Among the fifty founding members of the European Council on Foreign Relations are former prime ministers, presidents, European commissioners, current and former parliamentarians and ministers, public intellectuals, business leaders, activists and cultural figures from the EU member states and candidate countries.
Urban Ahlin (Sweden) - Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party
"Transformative power works and is changing the world. The prospect of EU membership is in itself a powerful tool for change, and together with such other instruments as diplomacy, trade and aid has it contributed to changing the world in substantial ways. But there is still much to be done to sharpen the EU foreign policy in different fields. How can the EU strengthen its policy regarding the eastern neighbourhood? How can Europe start to speak with one voice regarding foreign policy. A voice badly needed in the world."
Martti Ahtisaari (Finland) - UN Special Envoy for the Future Status Process for Kosovo; President of the Crisis Management Initiative; former President
"The European Council on Foreign Relations is essential in creating channels for open debate in Europe. ECFR promotes the need for Europe to become an important unified, courageous, innovative and coherent actor. I regard ECFR pivotal in promoting this vision in a globalising world."
Giuliano Amato (Italy) - Minister of Interior; former Prime Minister and vice president of the European Convention
Hannes Androsch (Austria) - Founder of AIC Androsch International Management Consulting
Marek Belka (Poland) - Executive Director of the UN Economic Commission for Europe; former Prime Minister
"Europeans need more self-confidence and the mobilizing efforts of opinion-makers are one thing that should be obviously done. We should be proud of Europe but work hard for further progress."
Svetoslav Bojilov (Bulgaria) - Founder of the Communitas Foundation and President of Venture Equity Bulgaria Ltd.
"The European Council on Foreign Relations is the most significant civil initiative until now for effective support of European integration in the area of common foreign politics of Europe. This initiative will help for a more coherent approach of the EU as a unitary actor on the international stage, while also integrating more and more states to its civilizational model of development. This in particular is one of the challenges which made me take part in the initiative."
Emma Bonino (Italy) - Minister for Europe and International Trade; former European Commissioner
"A well-known English proverb says If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I think the opposite reading is also true, and that is the current situation with the European Union. Not only do we lack a strong Europe on the global scene, able to promote our interests and common values and contribute to a better world. We also risk taking a step backwards in the degree of integration we have achieved in common foreign policy. We risk ‘breaking’ it. I feel that the ECFR is well placed to help ‘fix’ – and even further – this level of integration. Through effective advocacy, and through good ideas. Does one really need any better reason to participate in this organisation?"
Robert Cooper (United Kingdom) - Director-General for External and Politico-Military Affairs, Council of the EU General Secretariat
"There is no reason for Europeans to think of competing with America's military supremacy. But it is a scandal that we do not challenge their dominance in foreign policy ideas and analysis. The pen is mightier than the sword: but only when it has got brains, energy and effort behind it."
Marta Dassù (Italy) - Diplomatic adviser to Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema; Director of the Aspen Institute Italia.
"Encouraging the development of EU-wide debates and ideas has become crucial in the current European context – one in which deeply rooted national feelings and approaches daily coexist with Brussels-based decisionmaking processes as well as transnational movements. In particular, the network structure of the ECFR promises to bring together the best of both the US tradition of informed expert analysis and European diversity. There is plenty of space for an organization that has direct access to EU institution but also total intellectual autonomy and the willingness to really think ahead, beyond official taboos."
Gijs de Vries (The Netherlands) - Senior Fellow at the Clingendael Institute; former EU Counter-terrorism Coordinator
"From conflict to climate change, from terrorism to trade, most global problems require stronger transatlantic cooperation. As America prepares to elect a new President, Europeans must prepare to re-engage Washington – and to be engaged as partners. The European Council on Foreign Relations can play a key role in preparing the new EU-US agenda."
Jean-Luc Dehaene (Belgium) - Member of the European Parliament, former Prime Minister and vice president of the European Convention
"The new challenge for the European Union is to become a global actor and as such an actif contributor to the global governace. To achieve
that EU:have toe speak with one voice. The European Council on Foreign Relations can contibute to formulate the European message.
Gianfranco Dell'Alba (Italy) - Chef de Cabinet for Minister Emma Bonino
"We need to move beyond the ‘good old way’ of doing foreign policy. Europe deserves the contribution of all those who are willing to move towards the goal of a single voice for the EU in the global arena. National governments still matter a lot. Which is exactly why we need strong, committed and transparent advocacy in order to achieve a paradigm shift. The ECFR could be a wonderful stimulus in this respect, and gather together those like-minded Europeans who believe that the time for acting never comes twice."
Andrew Duff (United Kingdom) - Member of the European Parliament, ALDE
"The European Union needs to know where it is going in the world. None of the institutions has yet demonstrated a great capacity to think and act strategically in the common interest of all Europe. The ECFR can fill this gap."
