Brussels Forum 2025

Brussels Forum 2025 took place June 11 and 12, at Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels, Belgium

Brussels Forum 2025 began on June 11 at 12pm and concluded the afternoon of June 12. Visit the rewind page here.

Partnership Disrupted: How Can Transatlantic Cooperation Endure?

In 2025, leaders on both sides of the Atlantic are confronting dramatic challenges in a highly unstable global environment. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, and the reconfiguration of alignments across the globe all demand new thinking. Mounting threats to democracy, anxiety about economic and technological competitiveness, coupled with declining trust in institutions, information and facts, and traditional alliances, all demand new approaches to transatlantic policy. Join us at this 20^th edition of Brussels Forum where we will explore and debate the issues and ideas shaping the transatlantic outlook for prosperity, democracy, and security against a backdrop of unprecedented disruption.

Brussels Forum 2025 | June 12

Brussels Forum 2025 | June 11

Brussels Forum 2025 | June 12

Brussels Forum 2025 | June 11

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Agenda

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Day One

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Registration and Brunch

11:00 - 12:00 CEST

Partnership Disrupted: How Can Transatlantic Cooperation Endure?

12:00 - 12:15 CEST

Speakers:

Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, President, GMF
Walter Russell Mead, Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow in Strategy and Statesmanship, Hudson Institute

A New Global Order—Part I and II

12:15 - 13:00 CEST

Part I Speakers:

Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, European Commission
Moderator: Henry Foy, Brussels Bureau Chief, Financial Times

Even before the start of the second Trump administration and the current disruption in transatlantic relations, Europe faced significant challenges in shaping a wider role in international affairs, one commensurate with its global interests. The war in Ukraine, an increasingly assertive China, and new demands from the “Global South” all posed pitfalls.

This conversation will delve into Europe’s views on a new global order, assuming one is emerging. It will also consider the EU’s response to a strategic environment characterized by mounting disruption and risk, and the bloc’s ability to balance its long-standing soft-power vocation with today’s hard power needs.

Part II Speakers:

Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, India
Moderator: Henry Foy, Brussels Bureau Chief, Financial Times

As the strategic and economic center of gravity shifts from the transatlantic to the Indo-Pacific, India and other actors are set to play a leading role. While traditional alliances are under strain, India’s policy of diversification of partnerships and its ability to work efficiently within new constellations of partnerships—including both Western and non-Western partners—are proving effective so far. As the tectonic plates of global politics shift, what does India view as the key challenges and opportunities? How does it view the rift in relations between two of its key partners—Europe and the United States? How will India respond to the Russia-China alliance?

A Conversation with Darren Woods

13:00 - 13:30 CEST

Speakers:

Darren Woods, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, ExxonMobil
Moderator: Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, President, GMF

As Europe navigates a complex energy transition and rising geopolitical uncertainty, how can transatlantic partners foster a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable economic future? In this conversation, the chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil and the president of GMF explore the regulatory and investment challenges facing Europe, and how collaboration between governments and business can unlock innovation, energy security, and industrial renewal. As a large investor in Europe, with around 12,000 employees across the continent, ExxonMobil brings a unique perspective on what it will take to restore confidence and drive growth.

Trade Wars and a New American Economic Order

13:30 - 13:50 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Speaker:

Pierre Yared, Vice Chair and Member, Council of Economic Advisers, Office of the President of the United States (Virtual)
Moderator: Joyce Chang, Chair of Global Research, J.P. Morgan; GMF Trustee and Marshall Memorial Fellow ‘05

In this fireside chat, the second Trump administration’s economic philosophy and priorities are up for discussion, as is the current state of the US economy. Topics include US trade policy and the rationale for higher tariffs, and Washington’s goals in US-EU trade discussions.

Coffee Break

13:50 - 14:15 CEST

Trade Wars and a New American Economic Order: Implications for Europe and the World?

14:15 - 14:45 CEST

Speakers:

Michał Baranowski, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Poland
Tobias Meyer, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Group
Tatiana Prazeres, Foreign Trade Secretary, Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, Brazil
Moderator: Jeanna Smialek, Brussels Bureau Chief, The New York Times

International trade relations are being fundamentally transformed as an era of steady, rules-based globalization gives way to a faster, fiercer, and more fragmented environment.

This discussion will examine the ways in which current US trade and industrial policy is altering the multilateral trading system and global supply chains, and impacting Europe and the broader international community. The conversation will also explore how countries may adapt to new geo-economic realities.

Disruptions to Transatlantic Energy Security and Competitiveness

14:45 - 15:15 CEST

Speakers:

Wally Adeyemo, Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Global Politics and Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy, European Commission
Moderator: Ewa Krukowska, Deputy Bureau Chief, Bloomberg

The United States and Europe are committed to diversifying sources of energy to enhance competitiveness. Europe’s past reliance on Russian gas, coupled with its decarbonization efforts, has contributed to price volatility, affecting households and industries. Meanwhile, the United States, now the world's largest gasoline exporter, is strengthening global energy partnerships and leveraging its hydrocarbon resources.

Both regions face critical challenges that will shape the future of their energy security. The power outage across the Iberian Peninsula on April 28 underscored the strategic importance of modernizing essential energy infrastructure. Geopolitical tensions threaten supply chains, China continues to dominate in alternative energy technologies, and evolving regulatory frameworks influence investment and market stability.

In response to these uncertainties, the United States and Europe must identify and pursue greater opportunities for collaboration to foster resilience and drive innovation.

Breakout: Oxford Style Debate: Power and Polarity—Global Order in Times of Disruption

15:30 - 16:30 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Versailles Room

Speakers:

Jo Inge Bekkevold, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies
Thorsten Benner, Director, Global Public Policy Institute
Ottilia Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects, Institute for Security Studies
Daniel F. Runde, Senior Vice President, Director for the Project on Prosperity and Development, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Moderators: Martin Quencez, Managing Director, GMF Risk and Strategy; Gesine Weber, Fellow, GMF

The US lead in hard power—namely military and economic assets—is hard to deny, but other states have demonstrated in recent years significant capacity to shape global politics through agenda-setting in international bodies, creating new formats of international cooperation and institutions, or pulling their weight in certain areas of international relations. This session will explore if multipolarity, a state in which emerging powers gain influence and challenge existing patterns of global politics, is already a reality or a myth given continuing US dominance in world affairs. It will also examine sources of power in the 2020s and beyond, and how they impact states' abilities to shape the global order.

Breakout: The End of Dollar Dominance?

15:30 - 16:30 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Elisabeth Room

Speakers:

Jacob Kirkegaard, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
Brad Setser, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Moderator: Tara Hariharan, Managing Director of Global Macro Research, NWI Management LP; GMF Board Member and Marshall Memorial Fellow ‘14

Global trade and investment flows have been thrown into upheaval by dramatic changes in US tariff policy and domestic fiscal developments. Such shifts could irrevocably alter the historical outperformance of US assets relative to the rest of the world’s. At the same time, an “America First” foreign policy stance could necessitate an unprecedented expansion of Europe’s defense spending, a trend that could boost the continent’s economic growth and spur capital inflows into its stocks and bonds. This session will discuss these developments, and the structural ramifications of US tariff and sanctions policies, to examine if “American exceptionalism” and US dollar dominance in global trade flows can hold.

