The European Council
on Foreign Relations
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is an We build coalitions for change
award-winning international think-tank that aims to at the European level and promote informed
conduct cutting-edge independent research on debate about Europe’s role in the world.
European foreign and security policy and to provide a
safe meeting space for decision-makers, activists, and
influencers to share ideas.
We are living through a global counter-revolution. The institutions and values of liberal
internationalism are coming apart and the pillars of globalisation are turned into
geopolitical weapons. Societies are increasingly polarised and EU action is harder to forge.
But there is a way forward.
The European Council on Foreign Relations believes in building a new consensus for greater
cooperation on European foreign and security policy. Our vision is to demonstrate that
engaging in common European action remains the most effective way of protecting
European citizens.
Mark Leonard We provide an exclusive meeting space for decision-makers and influencers to share ideas
Co-founder for common action; promote informed debate on Europe’s role in the world; and build pan-
and director European coalitions for policy change.
Our leadership team
Mark Leonard Susi Dennison
Director Senior director,
strategy and transformation
Mark Leonard is co-founder and director
of the European Council on Foreign Malcolm Jolliffe
Relations, the first pan-European think–tank Senior director,
finance and operations
Vessela Tcherneva Anna Kuchenbecker
Deputy director Senior director,
strategic partnerships
Jeremy Shapiro
Director, research
Board of trustees
Carl Bildt, Co-chair, former prime Marta Dassù, Senior director Andrzej Olechowski, Former
minister and former foreign minister of European affairs, Aspen Institute minister of foreign affairs and
of Sweden former minister of finance of Poland
Arancha González Laya,
Lykke Friis, Co-chair, director of the Dean, Paris School of International Marietje Schaake, International
Danish think-tank Europa Affairs, Sciences Po director of policy, Stanford’s Cyber
Policy Center
Norbert Röttgen, Co-chair, Sylvie Kauffmann,
member of the German Bundestag Editorial director, Le Monde Helle Thorning-Schmidt,
Former prime minister of Denmark
Franziska Brantner, Parliamentary Ivan Krastev, Chairman,
state secretary, German Federal Centre for Liberal Strategies Adam Tooze, Shelby Cullom
Ministry for Economic Affairs and Davis chair of history and director
Climate Action (currently on leave) Rana Mitter, Professor of the European Institute, Columbia
of the history and politics of modern University
Ian Clarkson, Founder, Celerant China, Oxford University
Consulting
Our unique approach
Contagious ideas Pan-european engagement A community of leaders
Crafting policy proposals Playing a significant role Building European
that spark conversation in the national dialogue consensus
ECFR has brought together a team ECFR is the only think-tank that has The ECFR Council is the strongest and
of distinguished policy experts to link a truly pan-European network, with most visible expression of ECFR’s pan-
cutting-edge research to practical a presence in Berlin, London, Madrid, European identity. Our over 350 council
policy. Our research is presented Paris, Rome, Sofia and Warsaw, members act as ambassadors for
through seven regional programmes – as well as antennas in Brussels and ECFR’s ideas within their networks and
Asia, Africa, European Power, Middle Washington DC. Our pan-European help us build the consensus for a
East and North Africa, United States, structure allows us to understand common European foreign and
and Wider Europe – and cross-cutting national foreign policy priorities and security policy.
thematic initiatives on climate challenges, be part of the national
and energy, defence and security, conversations, and grasp viewpoints
and on geoeconomics. from across the continent and beyond.
Transformative research
and engaging formats
Since 2007, ECFR has built a reputation for innovative, intellectually rigorous, and engaging analysis which is dedicated
to providing fresh perspectives on complex foreign policy issues. We convey our findings compellingly through policy
briefs, special reports, commentaries, and policy alerts reaching broad audiences.
Power Audits Opinion polling Views from the Capitals
ECFR's Power Audits shift from the Through our public opinion polling in Our Views from the Capitals series
typical EU-centric focus to spotlight the European countries, ECFR’s analysis taps into ECFR's pan-European
individual roles and contributions of seeks to unlock shifting coalitions network to analyse European
each member state on the global inside and beyond EU borders to governments’ stances and public
stage, based on field research carried promote a more internationally opinion on vital foreign policy issues.
out by our team of associates based in engaged union. Our US programme also features a
the 27 member states. Letter from Washington.