Sarmite Elerte (Latvia) - Editor-in-chief of Latvian daily newspaper Diena
"Those of us who have spent years under authoritarian rule have a deeply personal appreciation for open society values. The ECFR conversation on Europe will build Europe`s strenght and self-confidence, and will ensure that European doors remain open to those who are committed to upholding open society values."
Brian Eno (United Kingdom) - musician and producer
Joschka Fischer (Germany) - Former Foreign Minister and vice-Chancellor
"The European Union has been a powerful example for integration, prolonged peace, and prosperity in a complex international environment. The international system of the 21st Century needs a strong and united EU and ECFR will make an important contribution to this end."
Timothy Garton Ash (United Kingdom) - Professor of European Studies at Oxford University
“The time has come for Europe to speak with one voice on key issues in our turbulent neighbourhood and an increasingly multi-polar world. The ECFR will help us to work out what we should say and how we can most effectively say it.”
Bronislaw Geremek (Poland) - Member of the European Parliament, ALDE; former Foreign Minister
"L'Europe a besoin d'une politique étrangère commune pour effacer le stéréotype négatif d'un géant économique et nain politique. Les réformes institutionnelles ne suffisent pas. Il faut un effort d'investissement intellectuel pour définir la stratégie internationale de l'Union Européenne: le ECFP, en puisant dans les institutions académiques et politiques, en s'adressant à la société civile, peut créer le climat nécessaire pour des débats ouverts et non-partisans sur les problèmes clefs concernant la place et le rôle de l'Europe dans le monde."
Diego Hidalgo (Spain) - Co-founder of Spanish newspaper El Pais and President of FRIDE
"If Europe with its values, wants to have any influence in the multipolar world of the XXIst century, it needs to speak with one voice. The EFCR is an essential initiative in this context; hence it had my strongest support since it was born as an idea."
Mary Kaldor (United Kingdom) - Professor and Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Governance, London School of Economics
Gerald Knaus (Germany) - Founding director of the European Stability Initiative
"There is a urgent need for a think tank to make the case for and analyse the potential of the EU as the world's most successful soft power; to encourage policy makers to continue to advance European values in the European neighborhood; and to make the case to European citizens that it is worth the effort."
Caio Koch-Weser (Germany) - Vice Chairman of the Deutsche Bank Group; former State Secretary.
"I am extremely pleased to be a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. I am convinced this new initiative will make its mark as governments of the European Union follow ECFR's call for a more coherent and vigorous foreign policy based on common European interests and our shared values. My many years of experience in international fora be it through my work at the World Bank, in the German government or now at a leading global financial institution have taught me both the risk and opportunities stemming from globalization and its many facets. It is of utmost importance that Europe speaks with one voice on such critical issues as climate change, human rights or violent extremism that affect us all, today and for generations to come."
Rem Koolhaas (The Netherlands) - architect and urbanist; Professor at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University
Ivan Krastev (Bulgaria) - Chair of Board, Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, Bulgaria
"The promise of the European Council on Foreign Relations is the promise of a common European foreign policy based on visionary pragmatism. The 21st century could and should be the European century, an open society century."
Mart Laar (Estonia) - Former Prime Minister of Estonia
Mark Leonard (United Kingdom) - Executive Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations
"Europe needs to come of age. We need to stop complaining about what others are doing to the world, and start thinking for ourselves. We want a can-do foreign policy, where European power is put at the service of European values."
Adam Lury (United Kingdom) - Director of Menemsha Ltd; former advisor to Lord Browne
"The ECFR will bring together all of Europe in order to construct an outward looking story that will shape critical individual and national decisions and so produce global consequences. I hope to build optimism, energy and excitement into this story."
Alain Minc (France) - Chairman of Le Monde; Head of consulting group AM Conseil
"I believe strongly that Europe has no future without unification and I think that the driving force has presently to come from society and non governmental organizations. From that point of view the ECFR is an ambitious and clearly focused project."
Christine Ockrent (Belgium) - Editor-in-chief at France Télévision.
"I strongly believe we Europeans as well as all those committed to the values of an open society need a stronger and more influential European foreign policy."
Leoluca Orlando (Italy) - MP; President of the Sicilian Renaissance Institute
Cem Özdemir (Germany) - Member of the European Parliament, Green Party
"If the aim of the European Union is to shape the world according to its values and interests, then we have to start discussing foreign policy issues coherently. The ECFR provides a common European platform."
Simon Panek (Czech Republic) - Chairman of the People in Need Foundation
Teresa Patricio Gouveia (Portugal) - Trustee to the Board of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation; former Foreign Minister
"I believe there is the need both for awareness of Europe’s existing strengths and capabilities, and for Europe to make full use of them in responding to the demanding international challenges. To encourage public awareness and the commitment of member states to those objectives is a major purpose for the European Council on Foreign Relations."