Breakout: Defense as a Driver of Innovation: Ideas from GMF Transatlantic Taskforce Members and Friends

15:30 - 16:30 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Adolphe Max Room

Speakers:

Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Foreign Minister, Lithuania
Gus MacGregor-Millar, General Manager for Defense and Intelligence, Microsoft
Curtis Scaparrotti, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe; GMF Trustee
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Member and Chair, Committee on Security and Defence, European Parliament
Moderator: Kristine Berzina, Managing Director, GMF North

On both sides of the Atlantic, the past decades have seen defense spending framed as a zero-sum game, with defense perceived as taking away from competitiveness and social priorities. But the war in Ukraine suggests that technological innovation and defense reinforce each other. Staying ahead in digital technology, unmanned vehicles, electronic warfare, and space technology is critical for success on the battlefield. And defense technology innovation can be adapted to fuel civilian innovation and competitiveness.

As Europe and the United States ramp up defense spending, both can gain individually and collectively from defense innovation. This session will explore the nexus of defense and civilian competitiveness and innovation and assess whether the United States and Europe stand to benefit from a more cross-cutting approach to defense.

A key goal that policymakers and industry should have in mind is making innovation in defense yield greater common defense and deterrence for all of NATO, not just one country or continent alone. Speakers will explore how defense innovation can contribute to NATO’s ability to outpace its major adversaries. Approaches to defense innovation that prioritize one country or region over the allies' collective interest pose a broader policy risk: that of increasing transatlantic friction.

Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:00 CEST

Make China Great Again

17:00 - 17:45 CEST

Speakers:

Miriam Lexmann, Member, European Parliament
Brad Setser, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Desmond Shum, Businessman and Author
Daniel Twining, President, International Republican Institute
Moderator: Andrew Small, Senior Transatlantic Fellow, Indo-Pacific, GMF

After decades of runaway growth, China is experiencing its weakest economic period since the early 1990s. The country is seeing a stagnant housing market and plummeting confidence levels among consumers and investors. The rest of the world’s willingness to absorb China’s vast excess capacities is reaching a limit, as countries scramble to protect their industries from surging Chinese exports. At the same time, corruption scandals in the Chinese military have unleashed doubts about its ability to hit 2027 modernization targets, which would allow readiness for a potential invasion of Taiwan.

There is nevertheless a sense that the country is now newly emboldened. China’s facing down of Donald Trump’s tariffs, the “DeepSeek moment” breakthrough in artificial intelligence, and the opportunity to exploit US tensions with allies and the “Global South” have given Beijing a boost. Chinese President Xi Jinping can consequently claim some vindication for his strategy to equip the domestic economy for “struggle” and for his backing of Vladimir Putin, which has significantly deepened the Sino-Russian relationship at little cost and created the nucleus of an authoritarian bloc. China is also still on track to dominate a range of advanced industries.

This session will explore whether the seeming rebound in Beijing’s confidence masks structural problems that will continue to undercut its strategic prospects; whether an allied approach to China is still possible under Trump or if Europe and the United States now see the challenge in different terms; and whether the early months of the new US administration are indicative of a long-term bipartisan consensus on China strategy or more unpredictable policy.

Spotlight: Transatlantic Security

17:45 - 17:50 CEST

Speaker:

Claudia Major, Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security, GMF; Manfred Wörner Fellow ‘05

Preview: A Window Into the NATO Summit

17:50 - 18:10 CEST

Speakers:

Matthew Whitaker, Permanent Representative, US Mission to NATO
Moderator: Helene Cooper, Pentagon Correspondent, The New York Times; GMF Trustee

The United States continues to play a critical political and military role in NATO, even in the currently disruptive times. The Trump administration has pressed European allies, with some success, to spend more and do more in their own defense. But larger questions of strategy are emerging, from the future of nuclear deterrence to cooperation with global partners. Looking toward the NATO summit in The Hague, this conversation will delve into alliance priorities as seen from Washington, expectations of new burden-sharing commitments, and the desirability and practicality of a more European NATO.

Marshall Memorial Fellowship Spotlight

18:10 - 18:15 CEST

Speaker:

John Boerstler, Head of Public Sector, IPSOS Public Affairs; Marshall Memorial Fellow ‘11

Transatlantic Defense: Who Pays? Who Acts?

18:15 - 19:00 CEST

Speakers:

Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank
Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission
Radmila Shekerinska, Deputy Secretary General, NATO
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
Moderator: Claudia Major, Senior Vice President for Transatlantic Security, GMF; Manfred Wörner Fellow ‘05

The Trump administration aims to redefine US engagement in Europe’s security as the long-term implications of Russia’s war in Ukraine reshape the continent’s security environment. This push for more burden-shifting within NATO requires significant investment and a new defense model from Washington's European allies. As these countries seek to bolster security capabilities, questions about the political and financial costs are at the forefront of national policy debates. The EU plans to provide support for needed investment, but concrete changes will depend on European leaders’ readiness to invest political capital in defense.

This panel will discuss the long-term commitment of European allies to assume more responsibility for their security and defense. It will consider the evolution of European security and economic challenges and their impact on NATO member states’ efforts to shape collective defense strategies.

20th Anniversary Reception and Dinner

19:15 - 21:00 CEST

Brussels Town Hall

Welcome:

Christopher Schroeder, Chair, GMF Board

Toast:

Theodora Gentzis, Secretary-General and President of the Board of Directors, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium

Night Owl: Where Did the Political Center Go?

21:30 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Versailles Room

Speakers:

Heidi Heitkamp, former US Senator; Member, Board of Trustees, GMF
Fernando Iglesias, Member, Chamber of Deputies, Argentina
Sergey Lagodinsky, Member, European Parliament
Mene Ukueberuwa, Editorial Board, The Wall Street Journal
Moderator: Sudha David-Wilp, Vice President for External Relations and Senior Fellow, GMF

Political debate continues to become increasingly polarized in Western democracies. The loudest voices increasingly shape the public agenda, while the political center, though still representing a broad part of the electorate, is often overlooked. In the United States, a majority of people are part of what researchers at More in Common, a nonpartisan research nonprofit, call the “exhausted majority”. They are tired of polarization and yearn for a more constructive political approach. Similar trends are visible in Europe, where trust in institutions is waning, as are traditional party loyalties.

A growing number of citizens who do not identify with rigid ideologies or divisive debates feel increasingly disconnected from political life. Many Americans, for example, describe themselves as politically homeless. In Europe, where centrist parties cannot take their support for granted, voters often feel that their concerns are not being addressed and that few leaders can deliver.

Confidence is fading in politics that appear more focused on performance than on options for addressing complex challenges. This session examines how the political center can gain its voice and engage in the issues that matter to a broad base of society.

Night Owl: The Middle East: Crisis and Opportunity at a Time of Global Disruption

21:30 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Adolphe Max Room

Speakers:

Dalia Ghanem, Program Director and Senior Fellow, Middle East Council on Global Affairs
Vali Nasr, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies and International Affairs, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
Heather Nauert, Advisory Board Member with BGR Group
Barcin Yinanc, Journalist and Foreign Policy Analyst, Y24
Moderator: Ian Lesser, Distinguished Fellow and Adviser to the President, GMF

Even against a backdrop of war in Europe and mounting tension in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa region continues to present extraordinary challenges for local societies, regional security, and the global order. From the Levant to Libya, from Yemen to Iran, transatlantic partners face pressing demands for crisis management, conflict resolution, and reconstruction. Old conflicts persist and new flashpoints are emerging. This session will look at the outlook for ongoing crises and conflicts in the Levant and the Gulf, and the importance there of engagement from the United States and “middle powers” such as Türkiye. It will also explore the connections between developments in those regions and other theaters in a time of growing geopolitical competition.

Day Two

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Breakfast Session: What Does the Future Hold for American Democracy?