Transformative research
and engaging formats
Policy Alerts World in 30 Minutes What does X think?
Problem, response, context – Policy Curated by Mark Leonard, ECFR's Through our essay collections, we
Alerts are our shortest format, weekly flagship podcast brings feature prominent local voices often
providing snappy and digestible together high-level speakers from the overlooked by European audiences to
responses to emerging events and hot Europe and beyond to discuss the offer their perspectives on political
topics. events, policies, and ideas shaping the developments. ECFR has showcased
world. The podcast boasts thousands foreign policy debates from China,
of subscribers from across the the Gulf, India, Russia, and Turkey.
continent.
Our programmes
and research initiatives
Programmes Initiatives
Africa European Security Initiative
Asia Geoeconomics
European Power
Middle East and North Africa
United States
Wider Europe
Africa
Leadership
The Africa programme examines Africa-Europe geopolitics,
emphasizing AU-EU relations to develop innovative foreign Julien Barnes-Dacey,
policy tools and strategies. It prioritises the Horn of Africa and Director
the Sahel as key regions for Europe.
The Africa programme has a number of permanent, visiting,
and associate fellows, building a research community of
experts who are both from and/or living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/africa
Asia
Leadership
The Asia programme aims to reshape Europe’s ties with
China and other Asian nations. It analyses China’s domestic Janka Oertel
dynamics, regional role, and global influence, while also Director
bolstering Europe’s ties with India and Japan.
The Asia programme has a number of permanent, visiting, Manisha Reuter
and associate fellows building a research community of Deputy director
experts who are both from and/or living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/asia
European Power
Leadership
The European Power programme, established in 2015, aids
Europeans in formulating policy responses to challenges affecting Susi Dennison
the EU’s global influence. It identifies obstacles to sustainable unity Director
on foreign policy issues and develops solutions to address them.
The European Power programme has a number of permanent, Carla Hobbs
visiting, and associate fellows building a research community of Deputy director
experts who are both from and/or living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/europeanpower
Middle East and North Africa
Leadership
The Middle East and North Africa program aims to advance
a unified European agenda for regional interests. It Julien Barnes-Dacey
collaborates with European and regional governments, local Director
voices, and civil society to promote dialogue, conflict de-
escalation, regional stability, and democratic transition.
Ellie Geranmayeh
The Middle East and North Africa programme has a number Deputy director
permanent, visiting, and associate fellows building a
research community of experts who are both from and/or
living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/mena
United States
Leadership
The US programme helps Europeans create policy responses
to developments in US domestic politics and foreign policy. Jeremy Shapiro
The programme seeks to strengthen transatlantic relations by Director
exploring the obstacles to a more balanced partnership and
developing ideas to overcome them.
The US programme has a number of permanent, visiting, and
associate fellows building a research community of experts
who are both from and/or living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/united-states
Wider Europe
Leadership
The Wider Europe programme supports the EU in defending
its interests and values across various regions including the Marie Dumoulin
Western Balkans, Turkey, Russia, eastern Europe, the South Director
Caucasus, and central Asia. It also assists EU decision-makers
in developing a unified policy response to challenges arising
from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tefta Kelmendi
Deputy director
The Wider Europe programme has a number of permanent,
visiting, and associate fellows building a research community
of experts who are both from and/or living in the region.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
ecfr.eu/wider
European Security Initiative
Leadership
Amid European conflict and strategic competition, ECFR’s
European security initiative aims to formulate a Camille Grand
comprehensive strategy addressing security challenges. Distinguished policy
fellow
This involves enhancing European defence capabilities,
leveraging EU resources and emerging technologies.
Additionally, ECFR supports cooperation to establish a Nicu Popescu
responsive European institutional framework for partnerships Distinguished policy
within the EU and with organisations like NATO. fellow
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
European Security Initiative
Geoeconomics
Leadership
Our geoeconomics initiative explores issues such as
economic fragmentation, de-risking, and economic Agathe Demarais
statecraft. Senior policy fellow
It will seek to provide analysis on what these issues mean
for their implications on Europeans’ global role, G7-
emerging economies relations, and transatlantic
collaboration pre- and post-2024 US election.
