EU COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS FORMED OCTOBER 2007

THE EU WORLD CONTROL AND PEACE MAKERS OF FALSE PEACE OF THE WORLD.

DANIEL 7:23-24
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast(THE EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TR BLOCKS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise:(10 NATIONS) and another shall rise after them;(#11 SPAIN) and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.(BE HEAD OF 3 KINGS OR NATIONS).

DANIEL 2:31-33,36-43
2:31. Thou, O king, sawest, and behold there was as it were a great statue: this statue, which was great and high, tall of stature, stood before thee, and the look thereof was terrible.
2:32. The head of this statue was of fine gold, but the breast and the arms of silver, and the belly and the thighs of brass.
2:33. And the legs of iron, the feet part of iron and part of clay.
2:36. This is the dream: we will also tell the interpretation thereof before thee, O king.
2:37. Thou art a king of kings: and the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, and strength, and power, and glory:
2:38. And all places wherein the children of men, and the beasts of the field do dwell: he hath also given the birds of the air into thy hand, and hath put all things under thy power: thou, therefore, art the head of gold.
2:39. And after thee shall rise up another kingdom, inferior to thee, of silver: and another third kingdom of brass, which shall rule over all the world.
2:40. And the fourth kingdom shall be as iron. As iron breaketh into pieces, and subdueth all things, so shall that break, and destroy all these.
2:41. And whereas thou sawest the feet, and the toes, part of potter's clay, and part of iron: the kingdom shall be divided, but yet it shall take its origin from the iron, according as thou sawest the iron mixed with the miry clay.
2:42. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay: the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
2:43. And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall be mingled indeed together with the seed of man, but they shall not stick fast one to another, as iron cannot be mixed with clay.

Only 7 World Empires in History REV 17: 9-10

THE EUROPEAN UNION
DANIEL 2:31-33,36-43, DAN 7:3-8,17

First From Daniel Chapter 2

1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (HEAD OF GOLD) DAN 2:31-32,36-38, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (CHEST & ARMS OF SILVER) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (WAIST & HIPS OF BRONZE) DAN 2:32,39, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (2 LEGS OF IRON) DAN 2:33,40, ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) (FEET IRON & CLAY) DAN 2:33,41-43,10 TOES

DANIEL 7:3-8,17,23-24
7:3. And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of the sea.
7:4. The first was like a lioness, and had the wings of an eagle: I beheld till her wings were plucked off, and she was lifted up from the earth, and stood upon her feet as a man, and the heart of a man was given to her.
7:5. And behold another beast, like a bear, stood up on one side: and there were three rows in the mouth thereof, and in the teeth thereof, and thus they said to it: Arise, devour much flesh.
7:6. After this I beheld, and lo, another like a leopard, and it had upon it four wings, as of a fowl, and the beast had four heads, and power was given to it.
7:7. After this I beheld in the vision of the night, and lo, a fourth beast, terrible and wonderful, and exceeding strong, it had great iron teeth, eating and breaking in pieces, and treading down the rest with his feet: and it was unlike to the other beasts which I had seen before it, and had ten horns.
7:8. I considered the horns, and behold another little horn sprung out of the midst of them: and three of the first horns were plucked up at the presence thereof: and behold eyes like the eyes of a man were in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things.
7:17. These four great beasts, are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.
7:23. And thus he said: The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be greater than all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
7:24. And the ten horns of the same kingdom, shall be ten kings: and another shall rise up after them, and he shall be mightier than the former, and he shall bring down three kings.
7:25. And he shall speak words against the High One, and shall crush the saints of the most High: and he shall think himself able to change times and laws, and they shall be delivered into his hand until a time, and times, and half a time.(3 1/2 YRS)

Now From Daniel Chapter 7

1 EGYPT
2 ASSYRIA
3 BABYLON (LION WITH EAGLES WINGS) DAN 7:4, DAN 1:1
4 MEDO-PERSIANS (BEAR ON HIND LEGS) DAN 7:5, DAN 9:1
5 GREECE (LEOPARD 4 WINGS, 4 HEADS) DAN 7:6, DAN 11:2
6 ROME (HUGE IRON TEETH) DAN 7:7 (10 HORNS), ROM 1:6
7 REVIVED ROME (EU) DAN 7:8,19-20,23-25 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS
REV 17:9,12, 10 HORNS, 10 KINGS, 7 HILLS ROME. REV 13:1 BEAST WITH 7 HEADS. THE E.U LEADER OF WORLD GOVERNMENT DAN 2:40-45, 7:7-8,23-25,27, 8:23, REV 13:3,7,8,12,14,16

How the European Union Began!