08:15 - 09:00 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Adolphe Max Room

Speakers:

Dan Conston, former President, Congressional Leadership Fund
Adrian Fontes, Secretary of State, Arizona
Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican Pollster
Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress
Moderator: David Salvo, Managing Director, Alliance for Securing Democracy, GMF

US President Donald Trump's administration has rapidly enacted radical change by drastically reducing the size of the American federal government, upending relationships with allies, and targeting perceived political opponents such as law firms and universities. For Trump’s allies, this is democracy in action, a president delivering exactly what he promised to the voters who elected him in a free and fair election. For Trump’s critics, this is potentially the beginning of a constitutional crisis and the expeditious erosion of democratic norms. This session features an esteemed bipartisan slate of speakers, all of whom are steeped in American politics, policy, and civic life. They will debate what the last few months portends for the feature of American democracy and if the United States can overcome the polarization that seems to be driving Americans ever further apart.

Spotlight: Tech Wars—Who Will Win the Innovation Race?

09:10 - 09:15 CEST

Speaker:

Lindsay Gorman, Managing Director and Senior Fellow, GMF Technology

Conversation: Tech Wars—Who Will Win the Innovation Race?

09:15 - 09:45 CEST

Speakers:

Heike Freund, Chief Operating Officer, Marvel Fusion
Frank McCourt, Founder and Executive Chairman, Project Liberty
Moderator: Lindsay Gorman, Managing Director and Senior Fellow, GMF Technology

The race for leadership in technologies crucial for economic prosperity and national security is intensifying. Nations are competing for dominance in artificial intelligence, clean energy, cutting-edge semiconductors, and deep tech from quantum to biotechnologies. Geopolitical and economic power hinges on leadership across these sectors, and innovation and targeted investments are key. The EU and the United States must stay ahead in the tech race by promoting innovation, adapting regulation, and managing competition as China seeks to sprint ahead. This session will look at partnerships that the transatlantic community needs to forge to confront Beijing’s ambitions, in part by drawing on lessons from successful European and American innovation ecosystems.

A Conversation with Keith Kellogg

09:45 - 10:00 CEST

Speakers:

Keith Kellogg, Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine, United States
Moderator: Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, President, GMF

Euro-Atlantic Security and Ukraine: Scenarios for the Future

10:00 - 10:45 CEST

Speakers:

Benjamin Haddad, Minister Delegate for Europe, France
Keith Kellogg, Assistant to the President and Special Envoy for Ukraine, United States
Maxime Prévot, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Belgium
Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Chair, Kyiv Security Forum
Moderator: Dan Michaels, Brussels Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal

No issue may be presenting as much potential disruption to the transatlantic alliance as the debate over the approach to Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine. There are nuanced views on both sides of the Atlantic, but most European leaders seek to raise pressure on the Kremlin and stand strongly with Ukraine as it defends the continent against the unprovoked and unbridled invasion. In contrast, after pushing for a ceasefire that remains elusive, the US government increasingly appears willing to walk away from negotiations and move on to doing business with Russia. Future US support for Ukraine, and the direction, resolution, and aftermath of the conflict, all remain uncertain.

This session features key officials working hard to resolve the war on relatively unified transatlantic terms that uphold Ukraine's sovereignty, enable credible security guarantees, and defend the country from future Russian aggression. Speakers will address steps to be taken now so that a Europe whole, free, and at peace can build a future that includes Ukraine.

Spotlight: US Politics, Society, and Public Opinion

10:45 - 10:50 CEST

Speaker:

Kristen Soltis Anderson, Republican Pollster

Breakout: Delivering Democracy at the Local Level

11:00 - 12:00 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Elisabeth Room

Speakers:

Mark Duffy, Senator, Parliament of Ireland; Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network Fellow ‘23
Zaynab Mohamed, Minnesota State Senator; Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network Fellow ‘25
Lucy Okumu, Director of Strategic Communications, Stanford University; Marshall Memorial Fellow ’09
Moderator: Cici Battle, Social Impact Strategist; Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network Fellow ‘19

As global challenges grow more complex and traditional alliances are tested, subnational diplomacy has emerged as a vital avenue for sustaining transatlantic cooperation. With national governments increasingly consumed by domestic pressures and geopolitical crises, their ability to prioritize cross-border cohesion has diminished. This shift opens space for local, state, and regional leaders to step in and shape the future of transatlantic collaboration. This panel brings together alumni from GMF’s leadership programs to explore how subnational actors are building durable partnerships, advancing shared policy goals, and fostering democratic resilience. In this moment of uncertainty, these leaders are translating trusted networks into practical solutions and sustained impact. Strengthening subnational leadership is not just a strategy for resilience—it is a necessary investment in the future of transatlantic cooperation.

Breakout: Grading Made in China 2025: Did Beijing’s Industrial Tech Strategy Deliver?

11:00 - 12:00 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Adolphe Max Room

Speakers:

Fernando Dominguez-Pinuaga, Vice President Global Outreach, SandboxAQ
Agatha Kratz, Partner, Rhodium Group
Michelle Rozo, Vice Chair, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, US
Jörg Wuttke, Partner, DGA Group
Moderator: Lindsay Gorman, Managing Director and Senior Fellow, GMF Technology

This year marks the 10-year milestone for Made in China 2025, Beijing’s plan to transform its economy into a high-tech superpower. It is a moment to assess the successes, failures, and lessons learned from Chinese efforts in 10 critical technology sectors, including bio- and quantum technologies.

Made in China 2025 has become an urgent challenge for the future of many industries worldwide. The intersection of China’s long-term strategy with structural dynamics in the country’s economy is translating into vast overcapacities, which analysts have dubbed the “second China shock”. Getting the right set of trade, economic security, industrial policy, and competitiveness measures in place to address this challenge has become an imperative in Europe and the United States, one that was expected to form a major part of the transatlantic cooperation agenda in the years to come. But the viability of this is now tenuous, amid significant US-EU trade tensions and mutual uncertainties about the direction of US and European relations with China. This session will aim to connect the dots among the long-term future of US and European technological and industrial leadership, current political and economic dynamics with China, and the transatlantic trade and technology agenda.

Breakout: Rebalancing Power, Restoring Trust: The GMF Transatlantic Taskforce Report

11:00 - 12:00 CEST

Chatham House Rule | Will not be livestreamed

Versailles Room

Speakers:

Michał Baranowski, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Republic of Poland
Meredith Berger, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, US
Thierry Déau, Chief Executive Officer, Meridiam / Archery Foundation
John Emerson, Vice Chairman, Capital International; Member, GMF Board of Trustees
Moderator: Georgina Wright, Special Adviser to the President and Senior Fellow, GMF

The multiplication of security crises in Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, and the consequences of systemic rivalries, are reshaping the international system. The shifting global dynamics create an urgent need for the United States and Europe to strengthen their partnership. Recent developments, such as the creation of the White House’s shipbuilding office, open the door to new forms of cooperation between the two. But political tensions and a widening transatlantic power gap are straining confidence and slowing momentum for reform.

In March, GMF launched a new, high-level Transatlantic Taskforce to develop bold and innovative proposals to rebalance ties over the next five years. This session will present some of the main conclusions of the taskforce’s report. It will look in particular at the ways in which high-impact joint industrial projects—in areas such as infrastructure, energy, finance, technology, and security—can serve as building blocks to restore trust and forge a more resilient, competitive transatlantic alliance.

