SPEAKERS

Alessandro Marrone, Head of Defence Programme, The Istituto Affari Internazionali

Alessandro Marrone is Head of IAI Defence Programme, as well as senior fellow in the Security Programme. He has been working at IAI since 2007, and is responsible for research projects funded

either by the European Defence Agency (i.e. Putting the EUGS into Action, Permanent Monitoring and Analysis), NATO (i.e. Defence Matters) or industries in the aerospace and defence sector (es. The security in the Mediterranean and Italy). Currently he works on research projects and publications related to European and transatlantic security as well as to Italian defence policy. He also teaches Strategic Studies course in the International Relations Master’s Degree at the Political Science Department of the University of Perugia. In 2016 he holds a PhD in History of Europe from the Political Science Department of the Sapienza University of Rome. In 2009 he has obtained a Master of Science (MSc) in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Previously he got a BA degree in Political Science and a MSc degree in International Relations from the LUISS Guido Carli University in Rome, in both cases with first class honours. He is a member of the Editorial Board of IAI webzine AffarInternazionali, and collaborates as free-lance journalist with several Italian magazines and web-magazines, including Aspenia online, Eastwest, Rivista Italiana Difesa and Rivista marittima.He is interested in: European security and defence issues and EU role, NATO, Italian defence and foreign policy, European armed forces, defence procurement, defence-related research and technology, European defence industry and market, security in the Mediterranean region.

Anu Anguelov, Defense Adviser to the Prime Minister of BulgariaMinister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria /2010 – 2013/.

Anu Anguelov was born on December 22nd 1942 in Haskovo. In 1966 he graduated from the Higher National Military Artillery School with an engineer’s degree in Radio Electronics and was

promoted to his first military rank of Lieutenant. In 1974 he graduated from the “G.S.Rakovski” National Military Academy. In the period 1982 – 1984 he completed a postgraduate specialization course at the General Staff Academy of the Armed Forces of Russia in Moscow. Has a Master’s Degree in Operational, Tactical and Strategic Leadership of the Armed Forces. In 1991 he took a special OSCE officers course at NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy. After his graduation from the Higher National Military Artillery School, he took various commander and staff positions: 1966 – 1971: Commander of an autonomous platoon; 1974 – 1980: Deputy-chief of department at the Land Forces Air Defense Command; 1980 – 1982: Brigade Chief of Staff; 1984 – 1987: Brigade Commander; 1987 – 1990: Land Forces Air Defence Chief of Staff; 1990 – 1992: Land Forces Air Defence Commander in Chief; 1992 – 1994: Deputy Commander in Chief of the Bulgarian Land Forces In 1994 he was promoted to Lieutenant-General and was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. From November 1997 to August 2000 Anu Anguelov was Defense Attache of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. From September 2000 to February 2002, he was Commandant of “G.S.Rakovski” National Military Academy. In 2002 he retired from the Bulgarian Armed Forces and was appointed Director for Defense Planning at the Ministry of Defense. Until July 2009 he was President of the Center for National Security Research Foundation. On August 1st 2009 he assumed office as Deputy Minister of Defense. On January 27th 2010 Anu Anguelov was elected Minister of Defense of the Republic of Bulgaria. Mr. Anguelov is a Honourable Member of NATO Defence College Anciens’ Association. Mr. Anguelov has been awarded an order of merit, medals, a Commendation Medal “For Meritorious Service under the Colours” – First Grade and other awards.

Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Minister of Defense, Bulgaria

Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) was born on 16 April 1950 in the village of Dragoynovo, Plovdiv District. In 1965, he graduated from the specialized high school in mechanical engineering in the town of Plovdiv. In 1974, Atanas Zapryanov

graduated from Vassil Levski military school of higher education in Veliko Turnovo as diploma engineer, earning a Master’s degree in the specialty Signal Troops. He was distinguished as the best graduate ranking first among the alumni of the year at the military school. In 1982, he earned a Master’s degree in military science and warfare at Budyoni Military Academy of Communications, Saint Petersburg, Russia, from which he graduated, earning a gold medal for his high academic achievements and an excellent–grades diploma. He earned a Master of Science degree in Strategic Management of the Armed Forces at the General-Staff Faculty of the G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, from which he graduated in 1995.In his academic and professional career as a military officer of the Bulgarian armed forces, in 2001 Atanas Zapryanov completed Senior Information Manager Course and a Manager in Information Protection Infrastructure Course at the Information Resources Management College to the National Defense University, Washington, USA, where he was nominated as an alumnus of honor in the College’s Hall of Fame for high achievements earned during his military service. Atanas Zapryanov also completed the Senior Course at NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy.In the course of his military career, Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov has held different command and staff positions in the Signal troops of the Bulgarian army: platoon commander, company commander, deputy battalion commander, chief of staff and deputy commander of 95th signal regiment of Second army in Plovdiv, department senior assistant to the department head at the Land Forces Command, department head, chief of staff, deputy director and director of Signal Troops Directorate to the General Staff of the Bulgarian Army (until 2002). As a senior military officer, he also held the positions Commandant of G. S. Rakovski National Defence Academy, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Army for resources until 2006, and a military representative of the Chief of General Staff at NATO military committees and the European Union (until 2010).

After joining the military reserve, since 2010, he has been a counselor to two political cabinets of the Minister of Defence (until 2013) and since 2015 until July 2016, Deputy Minister of Defence since July 2016 until 30 January 2017.Lieutenant General Atanas Zapryanov (Ret.) has been awarded multiple times for excellent military service and high professional results; he was awarded For Military Merit Order, First Degree.

Daniel Fiott, EU Institute for Security Studies

Daniel Fiott joined the EUISS in late 2016, where he analyses European defence policy and defence industrial issues. From 2012-2016, he worked as a researcher at the Institute for European Studies at the Free University of Brussels (VUB). At the VUB he

analysed and lectured on various aspects of European security, including defence industrial issues more specifically. From 2014-2016 he served as a fellow of the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO).Before this time he held positions with think tanks and the private sector. Daniel is regularly invited to lecture at defence colleges and universities across Europe, and he is widely published in leading journals on European defence matters. Daniel is a visiting lecturer at the University of Kent in Brussels and a visiting professor at the VUB. Daniel was educated at the University of Cambridge and he holds a PhD from the Free University of Brussels.

Dick Zandee, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael - the Netherlands Institute of International Relations

Career2011 – Senior Researcher, Netherlands Institute for International

Relations “Clingendael”; 2005 – 2011 Head Planning and Policy Unit, European Defence Agency; 2000 – 2005 Defence Counsellor, NL Permanent

Representation to the European Union (PSC-delegation), 1998 – 2000 Senior Researcher, NL Institute for International Relations “Clingendael”, 1993 – 1997