THE EUROPEAN UNION DAN 2:31-33,36-43, DAN 7:3-8,17,

1 BELGIUM 1957
2 NETHERLANDS 1957
3 LUXUMBOURG 1957
4 FRANCE 1957
5 ITALY 1957
6 GERMANY 1957

THESE 6 RADIFIED BY THE TREATY OF ROME (REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE) JAN 1,1958

7 IRELAND 1973
8 DENMARK 1973
9 BRITIAN 1973
10 GREECE 1981 MAGIC 10 TOES AND 10 HORNS DAN 7:23-24,REV 17:9,12
11 SPAIN 1986 DAN 7:24
12 PORTUGAL 1986
13 AUSTRIA 1995

AFTER IT REACHES 13, IT GOES TO WORLD GOVERNMENT DAN 2:40-45, 7:7-8,23-25,27, REV 13:3,7,8,12,14,16. THAN IT SOME HOW ENDS UP BACK AT 10 (WORLD REGIONS, I THINK) WHEN JESUS RETURNS TO EARTH TO RULE AND REIGN FROM JERUSLEM. DAN 2:44-45, 7:9-14,26-27.

AS OF OCT 9,07 THERE ARE 27 EU MEMBERS ON ITS WAY TO WORLD CONTROL.

THE EU DICTATOR

REVELATION 17:12-13
12 And the ten horns (NATIONS) which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

REVELATION 6:1-2
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse:(PEACE) and he that sat on him had a bow;(EU DICTATOR) and a crown was given unto him:(PRESIDENT OF THE EU) and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.(MILITARY GENIUS)

REVELATION 13:1-10
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.(THE EU AND ITS DICTATOR IS GODLESS)
2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.(DICTATOR COMES FROM NEW AGE OR OCCULT)
3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death;(MURDERERD) and his deadly wound was healed:(COMES BACK TO LIFE) and all the world wondered after the beast.(THE WORLD THINKS ITS GOD IN THE FLESH, MESSIAH TO ISRAEL)
4 And they worshipped the dragon (SATAN) which gave power unto the beast:(JEWISH EU DICTATOR) and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?(FALSE RESURRECTION,SATAN BRINGS HIM TO LIFE)
5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.(GIVEN WORLD CONTROL FOR 3 1/2YRS)
6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God,(HES A GOD HATER) to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.(HES A LIBERAL OR DEMOCRAT,WILL PUT ANYTHING ABOUT GOD DOWN)
7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints,(BEHEAD THEM) and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.(WORLD DOMINATION)
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.(WORLD DICTATOR)
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.(SAVED CHRISTIANS AND JEWS DIE FOR THEIR FAITH AT THIS TIME,NOW WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE BUT DURING THE 7 YEARS OF HELL ON EARTH, PEOPLE WILL BE PUT TO DEATH (BEHEADINGS) FOR THEIR BELIEF IN GOD (JESUS) OR THE BIBLE.

DANIEL 9:26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come (ROMANS IN AD 70) shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;(ROMANS DESTROYED THE 2ND TEMPLE) and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he( EU ROMAN, JEWISH DICTATOR) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:( 7 YEARS) and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,( 3 1/2 YRS) and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

A FALSE PROPHET COMES FROM THE VATICAN ALSO AT THIS TIME.

REVELATION 13:11-18
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he(FALSE POPE) causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:(CHIP IMPLANT)
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.(6-6-6) A NUMBER SYSTEM

REVELATION 17:1-18
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

EUROPEAN UNION ARMY

DANIEL 7:23-25
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast (EU,REVIVED ROME) shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,(7TH WORLD EMPIRE) which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.(TRADING BLOCKS)
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings(10 NATIONS) that shall arise: and another shall rise after them;(#11 SPAIN) and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.( BE HEAD OF 3 NATIONS)
25 And he (EU PRESIDENT) shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.(3 1/2 YRS)

DANIEL 8:23-25
23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king (EU DICTATOR) of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences,(FROM THE OCCULT) shall stand up.
24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power:(SATANS POWER) and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes;(JESUS) but he shall be broken without hand.