Reflecting on 20 Years of Brussels Forum: A Conversation in Honor of Ron Asmus

12:10 - 12:30 CEST

Speakers:

Carl Bildt, Co-chair, Council on Foreign Relations
Moderator: Ian Lesser, Distinguished Fellow and Adviser to the President, GMF

The late Ron Asmus, our GMF colleague and former executive director of the Brussels office, was integral to launching Brussels Forum in 2015. He played a key role in establishing the event as a leading platform for transatlantic dialogue. Ron was also a widely respected thought leader on European security affairs and a leading advocate for NATO and EU enlargement. The 20th anniversary of Brussels Forum is an appropriate moment to reflect on his legacy and the evolution of themes that have shaped—and continue to shape— conversations on the transatlantic partnership in times of peace and war.

Civil Society’s Role in Building Democratic Resilience: Lessons from Belarus and Central and Eastern Europe

12:30 - 13:15 CEST

Speakers:

Zsuzsanna Szelényi, Director, Democracy Institute Leadership Academy for Central and Eastern Europe; Marshall Memorial Fellow ’93
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Head, United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus
Daniel Twining, President, International Republican Institute
Moderator: Stanley Pignal, Columnist, The Economist

In an era defined by creeping authoritarianism, information warfare, and the erosion of institutional trust, civil society organizations (CSOs) throughout Central and Eastern Europe are resisting democratic backsliding. This session explores how CSOs across the region are navigating a shrinking civic space, disinformation campaigns, and political repression, all while continuing to defend democratic values and push for systemic change.

Closing

13:15 - 13:30 CEST

Speaker:

Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, President, GMF

Networking Lunch

13:30 CEST

Speakers

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Speakers

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Partners

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Partners

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Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Belgium is located at the crossroads of three major European cultures, Germanic, Latin and Anglo-Saxon. Visitors will easily find a host who speaks their language fluently. French, Dutch and German are official languages in Belgium. English is fluently spoken by most Belgians for whom multilingualism is a given.

More international organizations are based in Brussels than in Washington D.C. The city is home to more than 120 international government organizations, 181 embassies, over 5,000 diplomats and more than 1,000 lobby groups.

Brussels hosts the most important European institutions, professional federations, corporate headquarters and civil society organizations in a cosmopolitan European Quarter. It is often dubbed as the standard setting capital of Europe, establishing standards and safeguards for the single, biggest market in the world.

DHL Group

DHL Group is the world’s leading logistics provider, encompassing two brands: DHL offers a comprehensive service portfolio that includes parcel shipping, international Express delivery, Freight transportation, Supply Chain management, and E-commerce solutions; Deutsche Post is Europe’s leading postal and parcel service provider. The group employs approximately 600,000 people in over 220 countries and territories worldwide. In 2024, the group generated revenue of more than 84 billion euros. By 2050, the group aims to achieve net zero emissions in logistics

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 100,000 employees define possible every day.

Google

Technology companies have a critical role to play in Europe’s ambitious Green Deal goals, and at Google we want to work together to achieve a carbon-free future in Europe & globally. Sustainability has been a core value for Google for more than 20 years. We have made the important journey from neutralising carbon emissions, to reducing them, and by 2030 we aim to not emit any in the first place. Today, every email you send through Gmail, every question you ask Google Search and every YouTube video you watch is carbon neutral. We were the first major company to become carbon neutral in 2007. We were the first to match our operations with 100% renewable energy in 2017, and we’ve been doing it ever since. Last year we eliminated our entire carbon legacy. Our next ambition is our biggest yet: operating on carbon free energy by the year 2030. This represents a significant step change from current approaches and is a moonshot on the same scale as quantum computing. It presents equally hard problems to solve, from sourcing carbon-free energy in every place we operate to ensuring it can run every hour of every day. Building on the first carbon-intelligent computing platform that we rolled out last year, we’ll soon be the first company to implement carbon-intelligent load shifting across both time and place within our data center network. By this time next year we’ll be shifting more than a third of non-production compute to times and places with greater availability of carbon-free energy. And we are working to apply our Cloud AI with novel drilling techniques and fiber optic sensing to deliver geothermal power in more places, starting in our Nevada data centers next year.

Microsoft

Microsoft is a technology company whose mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our strategy is to build best-in-class platforms and productivity services for a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Founded in 1975, we operate worldwide and have offices in more than 100 countries. We develop, license, and support a wide range of software products, services, and devices that deliver new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. We offer an array of services, including cloud-based services, to consumers and businesses. We design, manufacture, and sell devices that integrate with our cloud-based services.

Open Society Foundations

The Open Society Foundations, founded by George Soros, are the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for rights, equity, and justice. We champion the search for bold, democratic solutions to our urgent, common challenges that advance rights, equity, and justice. We do this by supporting a wide array of independent voices and organizations around the world that provide a creative and dynamic link between the governing and the governed. Our approach seeks to counter the narrow pursuit of political self-interest and short-term opportunism—in pursuit of a sustainable future for people and planet that leaves no one behind.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. Our one technology roadmap allows us to efficiently scale the technologies that launched the mobile revolution – including advanced connectivity, high-performance, low-power compute, on-device intelligence and more – to the next generation of connected smart devices across industries. Innovations from Qualcomm and our family of Snapdragon platforms will help enable cloud-edge convergence, transform industries, accelerate the digital economy, and revolutionize how we experience the world, for the greater good.

Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

List of Participants

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List of Participants

Adeyemo, Wally, Center on Global Energy Policy Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Columbia University School of Int'l and Public Affairs
Ahmed, Muddassar, Managing Partner, Unitas Communications
Ahmed Al-Malki, Abdulaziz, Head, Mission of Qatar to the EU and NATO, Government of Qatar
Ahmed AL-Mohannadi, Sara, Deputy Head, Mission of Qatar to the EU and NATO, Government of Qatar
Akulenko, Liubov, Executive Director, Ukrainian Center for European Politics
An, David, Chief International Strategist, Northrop Grumman
Antón, Mikel, Director for European Affairs, Basque Government
Appathurai, James, Deputy Assistant Secretary General, NATO
Areskoug Mascarenhas, Katarina, Founder, Impact Europe
Asunmaa, Piritta, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Finland to NATO, Government of Finland
Ayuso, Silvia, Journalist, El País
Baeckelmans, Nikolaas, Vice President, EU Affairs, ExxonMobil
Balaji, M., Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Brussels, Government of India
Baldakova, Oyuna, Researcher, King's College London
Baranowski, Michal, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, Government of Poland
Batalla Adam, Laura, Independent Turkey Analyst, Ashoka
Battle, Christin, , Social Impact Strategist
Baube, Olivier, Journalist, AFP
Bavin-Hobbs, Alice, Speechwriter, European External Action Service
Bayer, Lili, European Security Correspondent, Reuters
Bednarczyk, Philip, Warsaw Office Director, GMF
Bekkevold, Jo Inge, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies
Belin, Célia, Director, Paris Office and Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
Belobradova, Elisaveta, Member of Parliament, National Assembly, Bulgaria
Benner, Thorsten, Director, Global Public Policy Institute
Berger, Meredith, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
Berkemeier, Gunnar, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN, Government of Germany
Berti, Benedetta, Director, Policy Planning, NATO
Berzina, Kristine, Managing Director, GMF
Bibo-Tansia, Tracy, Director, KIYO
Bildt, Carl, Council Co-Chair, European Council on Foreign Relations
Bilici, Bilal, Member, Parliament of Türkiye
Bindenagel, James, Henry Kissinger Professor Emeritus, University of Bonn
Birchfield, Vicky, Professor, Georgia Tech
Birden, Rana, Head of Corporate Communications and Impact Invest, Kale Group of Companies
Bodnya, Ievgeniia, Nonresident Fellow, GMF
Boe, William, Counsellor, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Next Chair of the Presidency of the European Council, Government of Denmark
Boerstler, John, Head of Public Sector, Ipsos Public Affairs
Bogojević, Maja, Intersectionality and Inclusion Expert, European External Action Service (EEAS)
Boguslavets, Martina, Head, Center for Democratic Transformation MEZHA
Borges de Castro, Ricardo, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre
Boswell Rega, Elizabeth, Managing Director, Communications, GMF
Brailian, Yehor, Associate Professor, Kyiv Aviation Institute
Breuer, Dirk, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Brinker, Joseph, Policy Fellow, NATO Parliamentary Assembly Secretariat
Brinkmann, Julius, Reporter, Politico
Brzozowski, Alexandra, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Euractiv
Bué, Charlotte, Head of Division, European External Action Service
Bukenya, George, Research Scientist, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Busetto, Andrea, Public Policy and Government Relations Manager, Google
Buxton, Inger, Head of Department, European Correspondent for Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden
Cainzos, Alejandro, Policy Adviser, Secretariat General, European Commission
Calvino, Nadia, President, European Investment Bank
Cameron, Jasmine, Senior Legal Adviser, American Bar Association
Campbell, Angus, Ambassador of Australia to Belgium, Government of Australia
Capart, Sabine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Carver Roschke, Kristy, Executive Director, McGee Center for Narrative Studies, Vanderbilt University
Cendrowicz, Leo, Correspondent, iNews
Chang, Joyce, Chair of Global Research, JPMorgan
Chase, Peter, Senior Fellow, GMF
Chentsov, Vsevolod, Ambassador, Head of Mission, Mission of Ukraine to the EU
Chkhikvadze, Ivane, Head of EU Policy, Araminta
Chourbaji, Wassim, Vice President, Government Affairs, Qualcomm
Christensen, Tomas, Senior Adviser, European Commission
Chykolba, Yuliia, Country Director, Centre for Information Resilience
Ciofu, Sabina, Associate Director, International, techUK
Clary, Matthew, Professor, Auburn University
Cleppe, Pieter, Editor in Chief, BrusselsReport.eu
Clüver Ashbrook, Cathryn, Executive Vice President, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Collins, Emalee, Student, Georgia Tech
Comeau, Maia, Founder, Comeau & Company
Conston, Dan, Head, Congressional Leadership Fund
Cooper, Helene, Pentagon Correspondent, The New York Times
Covington, Stephen, Strategic and International Affairs Adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Dahlqvist, Frederik, Global Co-leader of McKinsey’s Special Initiative in Global Defense, McKinsey & Company
Dalay, Galip, Senior Consulting Fellow, Chatham House
David-Wilp, Sudha, Vice President, External Relations and Senior Fellow, GMF
Davies, Sharon, President; Chief Executive Officer, Kettering Foundation
De Brabander, Youri, Vice President, Public Diplomacy, YATA Belgium
de Hoop Scheffer, Alexandra, President, GMF
de la Presilla, Santiago, Communication Specialist, Bloomberg
De Munck, Tom, Attaché, External Relations of the EU, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
De Pauw, Jan, Special Envoy to Ukraine, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
De Stercke, Celien, Representative, YATA Belgium
Déau, Thierry, Chief Executive Officer, Meridiam
Decamme, Guillaume, Correspondent, AFP
Delany, Max, Journalist, Agence France-Presse
Delhaye, Francois, Director, Economic interests, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Denysiuk, Nadia, Director, Lawyer's Move
Di Ciommo, Mario, Head, Geopolitical Analyses and Scenarios, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
Dimitroff, Peter, Chief of Party, DAI Global
Dispa, Noélie, Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Doherty, Richard, Director, Rand Europe
Dominguez-Pinuaga, Fernando, Vice President, SandboxAQ
Dondua, David, Chairman, Board of Directors, EU Awareness Centre
D'Ooghe, Jeremy, North America Desk Officer, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Douas, Maysoun, Director, Startup Commission
Drozd, Nataliya, Head of Board, Dobrochyn Center
Ducom, Philippe, President, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BV
Duffy, Mark, Senator, Parliament of Ireland
Duke, Dylan, Student, Auburn University
Dumoulin, Marie, Wider Europe Programme Director, European Council on Foreign Relations
Dunleavy, Blair, Senior Program Manager, HII
Dwyer, Brandon, Student, North Carolina State University
Eisen, Norman, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brookings Institution
Eklöw, Karolina, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Foresight Institute
El Amrani, Issandr, Managing Director, Open Society Foundations
Emerson, John, Vice Chairman, Capital Group International
Engdahl, Teagan, Student, Auburn University
Erevbenagie-Johnbull, Etinosa , Co-founder and Managing Director, G.F.C. Generation for Change CY
Erkus, Kerem, Executive Vice President, YATA Belgium
Essebane, Wassim, Digital Marketing Freelancer, Self employed
Evans, Fiona, Senior Adviser, GMF
Everts, Steven, ,
Fomenchenko, Galyna, Senior Political Adviser, European People's Party
Fontes, Adrian, Secretary of State, Government of Arizona
Fordham, Tina, Founder and Geopolitical Strategist, Fordham Global Foresight
Foy, Henry, Brussels Bureau Chief, Financial Times
Franck, Chase, Student, Auburn University
Freitas, Vania, Secretary General, Assembly of European Regions
Freudenstein, Roland, Brussels Office Director, Free Russia Foundation
Freund, Heike, Chief Operating Officer, Marvel Fusion
Fried, Tsiporah, Senior Adviser , Office of the Chairman of the French Joint Defense Staff
Fritz, Sabrina, US Correspondent, Suedwestrundfunk (SWF German Radio)
Gaitan, Tudor, Director, Programmes, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Galushko, Vladyslav, Associate Director, Open Society Foundations
Gardner, Anthony, Senior Adviser, Brunswick Group
Gavrani, Mimoza, Chief Executive Officer, Alpha Nation
Gawronska, Magdalena, Political Advisor to the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, European External Action Service
Gentzis, Theodora, Director General, European Affairs, Federal Public Service, Foreign Affairs, Government of Belgium
Geoană, Mircea, Founder and President, Aspen Institute Romania
Geri, Maurizio, EU MSC Fellow, GMF
Ghanem, Dalia, Director, Conflict and Security Program; Senior scholar, Middle East Council on Global Affairs
Gierveld, Aldrik, Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands
Gnanguenon, Amandine, Senior Fellow; Head, Geopolitics Program, Africa Policy Research Institute
Godfrey, Ken, Executive Director, European Partnership for Democracy
Goerg, Madeleine, Partner, Leader in European Geopolitics, McKinsey & Company
Goldstein, Tomás, Lead Adviser and European Affairs Manager, Equinor
Gorman, Lindsay, Managing Director and Senior Fellow, GMF
Grabbe, Heather, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
Graham, Nate, Student, North Carolina State University
Gray, Andrew, European Affairs Editor, Reuters
Greene, David, President, Colby College
Grobe, Stefan, Political Editor, Euronews
Gündüç, Yildirim, Government Affairs Manager, Koç Holding
Haase, Ansgar, Correspondent / Brussels Bureau Chief, dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur
Hackenbroich, Jonathan, Adviser and Speechwriter, European Council
Haddad, Benjamin, Deputy Foreign Minister, Government of France
Hajduk, Marek, Cameraman, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Halushka, Olena, Board Member, Anti-Corruption Action Center
Hardy, Eloise, Reporter, The Parliament Magazine
Hariharan, Tara, Managing Director, Global Macro Research, NWI Management LP
Harjus, Janeli, Deputy Defense Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO, Government of Estonia
Harper, Anna, Student, Georgia Tech