Discover analyses from our experts
of the programme here:
Geoeconomics
Our offices Washington
ECFR’s network of offices are
a vital component of our London Warsaw
pan-European identity. Our Berlin
presence in six EU countries,
the United Kingdom, and the
Paris
United States allows us to
understand and influence
the debate in key national
capitals, building networks
with policymakers and Sofia
Rome
journalists in each country,
Madrid
and making sense of the big
foreign policy questions
driving different European
countries and the US.
Our offices
BERLIN Jana Puglierin, LONDON Mark Leonard,
Head of the Berlin office Head of the London office
X @jana_puglierin X @markhleonard
ECFR Berlin plays a central role in the ECFR London channels the national debate about
organisation’s pan-European network and aims to Britain’s role in European foreign policy in the post-
strengthen the European perspective in Germany’s Brexit environment.
political discourse.
ECFR London
ECFR Berlin 4th Floor Tennyson House
Unter den Linden 17, 120 New Cavendish Street
10117 Berlin London W1W 6XX
+49 (0) 30 3250 5100 +44 (0) 20 7227 6860
[email protected] | @ECFRBerlin [email protected] | @ECFR
More information: https://ecfr.eu/berlin/ More information: https://ecfr.eu/london/
Our offices
PARIS Celia Belin, MADRID José Ignacio Torreblanca,
Head of the Paris office Head of the Madrid office
X @celiabelin X @jitorreblanca
ECFR Paris maintains close links with key foreign ECFR Madrid advocates for a pan-European
policy actors in France, striving to bolster the approach for Spanish foreign policy by working
European viewpoint within the national political closely with key foreign policy actors in Spain.
dialogue.
ECFR Paris ECFR Madrid
13 rue Paul Lelong, 75002 Paris c/ Felipe IV 9, 1º Derecha 28014 Madrid
+33 1 83 79 01 87 +34 91 523 4818
[email protected] | @ECFRParis
[email protected] | @ECFRMadrid
More information: https://ecfr.eu/paris/ More information: https://ecfr.eu/madrid/
Our offices
ROME Arturo Varvelli, SOFIA Maria Simeonova,
Head of the Rome office Head of the Sofia office
X @arturo_varvelli X @MSimeonova11
ECFR Rome promotes pan-European debate on ECFR Sofia involves the Bulgarian political
strategic issues for Europe and Italy’s role in them, community in a discussion on European foreign
engaging with key foreign policy actors across the policy and is a liaison with south-east Europe and
country. the Caucasus.
ECFR Rome ECFR Sofia
Piazza Venezia, 11 21A Patriarh Evtimiy blvd. Sofia 1000
00186 Rome +359 2 421 40 52
+39 06 89172538
[email protected] | @ECFRSofia
[email protected] | @ECFRRoma
More information: https://ecfr.eu/rome/ More information: https://ecfr.eu/sofia/
Our offices
WARSAW Piotr Buras, WASHINGTON Jeremy Shapiro,
Head of the Warsaw office DC Head of the Washington
X @piotrburas1 office X @JyShapiro
ECFR Warsaw stimulates the Polish debate on the ECFR Washington serves as a landing pad for ECFR
future of the European Union, its foreign policy, programmes to understand how changes in US
and Poland’s place in it. foreign policy will affect their regions and develop
policy ideas for European decision-makers.
ECFR Warsaw ECFR Washington
Sapieżyńska 10a, 00-215 Warsaw 1779 Massachusetts Ave NW
+48 22 536 0235 Washington, DC 20036
[email protected] @ECFRWarsaw
[email protected] @ECFRStates
More information: https://ecfr.eu/warsaw/ More information: https://ecfr.eu/washington/
Our experts on the record
Pan-European outreach
ECFR experts and analysis frequently feature in top-tier media outlets like The Financial Times, Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Policy, Gazeta Wyborcza, The Guardian, Le Monde, The New York Times, El País, Politico Europe, Project
Syndicate, La Repubblica, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and The Washington Post.
Our analysts are frequently interviewed on radio and television, with broadcasters such as Al Jazeera, ARD,
BBC, Bloomberg, CNN, Deutsche Welle, France 24, and NPR.
