Dear friends and colleagues,
We are living through a momentous period. The global developments we are witnessing will cause generational shifts in the geopolitical landscape, multilateralism, and global cooperation. At the same time, it is a hugely challenging moment for think tanks, in particular those whose rasion d’être is to influence policy change. The deterioration in global relations and the rise of great power competition is exacerbating the shrinking space for think tanks to operate independently and impactfully.
In this context, the European Leadership Network’s mission remains more vital than ever. Divisive forces are driving wedges through traditional alliances in Europe and beyond, and European leaders and institutions are struggling to assert themselves, at a time when an unambiguous, unified voice and a sense of vision is critical to securing better security for Europe. The ELN’s Network of nearly 500 current and former leaders and experts remains a critical force for building dialogue, and for identifying solutions to some of the world’s most challenging and interrelated problems: from the ongoing war in Ukraine, to the rise of militarisation in many corners of Europe and the world.
We are therefore delighted to announce that the ELN has restructured its expert team, to sharpen our focus on delivering impact against a clear set of programmatic priorities:
- Nuclear and Multilateral Disarmament
- Nuclear Deterrence and Risk Reduction
- Nuclear and Emerging and Disruptive Technologies
- European Security and Russia.
These programmes will be guided by the ELN’s Theory of Change. This new programmatic structure will allow us to more clearly define our intended impact: retaining our focus on global arms control, whilst responding to a broader set of European security questions.
Further details of the programmes will be announced in due course.
We are looking forward to a fruitful next chapter for the ELN.
With Best Regards,
Robert Ondrejcsák and Bekki Field
Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director