AUBG’s Department of Politics and European Studies brought together leading academics, policy analysts, and think-tank experts from across the United States and Europe for an intensive two-day workshop titled Securing the Future: NATO’s Eastern Flank in a Trump 2.0 Era.
The participants discussed the unfolding geopolitical landscape with particular focus on NATO’s Eastern flank countries. The workshop’s main aim, as organizer Prof. Jean Crombois emphasized, was to equip the students with the analytical tools and confidence to take ownership of the complex questions surrounding Europe’s future security.
“This was a stimulating and inspiring workshop,” said Tom Casier, Professor, University of Groeningen, Netherlands. “The mix of academics and think tankers, of experts from the region and others from further afield worked really well. It provided for an excellent workshop. Students were engaged and asked great questions.”
The program opened with a keynote from Prof. Tom Casier from the University of Groningen on “The EU, Russia and the War in Ukraine.” Day two featured lectures and panel discussions on U.S. foreign policy shifts, evolving regional security threats, and strategies to strengthen multinational partnerships.
“The NATO workshop at the AUBG was a smashing success which gathered a wide array of European security and political experts to diagnose the security crises confronting the continent,” said Andy Wolf, Associate Professor, Dickinson College, USA.
Romain Le Quiniou, Managing Director at Euro Créative said she was honored to be part of the event. “I had the opportunity to engage with a group of dynamic and curious group to discuss the most pressing geopolitical issues of our time. I particularly enjoyed the will of students to get into the discussion, not simply asking questions, but arguing and asserting their positions.”
“The workshop turned into an excellent forum for exchanging on global trends while bridging the gap between lecturers and students,” said Marian Simeonova, Head of Office at ECFR, Sofia. “I hope more such gatherings will be organized so we keep pace with the trends shaping our world and sustain this valuable cross-generational dialogue.”
To add to the insightful presentations, AUBGers and students from Sofia University dived into mentored discussion groups to develop concrete policy recommendations addressing Europe’s security challenges. Later on, they had the chance to present them in front of the experts and receive feedback.
“The aim of this event is to have young people, such as students to take ownership of the complex questions linked to the future of European security in the light of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine,” said Prof. Crombois.
AUBG was proud to be, once again, a platform for international dialogue on pressing global topics.