DANIEL 11:36-39
36 And the king (EU DICTATOR) shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers,(THIS EU DICTATOR IS JEWISH) nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.(CLAIM TO BE GOD)
38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces:(WAR) and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god,(DESTROY TERROR GROUPS) whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,(HIS ARMY LEADERS) and shall divide the land for gain.

REVELATION 19:19
19 And I saw the beast,(EU LEADER) and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse,(JESUS) and against his army.(THE RAPTURED CHRISTIANS)

Billionaire Plans Europe Version of Council on Foreign Relations By BRIAN SWINT - Bloomberg News - May 7, 2007

Billionaire investor George Soros plans to start a foreign-affairs research institute in Europe similar to the Council on Foreign Relations.Europe has to be interested in recreating what used to be called the West, based on the principles of international cooperation, Mr. Soros said yesterday at a conference in Oxford, England. Out of this idea came the idea of founding a European Council on Foreign Relations.Mr. Soros, who spent $27.5 million trying to defeat President Bush in the 2004 election, said America can't deal with global affairs on its own. If a leading Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Obama, wins the post in 2008, the U.S. may regain some of the high ground, he said.

Mr. Soros declined to say how much money he is spending on the project. It may start by the end of this year, he said.Our resources are similar to the United States, but we punch pathetically below our weight, Timothy Garton Ash, a professor of European Studies at Oxford University who is helping Mr. Soros with the plans, said in an interview. The idea is to contribute a European voice. It's still in the making.

EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS FORMED OCT 9,07

The European Council on Foreign Relations was launched in October 2007 to promote a more integrated European foreign policy in support of shared European interests and values. With its unique structure, ECFR brings a genuinely pan-European perspective on Europe’s role in the world:

ECFR was founded by a council whose members include serving and former ministers and parliamentarians, business leaders, distinguished academics, journalists and public intellectuals. Their aim is to promote a new strategic culture at the heart of European foreign policy.

With offices in seven countries, ECFR’s in-house policy team brings together some of Europe’s most distinguished analysts and policy entrepreneurs to provide advice and proposals on the EU’s big global challenges.

ECFR’s pan-European advocacy and campaigns will work through the internet and the media to make the necessary connections between innovative thinking, policy-making and civic action.

ECFR is backed by the Soros Foundations Network, Sigrid Rausing, FRIDE (La Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior), the Communitas Foundation and Dr. Hannes Androsch. ECFR works in partnerships with other organisations but does not make grants to individuals or institutions.

Council

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 - Martti Ahtisaari - Giuliano Amato - Hannes Androsch - Marek Belka - Svetoslav Bojilov - Emma Bonino - Robert Cooper - Marta Dassu - Gijs de Vries - Jean-Luc Dehaene - Gianfranco Dell'Alba - Andrew Duff - Sarmite Elerte - Brian Eno - Joschka Fischer - Timothy Garton Ash - Bronislaw Geremek - Diego Hidalgo - Mary Kaldor - Gerald Knaus - Caio Koch-Weser - Rem Koolhaas - Ivan Krastev - Mart Laar - Mark Leonard - Adam Lury - Alain Minc - Christine Ockrent - Leoluca Orlando - Cem Özdemir - Simon Panek - Teresa Patricio Gouveia - Chris Patten - Diana Pinto - Andrew Puddephatt - Sigrid Rausing - Albert Rohan - Pierre Schori - Narcís Serra - Elif Shafak - Aleksander Smolar - George Soros - Dominique Strauss-Kahn - Helle Thorning Schmidt - Michiel Van Hulten - Mabel Van Oranje - Antonio Vitorino - Stephen Wall - Andre Wilkens

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 cristal 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.

Staff and Experts

Mark Leonard, Executive Director
Areas of expertise: European Foreign Policy, China, Transatlantic Relations, EU Institutions, Public Diplomacy and Nation branding, UK Foreign Policy

Languages: English, French, German

Hans Wolters, Deputy Director
Areas of expertise: European politics, especially European foreign policy, environmental policies, organisational development and people management

Languages: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian

François Godement, Senior Policy Fellow
Languages: French, English, Mandarin

Areas of expertise: Chinese and East Asian strategic and international affairs, issues of integration and conflicts.