Hartl, Theresa, Deputy Director, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Hartmann, Benjamin, Cabinet Expert, European Commission
Hassel, Tina, Brussels Bureau Chief, ARD German TV
Hegedus, Daniel, Regional Director, GMF
Heiden, Bowman, , Institute for Business Innovation
Heitkamp, Heidi, Member, Board of Trustees, GMF
Helwig, Niklas, Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Hemra, Staffan, ,
Hermann, Patrick, Director for Bilateral Relations with the Americas, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Hess, Remo, EU/NATO/Benelux Correspondent, CH Media
Hidvegi, Fanny, Policy Director, AI Collaborative
Hlizhynska, Olexandra, Executive Director, Institute Respublika
Hlizhynska, Olexandra, Executive Director, Institute Respublika
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Horton, Gianina, Reduce Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator, State of Colorado
Hossain, Mufazzal, Director of Budget & Legislative Affairs, New York City Council
Howard, Liz, Deputy Director, Brennan Center for Justice
Hsu, Jason, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Hupiak, Serhii, Deputy Head, National Agency on Corruption Prevention of Ukraine
Husu, Rikhard, Europe Correspondent, YLE
Iglesias, Fernando, Member, Chamber of Deputies, Argentina
Iliopoulos, Aris, International Economist, Department of the Treasury, Government of the United States
Ingemarsson, Laura, Correspondent, Euronews
Izawa, Osamu, Ambassador, Mission of Japan to NATO, Government of Japan
Izhyk, Valeriya, EU Policy Officer, Ukraine Reconstruction, CEE Bankwatch, NGO "Ecoaction"
Jaishankar, Subrahmanyam, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India
Janes, Jack, Resident Senior Fellow, GMF
Jenkins, Sarah, Student, Auburn University
Jenkins, Max, Chief of Staff, McCourt Global
Jones, Katie, Student, Auburn University
Jorge, Raquel, Coordinator, EU Global Affairs and Technology, Real Instituto Elcano
Jorgensen, Dan, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, European Commission
Kakoutsi, Nektaria, Head of the EU Enlargement Team, Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU, Government of Cyprus
Kallas, Kaja, Vice-President and High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, European Commission
Karbownik, Pawel, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Finance, Government of Poland
Katev, Krassimir, Investor, ZILO Technology
Kaunistola, Esa, Director, Strategic Relations, Microsoft
Kavaleuski, Valery, Executive Director, Euro-Atlantic Affairs Agency Foundation
Kefferpütz, Roderick, Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation European Union
Kellogg, Keith, Assistant to the President and Special Presidential Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Department of State, Government of the United States
Ketterer, Tobias, , European External Action Service
Ketterlin, Marie, Research Assistant to the Chair of Transatlantic Trade and Economy, College of Europe
Kirby, Alexandra, Senior Programme Manager, European Endowment for Democracy
Kirkegaard, Jacob, Senior Fellow, Bruegel
Kjamili, Berat , Social Entrepreneur, Kodluyoruz (We Code) & Migport
Kobernik, Oleksandra, Fellow, Policy Designers Network, GMF
Kofod, Jeppe, Chief Executive Officer; Executive Strategic Adviser, Kofod Global
Kohnen, Tim, Editorial and Organisational Manager, European Newsroom, Deutsche Presse Agentur
Kolonko, Tobias, Programmes Officer, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Koronska, Kamila, Disinformation Research Officer, University of Amsterdam
Koski, Jon, Director for Europe and NATO, Northrop Grumman
Kovalska, Olha, , AntAC
Kratz, Agatha, Partner, Rhodium Group
Krukowska, Ewa, Deputy Bureau Chief, Bloomberg News
Kryvolap, Kyrylo, Director, Center for Economic Recovery
Kubilius, Andrius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission
Kucherchuk, Veronika, Senior Programme Coordinator, European Endowment for Democracy
Kuchynski, Dzianis, Diplomatic Adviser, Office of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Kumar, Saurabh, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, Embassy of India
Kumar Bayyapu, Sandeep, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Kumlin Granit, Mikaela, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the EU, Government of Sweden
Kuziemski, Maciej, President, Management Board, PKO Bank Polski Foundation
Kvartsiana, Khrystyna, Country Coordinator for Ukraine, ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy
Laborda, Monica, Global Affairs Speaker, Universidad Panamericana
Lacerda Prazeres, Tatiana, Foreign Trade Secretary, Government of Brazil
Lagodinsky, Sergey, Member, European Parliament, European Parliament
Lakymenko, Oleksandr, Programme Coordinator, Democracy Reporting International
Lamkin, Janet, Senior Vice President, Market and Community Innovation, United Airlines
Landsbergis, Gabrielius, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania,
Langeby, Louise, Managing Director, Strategic Convening, GMF
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Lazarou, Elena, Head, External Policies, European Parliamentary Research Service
Le Roux, Aglaé, Adviser, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Government of France
Legsai, Wiame, Senior Regional Business Development Lead for Europe, Northrop Grumman
Lembo, Carmen, Senior Manager, Government Affairs Europe, Qualcomm
Lenczner, Sarah, Senior Manager, Government Affairs EMEA, Qualcomm
Lesser, Ian, Distinguished Fellow; Adviser to the President , GMF
Lete, Bruno, Defence Policy Director and Diplomatic Adviser, Cabinet of the Belgian Minister of Defence, Government of Belgium
Lexmann, Miriam, Member, European Parliament
Liashenko, Olga, Social Media Officer, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Lightner, Nicola, Vice President, GMF
Liljeheden, Andreas, Correspondent, Swedish national public radio
Limantas, Manfredas, Political Contact, European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights
Linchevsky, Stanislav, Referent; Policy Adviser , Konrad Adenauer Stiftung European Office
Lohan, Malte, Chief Executive Officer, AmCham EU
Loontjens, Marie-Paule, Deputy Director North America, Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, , Government of Belgium
Lorer, Daniel, Member, Parliament of Bulgaria
Luna, Karla, Department of State, Government of the United States
Lunak, Petr, Deputy Section Head, Public Diplomacy Division, NATO
Lutes, Erica, Director, Fulbright Belgium and Luxembourg
Lymar, Olga, Executive Director, RPR Coalition
Lypovetska, Maryna, Head of Projects, Magnolia
MacGregor-Millar, Gus, General Manager, Defense and Intelligence, Microsoft
Mackrael, Kim, Journalist, Wall Street Journal
Major, Claudia, Senior Vice President, Transatlantic Security, GMF
Makocki, Michal, Policy Adviser, European External Action Service
Maksak, Hennadii, Executive Director, Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism"
Malmer Stenergard, Maria, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden
Mamaeva, Alexandra, Head, Foreign Relations Committee of the Council of Belarus
Manchulenko, Oksana, , Open Ukraine Foundation
Manganelli, Antonio, Professor, Competition Law and Policy, University of Siena
Marschall, Ivonne, Editorial Team Lead, European Newsroom
Martinez Carbonell, Belen, Secretary General, European External Action Service
Massin, Karen, Head, Government Affairs and Public Policy, EU Institutions, Google
Maunganzide, Ottilia, Head, Special Projects, Institute for Security Studies Africa
Maydell, Eva, Member, European Parliament
Mayo, Virginia, Photographer, Associated Press
Michal Mazur, Counsellor of the Polish Permanent Representation to the EU, Chair of Ukraine Reconstruction Working Party in the Council of the EU
McCourt, Frank, Founder and Executive Chairman, Project Liberty
McDonald, Gloria, Senior Policy Adviser to the Presidential Envoy for Ukraine, Government of the United States
McGrail, Lily, Business Analyst, McKinsey & Company
Mclean, Laurence, External Relations Officer, The World Bank
McNeil, Sam, Correspondent, Associated Press
McNeill, Alexander, Defence Senior Adviser, McKinsey & Company
Melenchuk, Anna, Co-Founder, Institute of Innovative Governance
Meyer, Tobias, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Group
Michaels, Daniel, Brussels Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal
Minten, Dominique, Journalist, De Standaard
Mlinarchik, Rachel, Managing Director, Development, GMF
Mohamed, Zaynab, State Senator, Government of Minnesota
Mohan, Garima, Senior Fellow, GMF
Molenaar, Arnout, Team Leader, European Commission
Moore, Scott, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Company
Morales, Meilyn, Student, North Carolina State University
Morales, Valentina, Student, College of Europe
Mordue, Simon, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic and Global Issues, European External Action Service
Morin-Robinson, Thomas, Programme Officer, NATO
Moru, Oliver, Member of the Cabinet of Kaja Kallas, European External Action Service
Mueller, Clemens, Head, Delegation to Ukraine, European External Action Service
Mulrine Grobe, Anna, Defense and National Security Editor, Christian Science Monitor
Musiienko, Kateryna, Senior Foreign Policy Expert, ANTS NGO
Mutamba, Annie, Managing Director, Meridia Partners
Naas, Penny, Distinguished Fellow and Lead, GMF
Nasi, Selin, Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics
Nasr, Vali, Professor, Johns Hopkins SAIS
Nauert, Heather, Member, Board of Advisers, CNAS
Nechita, Dan-Flaviu, EU Director, Transatlantic Policy Network
Nelles, Mattia, Co-Founder, German-Ukrainian Bureau
Ngu, Clement, Journalist, Nikkei Asia
Nilsson, Adam, Managing Director, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
Nisar, Zeena, Technology Policy Fellow, US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee
Nour, Israa, Program Manager, Open Society Foundations
Ntousas, Vassilis, Senior Manager for Europe and Fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy, GMF
Nutsubidze, Tamara, Journalist, TV Rustavi 2
Nykorak, Olha, Research Fellow/ Human Security Program Coordinator, Heinrich-Boell Foundation Ukraine
O'Connor, Simon, Head of the Secretariat, Ukraine Donor Platform
O'Connor, Jack, Ireland's Youth Delegate to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe
Okumu, Lucy, Director of Strategic Communications, Stanford University
Omer Nawai, Shawgi, General Director, PLACE Network
Oppermann, Benjamin, Adviser, EPP Group
