Laurențiu Pleșca is a Bucharest-based program officer and a political analyst and researcher focusing on EU enlargement, European security, Russian influence in the Black Sea region, Moldova, hybrid threats, and countering disinformation. He co-manages a project on electoral integrity in the Eastern Partnership region. 

Pleșca’s commentary has appeared on France24, Deutsche Welle, BBC, Radio France Internationale, TVP (Polish television), El Pais, Radio Free Europe, and other international and regional outlets. He holds a PhD from the University of Bucharest’s Doctoral School of Political Science, where he also earned a master's degree in international relations and European studies, and a bachelor’s degree.

Session: Perspectives on a New Atlanticism

Margaritis Schinas took office as Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life in the Von der Leyen Commission in December 2019. In this capacity, he oversees the EU’s policies for Security Union, migration, skills, education and integration. As Vice-President in charge of the Security Union, he oversees and coordinates all strands of the European Commission’s work under the Security Union, including tackling terrorism and radicalisation, disrupting organised crime, fighting cybercrime, stepping up cybersecurity, protecting critical infrastructures or addressing hybrid threats. Mr Schinas has also served as a Member of the European Parliament, from 2007 until 2009. Upon the completion of his parliamentary term of office, he returned to the European Commission and held various senior positions. In 2010, President Barroso appointed Mr Schinas as Deputy Head of the Bureau of European Policy Advisers. Later he served as Resident Director and Head of the Athens Office of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN). In 2014, President Juncker appointed Mr. Schinas as the European Commission’s Chief Spokesperson.