Wider Europe

ABOUT THE Regions

For decades, a major goal of the United States and its European allies has been a Europe whole, free, and at peace. In the over 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, sweeping democratic changes have taken place throughout Europe and the former Soviet Union. These developments have brought greater security and prosperity to countries throughout Europe, and have helped to strengthen the transatlantic alliance. For the goal to be fully realized, however, it is critical that the countries of the former Soviet Union – Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia – join the Euroatlantic community and move out of the gray zone they currently occupy. The Western Balkan countries must also be aided and encouraged in their drive toward deeper integration in European and Transatlantic structures. In addition, Turkey plays a major role in the region, while simultaneously dealing with its own internal democratic challenges. GMF addresses the issues facing Wider Europe through a creative mix of grantmaking, publishing, research, and convening, including:

Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation
Balkan Trust for Democracy
Brussels Forum
Transatlantic Take opinion series
Bucharest Conference
Regional Study Tours

GMF News & Analysis

Reports of Our DeathMay 04, 2012 / Bruce Stokes

Europeans have begun to believe that our economic problems are worse than theirs. They’re wrong.

A Victory for EU Diplomacy in BelarusApril 20, 2012 / Joerg Forbrig

Mounting pressure from Brussels scores a victory against the Lukashenko regime.

Programs & Projects more

Balkan Trust for Democracy

The Balkan Trust for Democracy (BTD) is a 10-year, $36-million grantmaking initiative that supports democracy, good governance, and Euroatlantic integration in Southeastern Europe. This award-winning public-private partnership was created in 2003 by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. BTD is structured to allow both European and U.S. partners to join the effort to strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the Balkans.

EuroFuture Project

The German Marshall Fund of the United States understands the twin crisis in Europe and the United States to be a defining moment that will shape the transatlantic partnership and its interactions with the wider world for thelong term. GMF’s EuroFuture Project therefore aims to understand and explore the economic, governance and geostrategic dimensions of the EuroCrisis from a transatlantic perspective. The Project addresses the impact, implications, and ripple effects of the crisis – in Europe, for the United States and the world.

Urban and Regional Policy Program

GMF’s Urban and Regional Policy Program serves as a key resource and network builder for individuals and groups who make, influence, and implement urban and regional policy in the United States and Europe. The program promotes practical, hands-on exchanges and networking activities, supports policy analysis on pressing urban challenges, and convenes high-level policymakers and opinion-makers to inform current policy debates.

Events More

Regional Security Cooperation in the Baltic: Risks, Challenges and ThreatsMay 10, 2012

In anticipation of the NATO Chicago Summit 2012, between 10 - 11 May in Tallinn, Estonia, GMF and The International Centre for Defence Studies (ICDS) held an event titled: ‘Regional Security Cooperation in the Baltic: Risks, Challenges and Threats’.

Driving Innovation for a Low-Carbon SocietyApril 30, 2012

GMF hosted in Brussels a roundtable discussion on innovation promotion. The speakers were Claude Turmes, member of the European Parliament; Annika Varnäs, research fellow at SEI; Georg Zachmann, research fellow at Bruegel; Giles Dickson, vice president environmental policies and global advocacy at Alstom; and Roberto Zangrandi, head of European institutional relations at Enel. James Kanter, EU correspondent for the International Herald Tribune, moderated.

Russian Protests: Roundtable with Anti-Corruption CampaignerMarch 26, 2012On March 26, GMF in partnership with the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR) hosted a roundtable discussion with Vladimir Ashurkov, a partner of the Russian anti-corruption campaigner and informal leader of the recent Moscow demonstrations, Alexey Navalny.

Young Professionals Summit, 2012March 24, 2012

The Young Professionals Summit took place from March 24 to March 25, 2012.