GMF Launches Initiative on Connectivity and Geopolitics
Washington, DC (October 5, 2026) – The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is pleased to announce the launch of the Powering Forward Initiative (PFI) undertaken with the support of the PPC Group.
PFI, which GMF will jointly lead with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is designed to be a platform for events and analyses exploring policies at the nexus of geopolitics and connectivity. Over the course of the next five years, it will bring together experts and stakeholders from both sides of the Atlantic from a wide range of sectors, including energy, digital infrastructure, foreign and security policy, and finance.
The initiative will host in-depth conversations on the transatlantic implications of the geopolitics of connectivity in Southeast Europe, the eastern Mediterranean, and adjacent regions. It will also develop analyses of Europe’s future direction, with a focus on energy, its intersection with the digital sector, supply-chain security, and connectivity, all within a transatlantic context. GMF’s activity will include a major annual conference in Brussels.
"Connectivity in all its forms is set to be a key driver of economic competitiveness, geopolitics, and security in the years ahead. PFI builds on GMF’s expertise and convening power to help leaders on both sides of the Atlantic think through the issues and policy implications,” said GMF President Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer. "We are most grateful to Chairman & CEO Georgios Stassis and his team at PPC Group for their continued support of this important work.”
“This important new project builds on GMF’s long history of work on and in Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean. It also extends our convening and analysis on energy, infrastructure, and regional geopolitics, all critical to transatlantic interests and strategy," noted GMF Distinguished Fellow Dr. Ian Lesser. “PFI offers an opportunity for sustained attention to these issues. We look forward to working with colleagues at CSIS and elsewhere as we launch this exciting initiative.”
PFI is supported by PPC, the leading South-East European integrated utility Group.
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About GMF:
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan organization that advances the transatlantic partnership to meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
With headquarters in Washington, DC; offices in Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Warsaw, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Ankara; representations in London and Madrid; and more than 140 experts and fellows worldwide, GMF is a hub for policy innovation, convening, and leadership development.
GMF’s work focuses on three priorities: strengthening transatlantic security, advancing economic and technological competitiveness, and adapting to a shifting global landscape.
For inquiries about PFI:
Alberto Tagliapietra, Senior Program Coordinator, GMF South and Wider Europe: [email protected]
For press inquiries:
Angelina Sutalo, Senior Press Officer, Brussels: [email protected]
Lucy Fyler, Senior Communications Manager, Washington: [email protected]