News

ECFR opens in Rome

ECFR is delighted to announce the launch of its Rome office, an exciting occasion that was marked by a panel discussion on transatlantic relations in Rome on 4 February. The event was hosted in partnership with LIMES review and Rome's Centro di Studi Americani. and attracted a large number of policy experts, government officials and embassy representatives to the stunning premises of the Centro di Studi Americani.

The debate was kicked off with a presentation of Nick Witney and Jeremy Shapiro's report "Towards a Post-American Europe: A Power Audit of EU-US Relations" . LIMES Director Lucio Caracciolo then gave an overview of LIMES' research in the area. Fellow panelists and ECFR Council Members Emma Bonino and Marta Dassu shared their reactions, while Newsweek's Contributing Editor, Stryker McGuire, offered a US perspective on the topic. Respondents reminded the audience that Obama's main concern is his citizens and that he will not prioritise the EU so long as it remains neither an asset nor a threat to the USA. During the open discussion, chaired by ECFR Council Member and Director of Centro di Studi Americani Giuliano Amato, there was a strong agreement with Witney and Shapiro's over-arching argument: that the EU needs to be more assertive vis-a-vis the US.

Silvia Francescon, the Head of ECFR Rome, is working closely with our Italian Council Members to engage with Italian foreign policy circles.