Oresman, Matthew, London Managing Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
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Ott, Nikolas, Senior Government Affairs Manager, Microsoft
Palacio, Ana, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spain
Pando, Michael, Political and Economic Specialist, Embassy of the United States in Brussels
Pavlova, Kateryna, Chief Operating Officer, CRISP e.V.
Perkins, Zoe, Community Engagement Manager, Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
Peronaci, Marco, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of Italy to the NATO, Government of Italy
Philippi, Nikita, ,
Piepho, Sawyer, Student, Georgia Tech
Pignal, Stanley, Correspondent, The Economist
Pitkänen, Benjamin , Executive Director, Viral Vegans
Platt, Meg, Senior Development Manager, GMF
Popa, Ruxandra, Secretary General, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Popko, Anastasiia, Program Assistant, GMF
Poślad, Marta, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Central and Eastern Europe, Google
Prévot, Maxime, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Prokopenko, Olena, Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, GMF
Pryhornytska, Nataliya, Board Member, Open Platform/Alliance of Ukrainian Organizations
Quencez, Martin, Managing Director, GMF
Qurban, Mitra, Senior Public Policy Manager, Deutsche Post World Net
Radoslava, Stefanova, Head, Russia and Ukraine Relations, NATO
Rakovytsi, Liubov, Chief Executive Officer, Donetsk Institute of Information
Reuse, Robbie, Student, Auburn University
Richie, Hannah, Student, Auburn University
Richter, Thomas, Vice President, Head of Global Government & Public Affairs, Solvay
Robakidze, George, Founder and Executive Director, The EU Awareness Centre
Roelants de Stappers, William, Director, Security Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Government of Belgium
Rosner, Elliott, Department of State, Government of the United States
Rossini, Alice, European Credit Research, JPMorgan
Rourke, Brad, Program Officer, Kettering Foundation
Rozo, Michelle, Vice Chair, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology, Government of the United States
Rudolph, Josh, Senior Fellow and Head of the Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, GMF
Runde, Daniel, Senior Vice President and Director, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Russell, Joshua, Advocacy Adviser, Open Society Foundations
Russell-Mead, Walter, Opinion Columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Rutherford, John, US Mission to NATO, Government of the United States
Ryzhenko, Kateryna, , Transparency International Ukraine
Sachuk, Yulia, Head, Fight For Right
Salla, Aura, Member, European Parliament
Salvo, David, Managing Director, Alliance for Securing Democracy, GMF
Sammon, Justin, Member Relations Coordinator, Assembly of European Regions
Sandberg, Victor, Desk Officer for China, Department for Asia and the Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden
Sanders, Caroline, Vice President, Communications, YATA Belgium
Sands, Charles, Student, Auburn University
Scaparrotti, Curtis, Member, Board of Trustees, GMF
Schoder, Erica, Executive Director, R Street Institute
Schor Radeborn, Linnéa, Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden
Schroeder, Christopher, Chairman, Board of Trustees, GMF
Schultz, Teri, Reporter, National Public Radio
Schulz, Sven Christian, EU and NATO Correspondent, RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland
Schwab, Oliver, Founder, Lykke Global Advisors
Schwark, Sebastian, Partner, FleishmanHillard
Scozzaro Ferrazzini, Audrey, Vice President of Government Affairs, Qualcomm Europe, Inc.
Semsar-de Boisséson, Shéhérazade, Chief Executive Officer, McCourt Global
Setser, Brad, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Shaponchkina, Anastasiya, President and Founder, Eastern Circles
Sheihus, Volodymyr, Executive Director, ISAR Ednannia
Shekerinska, Radmila, Deputy Secretary-General, NATO
Shum, Desmond, , Businessman and Author
Sigere, Samuel, Program and Grant Officer, Civitates
Silich, Aleksandr, Journalist, Belsat TV
Simakovsky, Mark, Founding Partner, Heartland Global Advisors, LLC
Skujins, Angela, EU Correspondent, TVP World
Small, Andrew, Senior Fellow, GMF
Smialek, Jeanna, Brussels Bureau Chief, The New York Times
Snacka, Klaudia, Student, College of Europe
Sobczak, André, Secretary General, EuroCities
Soenen, Laurens, Communications Coordinator, Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU
Solstrand Dahlberg, Linda, Head, Brussels Office, UiT - the Arctic University of Norway
Soltis Anderson, Kristen, Founding Partner, Echelon Insights
Sorlei, Irina, Head, European Harmonization amd Parternership Unit, Romanian Authority for Consumer Protection
Spaner, Jon, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Srivastava, Piyush, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Starchikova, Inna, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation "Moloda Gromada"
Stein, Jack, Student, North Carolina State University
Stennett, Lavinya, CEO, The Black Curriculum
Stepanenko, Zoriana, Correspondent, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Stevens, Adam, Head, Government Affairs and Political Risk (Europe), Conoco Phillips
Stolarek, Joanna, Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation Warsaw
Stone, Adrian, Head of Private Finance Partnerships, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, Government of the United Kingdom
Stone, Mary-Katherine, State Representative, Vermont General Assembly
Stotesbery, Kate, Managing Director, Government Relations, GMF
Strack-Zimmermann, Marie-Agnes, Member, European Parliament
Struett, Michael, Professor and Chair, North Carolina State University
Syse, Christian, Ambassador/Special Representative for Ukraine, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Norway
Syzov, Vitaliy, Journalist, UATV Channel
Szelenyi, Zsuzsanna, Program Director, CEU Democracy Institute
Szewczyk, Bart, Visiting Senior Fellow, GMF
Tagliapietra, Simone, Research Fellow, Bruegel
Tanai, Halyna, Programme Director, Chief Operating Officer, Lviv Media Forum
Tanden, Neera, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for American Progress
Taran, Stanislav, Project Officer, International Partnerships, Council of European Municipalities and Regions
Tastan, Kadri, Senior Fellow, GMF
Thornton, Roseanne, Chief Financial Officer, GMF
Tiirmaa-Klaar, Heli, Visiting Distinguished Fellow, GMF
Tintoré Vicent, Antonio, Postgraduate Student, College of Europe/Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Tkeshelashvili, Eka, Former President, Georgia,
Tourchin, Oleg, President, YATA Belgium
Tovsak-Pleterski, Mary Veronica, Director, Single Market Enforcement, Directorate-General for Internal Market, European Commission
Treat, Brian, Corporate Director, International Policy, Northrop Grumman
Tregub, Olena, Secretary General, NAKO
Trofimov, Yaroslav, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal
Tsereteli, Gigi, Chairman, European Georgia
Tsertsvadze, Tinatin, Associate Director, Multilateral Outreach, Open Society Foundations
Tsikhanouskaya, Sviatlana, Head, United Transitional Cabinet, Belarus
Turney, Trey, Student, Auburn University
Twining, Daniel, President, International Republican Institute
Ukueberuwa, Mene, Editorial Board Member, The Wall Street Journal
Valente, Selen, Journalist, AA
Valle Lagares, Eva, Head of Unit Far East, Directorate-General Trade, European Commission
van Rij, Armida, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House
van Soest, Henri, Senior Researcher, RAND
Van Wetter, Jean, Chief Executive Officer, Enable
Vasileiou, Maria, EU Correspondent, Ta Nea
Verbelen, Tom, Director, External Relations, City of Antwerp
Vermeulen, Bart, Director, Government Relations Europe, ExxonMobil
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Vicenzino, Marco, Director, Global Strategy Project
Vlahutin, Romana, Visiting Distinguished Fellow, GMF
Vohra, Anchal, Columnist, Foreign Policy
Volintiru, Clara, Regional Director, Black Sea, GMF
Volkery, Carsten, EU Correspondent, Handelsblatt
von Klaeden, Eckart, Vice President, Head of External Affairs, Mercedes-Benz Group AG
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Voudouri, Alexandra, ,
Wagner, Peter, Head of the Support Group for Ukraine, European Commission
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Walker, Chris, , ExxonMobil
Waterschoot, Victoria, Student, College of Europe
Watters, Matt, Partner, Leader in Global Geopolitics, McKinsey & Company
Wax, Eddy, Journalist, Politico Europe
Webb, Joshua, Project Lead, Transatlantic Business Initiative, BDI Federation of German Industries
Weber, Gesine, Research Analyst and Fellow, GMF
Weber, Katja, Professor, Georgia Tech
Weston, Joseph, Student, Auburn University
Wetzelaer, Alison, Student, College of Europe
Wheaton, Sarah, Chief Policy Correspondent and Host of EU Confidential, Politico Europe
Whitaker, Matthew, Ambassador, US Mission to NATO, Government of the United States
Wickett, Xenia, Director, Wickett Advisory
Wiegand, Gunnar, Visiting Distinguished Fellow, GMF
Williams, Audrey, Programme Officer, European Affairs, European Institute of Peace
Williford, Rob, Associate Dean, University of Indianapolis
Winkler, Georg, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Wolgemuth, Sami, Student, Auburn University
Woods, Darren, Chief Executive Officer, ExxonMobil Corporation
Wright, Georgina, Special Adviser to the President; Senior Fellow , GMF
Wuttke, Joerg, Partner, DGA Group
Yannis, Alexandros, Head, Policy Planning and Strategic Foresight, European External Action Service
Yarber, Kendall, Student, Auburn University
Yassi, Sara, Strategic Engagement Consultant, Unitas Global Advisory
Yatsenyuk, Arseniy, Chair, Kyiv Security Forum
Yau, Niva, Nonresident Fellow, Atlantic Council
Yilar, Eda, Manager, External Communications Europe, Coca-Cola Company
Yildiz, Helin, City Councillor, City Council of Varese, Lombardy (Italy)
Yilmaz, Selin, President, Youth Atlantic Treaty Association
Yinanç, Barçin, Foreign Policy Analyst, T24
Zabirzewska, Maja, Reconciliation Analyst, Citibank
Zahner, Luke, Senior Adviser, Binda Consulting International
Zhernakov, Mykhailo, Founder, DeJure Foundation
Ziebarth, Astrid, Deputy Director, GMF Technology, GMF
Ziegler, J., Professor, Brown University
Zoidze, Natia, Deputy Executive, Center for development and democracy

Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

The German Marshall Fund of the United States’ (GMF) Brussels Forum is the preeminent platform for transatlantic leaders, policymakers, and experts across sectors to shape the transatlantic agenda and debate the most pressing global challenges. Brussels Forum showcases diverse voices across regional and demographic backgrounds and promotes dialogue that is candid and open. Throughout its existence, Brussels Forum has consistently provided a platform for engaging innovative transatlantic discussions that bridge generations and sectors, bringing together public, private, and civil society leaders at the local and national levels. For 2025, GMF is excited to introduce a refreshed format featuring dynamic panel conversations, interactive breakout sessions, and focused debates designed to maximize engagement and the exchange of ideas.

When Will Brussels Forum 2025 Take Place?

Brussels Forum 2025 will take place June 11 and 12.

Where Will Brussels Forum Take Place?

The conference will be held at Hotel Le Plaza Brussels, located at Adolphe Maxlaan 118/126, 1000 Brussel, Belgium. Main sessions will be live streamed on our website.

Welcome Desk

A welcome desk will be staffed in the Hotel Le Plaza lobby.

Where are the Sessions Held?

All Brussels Forum main sessions will be held in the Theater at the Hotel Le Plaza. Breakout and night owl sessions will be held in the Versailles, Adolphe Max, and Estrelle rooms.

Will Transportation be Provided?

GMF will arrange airport transportation for Brussels Forum speakers. Upon arrival at Brussels airport, please look out for a driver holding a sign with your name in the arrival hall. For departure transport, for in-European flights, please meet your driver 2.5 hours before departure in the lobby of the hotel; for transatlantic flights, 3.5 hours before departure.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport and train station.

Are lodging and accommodations provided?

Lodging and accommodations are provided for Brussels Forum speakers. Participants are responsible for their own hotel bookings, hotel rates, fees, and incidentals.

What is the Format of Brussels Forum 2025? Will It Be Open to the Public?

This year’s Brussels Forum will be held in-person at Hotel Le Plaza Brussels. In-person attendance is by invitation only. All main sessions will be livestreamed to the Brussels Forum website for the virtual public. All sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the Brussels Forum website for on-demand viewing.

What is the Conference Language?

All discussions will be conducted in English.

What is the Dress Code?

The dress code for in-person attendees is business professional.

For additional questions please email [email protected].