Vienna Hosts Geopolitical Thinkers for ECFR Conference

Vienna is hosting the annual conference of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in the opulent State Hall of the National Library. The two-day event, initiated by Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, brings together leading geopolitical thinkers to discuss "Europe's geopolitical agenda in a world of disorder."

The conference was inspired by a discussion at the Europaforum Alpbach last September. Ivan Krastev, interim rector of the Institute for Human Sciences and a founding member of ECFR since 2007, played a role in its conception. The ECFR aims to strengthen the European Union's global role and receives funding from various European foreign ministries, companies, and foundations, with early support from George Soros's Open Society Foundation.

Meinl-Reisinger, a recent council member, has attracted a distinguished list of attendees. These include the foreign ministers of Spain, José Manuel Albares; Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis; and Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal. She will also hold bilateral meetings with these officials, including a dedicated 90-minute session with Hungary's new Foreign Minister, Anita Orbán.

Beyond the ministers, the conference features renowned political scientists and historians like Timothy Garton Ash. Notably, former US presidential candidate and current Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, is also participating, highlighting the diverse perspectives gathered to address global challenges.

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Europe's geopolitical agenda in a world of disorder