Richard Gowan, Policy Fellow

Ulrike Guérot, Senior Policy Fellow, Head of Berlin Office
Areas of expertise: EU integration process; EU institutions; Franco-German relations; EU-US relations.

Languages: German, English, French.

Thomas Klau, Editorial Director, Head of Paris Office
Areas of expertise: EU integration and institutions; Franco-German relations; EU-US relations; the world economy.

Languages: French, German, English, some Italian and Dutch.

Daniel Korski, Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of expertise: Common Foreign Security and Defence Policy; the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, International Development and Post-conflict Reconstruction, National Security, Military Restructuring, Security Sector Reform

Languages: Danish, English, Swedish, French, Serbo-Croat

Alba Lamberti, Advocacy
Languages: Italian, English, French.

Areas of expertise: EU institutional reform; Common Foreign Security and Defence Policy; Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy; Inclusive security.

Ognyan Minchev, Senior Policy Fellow, Head of Sofia Office
Languages: Bulgarian, Russian, English

Areas of expertise: Post-communist transition, regional security and developmental studies on Central, Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Black Sea region, issues of corruption and organized crime, comparative democratization and institutional development.

Pierre Nöel, Policy Fellow
Languages: French, English

Areas of expertise: Oil and gas markets and industries; Interaction between international relations and energy market dynamics; Global and regional energy security; US, European and Chinese energy policies and politics.

Nicu Popescu, Policy Fellow
Languages: English, French, Russian and Romanian.

Areas of expertise: European Neighbourhood Policy, secessionist conflicts in the post-soviet space, EU relations with Russia, Moldova and the South Caucasus.

Zsofia Szilagyi, Communications and Media Relations
Languages: English, French, Hungarian

José-Ignacio Torreblanca, Senior Policy Fellow, Head of Madrid Office
Areas of Expertise: EU enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, EU institutional reforms, Common Foreign Security and Defence Policy

Languages: Spanish, English

Andrew Wilson, Senior Policy Fellow
Areas of Expertise: Ukraine, comparative politics of democratisation in the post-Soviet states, political technology.
Languages: Russian, Ukrainian, some Belarusian. Conversational French

Anthony Dworkin, Senior Policy Fellow (from mid-November 2007)
John Fox, Senior Policy Fellow (from January 2008)
Nick Witney, Senior Policy Fellow (from January 2008)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the European Council on Foreign Relations?

The European Council on Foreign Relations in a pan-European think-tank, research institute and advocacy group. ECFR has been set up to engage in European foreign policy research, and to promote a more integrated European foreign policy in support of shared European interests and values. With offices in seven European capital cities and by building partnerships and networks with leading European foreign policy institutes, ECFR brings a genuienly pan-European perspective to global issues.

2. Who is behind this initiative?

ECFR was launched in October 2007 by its 50 founding council members, all prominent Europeans from EU member states and candidate countries. Among the founding council members are serving and former heads of government, ministers and parliamentarians, business leaders, distinguished academics, journalists and public intellectuals. Together, they have drafted and endorsed the ECFR’s Statement of Principles for a coherent and vigorous European Union foreign policy.

ECFR is backed by the Soros Foundations Network, Sigrid Rausing, FRIDE (La Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior), the Communitas Foundation and Dr. Hannes Androsch. ECFR works in partnerships with other organisations but does not make grants to individuals or institutions.

3. What are you? Are you a think-tank or are you a mass-movement organization?

ECFR’s founding members are all prominent Europeans from EU member states and candidate countries ranging from from serving and former ministers and parliamentarians to business leaders, distinguished academics, journalists and public intellectuals. Their shared aim is to foster a new high level strategic culture at the service of European foreign policy. In addition, ECFR’s in-house policy team brings together a small group of Europe’s brightest and best foreign policy analysts. Good ideas are no use if there is no political buy-in for them and the ECFR’s pan-European campaigning and advocacy work will make the connections between innovative policy thinking, popular engagement and civic action.

4. How are the members of the council selected?

Membership is by invitation and for a limited period of time (5 years renewable). Members will be selected according to criteria that include balance, intellectual distinction, policy influence, and commitment to open society values. Membership is limited to citizens of EU member states and candidate countries.