NATO International Staff, Political Affairs Division; Member of the Secretary General’s Bosnia Task Force, 1987 – 1993 Senior Policy Advisor, General Affairs Department, NL Ministry of Defence, 1983 – 1987 Policy Advisor, Department of Plans, Royal NL Army Staff, 1982 – 1983 Reserve-officer, Department of Plans, Royal NL Army StaffOther- Born 1958 in Goes, The Netherlands- Master degree in (modern) history, Leiden University, The Netherlands- NATO Defence College, Course-80, 1992Selection of recent publications.In English:• Making sense of European defence, Clingendael Report, December 2017 (co-author); • A strategic point of view, in: Vincent Camporini, Keith Hartley, Jean-Pierre Maulny, Dick Zandee, European preference, strategic autonomy and European Defence Fund, Ares Report #22, October 2017; • Developing European defence capabilities – Bringing order into disorder, Clingendael Report, October 2017; • 2017: a turning point for European defence? EU Forum, www.clingendael.org, 17 July 2017; • European defence: how to engage the UK after Brexit?, Clingendael Report, July 2017 (co-author); • Mr. Zalm: can these words go into the coalition agreement? www.clingendael.org, July 2017 (co-author); • Trump and the indispensable NATO, www.clingendael.org, 23 May 2017; •European defence: action and commitment, Clingendael Report, March 2017 (co-author); • Core Groups: The Way to Real European Defence, Egmont Security Policy Brief No.81, February 2017; • At the gate – Civil-military protection of Europe’s borders, Clingendael Policy Brief, February 2017 (co-author); • New kid on the block – The European Commission and European defence, Clingendael Policy Brief, December 2016; • European defence core groups – The why, what & how of permanent structured cooperation, Clingendael Policy Brief, November 2016 (co-author); • Defence Cooperation Models – Lessons learned and usability, Clingendael Report, October 2016 (co-author); • Defence Industrial Policy in Belgium and the Netherlands, ARES Policy Paper, October 2016 (co-author); • EU Global Strategy: from design to implementation, Atlantisch Perspectief, 2016-nr.3; • A New Strategy – Implications for CSDP,

Clingendael Report, June 2016 (co-author); • NATO’s Warsaw summit: no exits, but staying together, Clingendael website, 30 June 2016; • New Threats, New EU and NATO Responses, Clingendael Report, July 2015 (co-author); • European defence: about neighbours and distant friends, in: Daniel Fiott (Ed.), The Common Security and Defence Policy: National Perspectives, May 2015; • Defence matters: more urgent than ever, Clingendael Report, April 2015 (co-author)In Dutch:• Defensie aan de ketting, www.clingendael.org, 21 november 2017 (co-auteur); •Samenwerking in EU dwingt tot welcome militaire keuzes, NRC, 6 november 2017; • Reflectie op regeerakkoord Rutte III, www.clingendael.org, oktober 2017 (co-auteur); • Defensie in de verkiezingen: meer aandacht, weinig inhoud, www.clingendael.org, Atlantisch Perspectief 2017-nr1; • Nederland en defensie: voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rij, www.clingendael.org, 26 februari 2017; • Hybride dreigingen en EU-NAVO samenwerking, www.clingendael.org , december 2016 (co-auteur); • De Nederlandse krijgsmacht: keuzes of geen keuzes? www.clingendael.org, 7 november 2016; • Met zo weinig geld stelt ons leger niets voor, NRC, 31 oktober 2016; • Defensie onder Hennis: niet meer dan een herstelkrijgsmacht, Internationale Spectator, oktober 2016; • Toestand krijgsmacht is onhoudbaar, De Volkskrant, 20 mei 2016; • Waarom zoveel haast met die onderzeeers? De Volkskrant, 30 maart 2016

Vice Admiral Emil Eftimov, Deputy Chief of Defense, Bulgaria

Vice Admiral Emil Eftimov was born in Varna, August 16th 1961. He studied in “Nikola Vaptsarov” Naval Academy from 1979 to 1984. As a Lieutenant Commander VADM Eftimov graduated from “N.G.Kuznetsov” Naval Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russian

Federation (1992-1994) and in 2004-2005 he completed leadership training in U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island.During his career VADM Eftimov has gone through different operational and staff duty tours, starting as a Navigation Officer, Frigate, Anti-submarine Officer, Frigate, Executive Officer and becoming Frigate Commanding Officer (1991-1992). Following VADM Eftimov’s assignment as primary advisor to the Chief of

Naval Operations (Navy HQ) on regional military cooperation (2005-2006) he assumed the duties of Chief of Staff, Varna Naval Base (2006-2009) and Commander of Varna Naval Base (2009-2011). Before being promoted Vice Admiral (in May 2016) and becoming Deputy Chief of Defence (in July 2016) VADM Eftimov added more NATO leadership experience to his professional background as Assistant Director, Cooperation and Regional Security Division, International Military Staff, NATO HQ, Brussels, Belgium (2011-2013) and then as Director of the same IMS division (2013-2016).Vice Admiral Eftimov has been awarded with various national awards and decorations among which the Ministry of Defence Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service under the Colours and “St. George the Victor” Medal of Honour in recognition of his distinguished service and professional achievements.

