Between 28 February and 3 March 2016, Brussels hosted the fourth meeting of the Younger Generation Task Force on Ukraine and European Security. The gathering brought together young leaders from Ukraine, Europe, Russia, and the United States, alongside representatives from NGOs, research institutes, academia, and the business community.
Topics of the discussion taking place during the group’s meeting included issues of terrorism, the challenges posed by the European migrant crisis, Russia’s relations with the EU and NATO, the situation in Ukraine and potential pathways toward a resolution. Sessions with officials from diplomatic missions and the European Commission were held within an interactive Q&A framework.
A roundtable titled “Russia and the European Union” was held, featuring an address from Ivan Timofeev, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club. During his address, Mr Timofeev explored the differences between Russia and Europe and analysed the underlying factors straining their relations.
Read the main theses of I.Timofeev's speech here: Russia and Europe: Structural Imbalances
The roundtable was also attended by Carl Hartzell, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the European Council Donald Tusk; Sergey Kopyrkin, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union; and Jon Kvist, head of East StratCom at the European External Action Service.
The European Leadership Network for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, the Nuclear Threat Initiative, and the Russian International Affairs Council formed the young leaders’ group in 2014, aimed at concentrating efforts on developing the steps necessary to ensure Euro-Atlantic security. In 2014 and 2015, meetings of the group took place in Sofia, Riga, and Sarajevo.