ECFR’s website www.ecfr.eu Every year our experts and Our podcasts have around 250,000
attracts over 1 million unique analysis are quoted more listens each year. Mark Leonard’s
visitors each year. We have over than 2,000 times in top media “World in 30 Minutes” was named
300,000 active followers on outlets in dozens of countries. one of the “Best podcasts on EU
social media. politics” by PolicyLab.
1M+ 2k+ 250k
ECFR Council: A community of leaders
Our Council Members, led by Carl Bildt, Lykke Friis, and Norbert Röttgen, utilise their networks and collective
influence to Europeanise national discussions on EU foreign policy. Comprised of current and former heads
of state, senior political leaders, and influencers at national and European levels, the council forms
a strategic community.
72 31 19 13
Civil society Prominent Ambas- Government
leaders European sadors ministers
officials
30 46 19 19
Heads Senior officials
Foreign Business
of state and in international
ministers leaders
government organisations
39 Parliamen-
tarians 14 European
commissioners 31 Academics
14 Journalists and
influencers
Annual Council Meeting
Past meetings have gathered memorable insights
from high profile speakers, such as Martti
Ahtisaari, Clément Beaune, Zbigniew Brzezinski,
Josep Borrell, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Timothy Garton
Ash, Pekka Haavisto, Ann Linde, David Lammy,
Bruno Le Maire, David McAllister, Anand Menon,
Alexander Schallenberg, Wolfgang Schmidt,
ECFR’s Annual Council Meeting is the leading annual Stefano Sannino, Olga Stefanishyna, Alexander
gathering on European foreign and security policy. Stubb, Mark Suzman, Margrethe Vestager, George
The council meeting has retained the intimacy of a Soros, Věra Jourová, Pål Jonson, Ulf Kristersson,
private club, allowing a safe space for high-level and Jutta Urpilainen and other heads of state and
speakers from across the world to think creatively government, leaders in academia, business, and
and practically about how Europe can strengthen its journalism.
role as a global power. The Annual Council Meeting
follows the energy of the debate to different
European cities every year.
Our Donors
Corporations
ECFR relies on a broad range
of support from foundations,
Foundations
governments, corporations, and 7.62%
individuals. The diversity of funding
sources is critical to ensure the
independence of our organisation.
23.76%
Governments / Public bodies 68.62%
List of Donors
ECFR relies on a broad range of support from foundations, governments, corporations, and individuals.
The diversity of funding sources is critical to ensure the independence of our organisation.
Governments / Public bodies Foreign, Commonwealth and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spain
Agence Française de Development Office United Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sweden
Développement (AFD) Kingdom (FCDO) Ministry of Industry and Trade of the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für JETRO - London Czech Republic
Internationale Zusammenarbeit Ministry of Armed Forces of France1 Office of the Prime Minister of
(GIZ) Ministry of Economy of France France
Embassy of the Netherlands in Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark Swedish International Development
Germany Ministry of Foreign Affairs France Agency
European Bank for Reconstruction Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ireland Swiss Federal Department of
and Development Ministry of Foreign Affairs Italy Foreign Affairs FDFA
European Commission Ministry of Foreign Affairs Japan
European Investment Bank Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Expertise France Netherlands
Federal Foreign Office Germany Ministry of Foreign Affairs Norway
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Germany Czech Republic
List of Donors
Non-profit Open Society Foundations (OSF) Banco Santander
Abel Ribbink - Van den Hoek Ploughshares Fund Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A. (CDP)
familiestichting Robert Bosch Stiftung Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Rockefeller Brothers Fund Schmidt Edison
Children Investment Fund Futures Enagás
Foundation (CIFF) Stand Together Trust Eni
Compagnia di San Paolo Stichting Benevolentia-Porticus Google
Daimler Fond - Stifterverband Stiftung Mercator Indra
Erste Stiftung The Heartland Initiative Iveco S.p.A.
Euromesco Think Tank EUROPA Japan Bank for International
European Climate Foundation Wallenberg Foundations Cooperation (JBIC)
European Cultural Foundation Meridiam
Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian Individuals Mitsubishi Corporation International
Foundation for Democracy and Coen van Oostrom Nokia
Pluralism Redburn
International Centre for Defence Corporations Santander
and Security (ICDS) Amazon Siemens AG
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Apple Telecom Italia Sparkle
Omidyar Network Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) Telefónica
Open Society Foundations (OSF)