Candidates for membership must be nominated in writing by one ECFR member and seconded by a minimum of two other individuals who do not need to be ECFR members. Nomination letters should address the following criteria: intellectual attainment and expertise ; experience, interest, and current involvement in European foreign policy; promise of future achievement; potential contributions to the ECFR’s objectives; desire and ability to participate in ECFR’s activities; standing among their peers.

5. Can I join?

Anyone who agrees to sign ECFR’s Statement of Principles can become an ECFR Associate Member. Associate Members get advance copies of publications, will be invited to take part in telephone briefings with leading foreign policy practitioners and will be consulted on the future direction of ECFR’s research agenda. through online polls.

ECFR’s website is fully interactive and designed with the objective of facilitating pan-European conversations on foreign policy among EU citizens. Our in-house policy team will produce policy briefings and reports available to all.

6. Why do you have seven offices across Europe?

We believe that if we are to meet the aspiration of being a genuinely pan-European initiative, the ECFR needs a physical presence in several EU member states. The current and planned office locations in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Sofia and Warsaw give ECFR a physical presence in countries that between them account for more than 70 per cent of the current EU population.

7. Why no office in Brussels?

Building a pan-European presence from scratch is no small organisational task. We think we have been very ambitious in planning seven offices in our first year. In time it is possible that further offices may be opened. Brussels is the seat of the main EU institutions and while ECFR will initially be focussing its efforts in member state capitals, the Open Society Institute-Brussels will be a close partner, and will in certain instances have an ambassadorial role for ECFR. It should not be forgotten that high speed rail links connect both London and Paris with Brussels.

8. When you talk of “One Voice for Europe”, are you suggesting that the European Union should take France or Britain’s permanent seats on the UN Security Council?

No. ECFR’s membership, like the European population will have a range of views on this issue, but ECFR does not take a collective position. However we do believe that effective multilateralism requires that the EU work hard to build alliances behind its values and interests at institutions like the UN - both by co-ordinating European positions and persuading third countries to join us.

9. What is ‘open society’?

The concept of open society was first used by the French philosopher Henri Bergson in his book ‘The Two Sources of Morality and Religion’ published in 1932. The Austrian-born British philosopher Karl Popper refined the concept in his book ‘The Open Society and Its Enemies’ published in 1944. Open societies are guided by universal human rights and seek to protect and promote the freedom of the individual. An open society can be endangered by abstract, universal or fundamentalist ideologies like communism, fascism which claim to be in possession of the ultimate truth. Because of the incompatibility between open societies and concepts of ultimate truths, it is never possible to set out a full definition of what an open society is, although it is possible to list practices which are incompatible with open society values, such as authoritarian rule, absence of laws or inconsistency in the application of law, oppression of political dissidents, discrimination against women and minorities, torture, detention without trial and censorship of the media.

10. What is your view of the new EU Reform Treaty?

ECFR’s membership does not take a collective view on the reform treaty. However, in relation to the EU’s external relations, the need for EU member states to ‘speak with one voice’ and back EU foreign policy with the full weight of the EU single market, aid budgets, diplomatic force and military requires a strengthened role for the EU High Representative and the creation of a ‘European External Action Service’. The EU’s current arrangements are too fragmented to be effective. At present the European Commission has about 3,500 staff working on external relations, over 120 overseas representations and a foreign policy budget that will soon rise to around €10 billion a year. However its operations are separate from those of the High Representative Javier Solana who has a total of about 500 staff (including the military staff), a budget of just €125 million and no more than a handful of overseas representations. The Reform Treaty would not only bring together the two sides of EU foreign policy by making the High Representative a vice president of the European Commisison, it would also give the member-states more leverage over how the European Commission uses its resources. The Reform Treaty contains many proposals that would help to bring about a more ‘coherent and vigorous’ EU foreign policy.

11. Do you support Turkish membership of the EU?

In signing the ECFR Statement of Principles, the founding members of the ECFR endorse the view that the EU should stand by its existing commitments to the three countries that are ‘official candidates’ for EU membership: Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia.

12. What kind of legal entity are you? Are you an NGO, or rather an academic institution?

ECFR is a project initiated by and legally part of:

Open Society Foundation
5th/4th Floor, Cambridge House, 100 Cambridge Grove, London W6 0LE, United Kingdom
Registered Charity in England and Wales – Reg. Number: 1105069
Registered Company in England and Wales – Reg. Number: 4571628