer to home, we’re also embracing change. We are excited to welcome San Bilal as the new director of ECDPM, starting a new chapter for our organisation.

To mark these significant developments, we will host an informal conversation at our Brussels office on Thursday, 24 October 2024, at 16:00. We will explore the implications of the evolving leadership landscape for the EU’s foreign and security policy. A drinks reception will follow.

Our conversation will be framed by the political guidelines for the next European Commission and the mission letters from president-elect Ursula von der Leyen, who emphasised that “we have entered an age of geostrategic rivalries […]. Geopolitics and geoeconomics go hand in hand. We need a new economic foreign policy for today’s realities.”  How can the EU, in a more fragmented world, better defend its interests, promote its values, and engage in comprehensive global partnerships?

The conversation will start at 16:00 and will be moderated by Virginia Mucchi, Head of outreach and impact, ECDPM. There will be remarks by

• Adebayo Olukoshi,  Chair of ECDPM's Board
• San Bilal, Director ECDPM
• Chloe Teevan, Head – Digital economy and governance, ECDPM

With responses from member states and partner countries:

• Ronald Wormgoor, Head of EU-external affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands
• Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia

The drinks reception will start at 17h15.

The event will be held in person at ECDPM's Brussels office.