The European Council on Foreign Relations turned 18 in November 2025. This milestone offers a unique moment to reflect on the world in which ECFR was founded—and how dramatically it has changed. In 2007, Europe had the world’s confidence: democracy seemed secure, globalisation was a force for opportunity, EU enlargement was reshaping the continent, and peace felt almost guaranteed. So how did Europe move from the hopeful 2000s to a world of power blocs and war? This week, Mark Leonard is joined by ECFR co-chairs Carl Bildt , former prime and foreign minister of Sweden, Lykke Friis , former Danish minister of climate, energy and gender equality, and Norbert Röttgen , member of the German parliament, to take stock, 18 years after ECFR began. They assess what Europe misunderstood then; what it must confront now; and what the next two decades might look like. Why did Europe need a pan-European foreign policy think-tank like ECFR in 2007? Why does it still need one today? And how has ECFR has helped shape debates and policies over the past 18 years? Bookshelf : Waves of ambition: Russia’s military build-up in Crimea and the Black Sea Why Crimea matters European Security This podcast was recorded on November 24th 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