Lt. General Esa PULKKINEN, Director General, European Union Military Staff (EUMS)

Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen was assigned as Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS) in May 2016. The EUMS is the

source of EU's military expertise. As the DG EUMS he is responsible for early warning, situation assessment and strategic planning for EU military missions and operations.Born in Southern Finland in 1957, Pulkkinen joined the Finnish Armed Forces in 1977. Having graduated from the Military Academy in 1980, he went on to serve in a wide range of leadership positions. A specialist in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of the EU, Pulkkinen also has an extensive background in National Defence. Among other positions, he has commanded the Sodankylä Jaeger Brigade, the most northern army unit in the EU, and served as the Assistant Chief of Staff in the Plans and Policy Division of the Defence Command, thereby gaining significant practical high level military leadership experience.Prior to taking up post in as DG EUMS, Lt Gen Pulkkinen served as Director General in the Ministry of Defence of Finland from January 2011 until February 2016. As Defence Policy Director, he was responsible for developing Finnish Defence Policy, participation in International Defence Cooperation, developing the

basis for the Defence Forces’ planning, and the direction of strategic research. As Director General for Defence Policy, Lt Gen Pulkkinen engaged regularly in consultations in EU capitals and the United States and also in China, Russia and other countries. Having participated in almost all of the EU Defence Ministers’ and Defence Policy Directors’ meetings during 2011-2016, he also chaired the Policy Steering Committee of Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) in 2013, encompassing Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Cooperation with NATO has also formed a substantial part of his dossier.During 2008-2010, Lt Gen Pulkkinen served as the Director of Operations in the EU Military Staff. During that time, he was responsible for planning and political-strategic level implementation of the anti-piracy operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA. He was the obvious choice to chair the Defence Policy working group for Finland’s EU Presidency in 2006, following previous assignments in the EUMS as Branch Chief (OF-5), and Seconded National Expert (SNE) within the Interim Military Staff, in 2000-2003.Lt Gen Pulkkinen places significant emphasis on the key role of the military community, represented by the EUMC and EUMS. This helps to shape the defence dimension of the EU. Already very familiar with the working of the European Union, CFSP and CSDP structures, Lt Gen Pulkkinen is committed to their further development.He believes in co-operation and co-ordination within the EU and externally, in particular with UN and NATO, and the development of the comprehensive CFSP.Lt Gen Pulkkinen was a post-graduate student in the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva in 1995-1996 and studied in Harvard during 2014. He speaks Finnish, English, French and Swedish. His wife is Hanna and he has two grown children.

Prof. Jolyon Howorth has been full-time Visiting Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Yale University since 2002. In September 2018, he will join Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government as Visiting Professor of International Relations. He is also Jean Monnet Professor ad personam and

Professor Emeritus of European Politics at the University of Bath (UK). Previous

appointments were at: University of Paris III-Sorbonne-Nouvelle, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Aston University (UK). He has held Visiting Professorships at Harvard University, the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Paris), the University of Washington, Columbia and New York Universities and Luiss University (Rome). He has held a Senior Research Fellowship at the European Union’s Institute for Security Studies. He is a Senior Research Associate at the Institut Français des Relations Internationales (Paris), Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (France), and Member of the Advisory Boards of several leading European research institutes.

He has published extensively in the field of European politics and history, especially security and defense policy and transatlantic relations - fifteen books and several hundred journal articles and chapters in books. Recent books include: Security and Defence Policy in the European Union, Palgrave 2014; Defending Europe: the EU, NATO and the Quest for European Autonomy, Palgrave, 2003 (edited with John Keeler); European Integration and Defence: The Ultimate Challenge? Paris, WEU-ISS, 2000.