Chris Patten (United Kingdom) - Chancellor of Oxford University; Former EU Commissioner and Governor of Hong Kong
"If the European Union wants to play a more active role on the world stage - as it should - it needs better and objective advice on the available options and the challenging choices ahead. I believe that is what the ECFR will deliver."
Diana Pinto (France) - Historian and author
"The European Council on Foreign Relations is the vital forum where a truly European foreign policy based on shared values and needs can be built beyond the classical barter of national interests. I joined ECFR because it seeks to include civil society voices along with those of experts in thinking Europe's place in the world."
Andrew Puddephatt (United Kingdom) - Director of Global Partners & Associated Ltd.
Sigrid Rausing (United Kingdom) - Founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust
"I have noted with increasing concern the European Union's failure to take a leading role in the fight against human rights abuses in the world. I believe that this failure of action is due to a lack of coordination, and not to any ill will, of EU members. I am, therefore, pleased to be a part of the effort of the Council to mobilise EU countries to work in concert and to employ the power of their numbers, to promote and respect human rights worldwide."
Albert Rohan (Austria) - Deputy to the UN Special Envoy for the Future Status Process for Kosovo
"In today's increasingly globalized and multipolar world Europe must assume its responsibilities and become a strong voice in international affairs. By developing and advocating concrete policy options the ECFR will be an important factor in shaping European policies based on common principles and values. After fourty years in diplomacy I want to contribute to this endevour."
Pierre Schori (Sweden) - Director General of FRIDE; and SRSG to Cote d´Ivoire
"Peace and progress, both on the national and global level, will only be achieved in this interdependent and turbulent world, when people and nations work together. The European Union is a historic project for world-wide democratic solidarity and economic growth but its potential is underutilised. Europe must do much better. My hope is that the ECFR will encourage citizens and governments to live up to their ideals and opportunities"
Narcís Serra (Spain) - Chair of CIDOB Foundation; former Vice President
"The European Union has become a successful experience of effective multilateralism and has redefined the conception of sovereignty. However, it needs a new impetus to continue progressing in this direction. ECFR is an excellent initiative which will contribute to the intellectual debate and will lead to political action in order to boost and export our success as a model for global governance"
Elif Shafak (Turkey) - Writer
Aleksander Smolar (Poland) - Chairman of the Board, Stefan Batory Foundation
"ECFR should contribute to the integration of a European public space, to the reinforcement of the feeling of common external challenges and necessairy common answers."
George Soros (Hungary/US) - Chairman, Open Society Institute
"The European Union embodies the principles of an open society and it ought to serve as a model and motive force for a global open society. The EU is used to taking its lead from the United States, reacting to its agenda, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, but it basically accepted the world order as given. That has to change and it cannot be achieved by individual countries acting on their own."
Dominique Strauss-Kahn (France) - MP, Professor at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris; Former Finance Minister
Helle Thorning Schmidt (Denmark) - Leader of the Social Democratic Party
"The European Council on Foreign Relations is a very interesting initiative, and I fully agree with the notion of the European Union as a motive force for a global open society. There is a definite need for a more pro-active European foreign policy, and I am convinced that the ECFR could play an important role in promoting this agenda."
Michiel Van Hulten (The Netherlands) - Managing Director of Burson-Marsteller, Brussels; Former MEP and chairman of the Dutch Labour Party
"To older Europeans who experienced the Second World War the European Union stands for 50 years of peace, stability and prosperity. To younger generations it has yet to acquire a raison d’etre that goes beyond free movement and free markets. The European Council on Foreign Relations wants to help make the EU a credible and effective force for good not just within but also beyond the EU’s borders, and in doing so will help increase the legitimacy of the EU itself – especially among younger people concerned about issues such as global warming, disease, famine and civil war."
Mabel Van Oranje (The Netherlands) - International Advocacy Director, Open Society Institute
"Europe’s weight in the world can no longer be taken for granted. Either we unite and have an impact on global problems such as terrorism, the climate crisis and AIDS. Or, the fate of our generation will be decided by others. The European Council on Foreign Relations will take a fresh approach to the issues that will shape our future,"
Antonio Vitorino (Portugal) - Lawyer and former European Commissioner
"There is an urgent need for creative action at EU level on foreign policy. This is a crystal clear request from European citizens. This is a key challenge for ECFR. I ' m confident we will meet this challenge together!"
Sir Stephen Wall (United Kingdom) - Chairman of Hill and Knowlton (Public Affairs EMEA) and former Europe advisor to PM Tony Blair
"Foreign policy is not going to be about foreign ministers debating remote subjects in remote places. Europe’s relations with the rest of the world will be set by the issues of poverty, energy, climate and trade. We all have to care about foreign policy as it is our lives that are on the line. ECFR is about turning individual concern into collective action."
Andre Wilkens (Germany) - Executive Director of the Open Society Institute in Brussels
"The European Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, pan-European voice which will help the EU to emerge from its crisis of confidence as a revived, confident actor projecting its success story in the world."