Joris Van Bladel, AIES Associate Fellow

Joris Van Bladel studied Social and Military Sciences at the Royal Military academy in Brussels, Slavic Languages and Eastern European cultures at the state University of Ghent and holds a Doctor

of Arts degree of the State University of Groningen. His PhD thesis was entitled: ‘The All-volunteer Force in the Russian Mirror: Transformation without Change’.During and after his military career (1985-2006), he taught courses and guest lectures at several universities, including the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, the University of Amsterdam, the State University of Ghent, The University of Uppsala and the Technical University of Berlin. He was a guest researcher at the Center of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Toronto as well as the German Institute of International and security affairs in Berlin. Currently he is a member of the Scientific Board of the Austrian Ministry of

Defense. On a regularly basis, he is a guest commentator on Security and defense issues and Russian affairs on public radio and television in The Netherlands.Joris Van Bladel areas of expertise include security & defense, (asymmetric) threat analysis, Strategic forecasting, and Russian strategic culture.

Amb. Philip T. Reeker, Civilian Deputy to the Commander UECOEM/POLAD, U.S. State Department.

Ambassador Philip T. Reeker assumed his duties as the USEUCOM Civilian Deputy and POLAD November 2017. Prior to that he served as the United States Consul General in Milan, covering

northern Italy beginning in September 2014.From July 2011 through 2013, Philip Reeker served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs focused on the Balkans, Central Europe, and Holocaust Issues. He was U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia from 2008 to 2011, and Deputy State Department Spokesman/ Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, under Secretaries of State Albright and Powell (2000-2004). Previous assignments also include: Minister Counselor for Public Affairs under Ambassador Ryan Crocker at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq (2007-2008); Deputy Chief of Mission in Budapest (2004-2007); and Director of Press Relations at the State Department (1999-2000). He was Spokesman for the Special Envoy for Kosovo, Ambassador Christopher Hill. Reeker joined the Foreign Service in 1992, and served earlier tours in Budapest, Hungary and Skopje, Macedonia.Philip Reeker is the 2013 Recipient of the Robert C. Frasure Memorial Award for “his commitment to peace and the alleviation of human suffering caused by war or civil injustice” in the Balkans; the National Albanian American Council presented Reeker with its “Hands of Hope Award” the same year. He received the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Public Diplomacy in 2003, and several State Department Superior Honor Awards.Ambassador Reeker is a graduate of Yale University (1986), and received an MBA from the Thunderbird School of International Management in Arizona (1991). Born in Pennsylvania, Reeker grew up in several U.S. cities and spent his high school years in Brisbane, Australia. His foreign languages are: Hungarian,

Macedonian, Italian, and German. He is married to Solveig Johnson Reeker, also a member of the U.S. Foreign Service, who currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome.

Radmila Shekerinska, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of the Defence, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

She has served four mandates as Member of Parliament (1998-2002; 2006-2008; 2008-2011 and 2011-2014). She was also the President of

the National Council for European Integration, since its establishment. In this capacity, she has been a member of several bodies: the Foreign Affairs Committee, Committee on Labour and Social Policy, European Affairs Committee, Education Committee and the Environment Committee. Shekerinska has been a member of the Interparliamentary Union delegation, the Group for Cooperation with the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Francophone Group.From 2002 to 2006, Shekerinska was Deputy Prime Minister responsible for European integration and foreign aid coordination in three consecutive Governments. She was also the acting Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia on two occasions during care-taking periods in 2004.As Deputy Prime Minister responsible for EU integration, she conducted the political dialogue with the European Commission on Macedonia’s accession conditions. Shekerinska was the co-Chair of the Stabilization and Association Committee, established within the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Macedonia and the EU.It was during her term that the European Council in December 2005 granted Macedonia the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union. This has opened up the possibility for future accession talks with the EU and has enabled the country to take advantage of all components within the EU Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).Shekerinska acted as the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the Presidential election in the Kyrgyz Republic in July 2009 and for the Parliamentary election in Armenia in May 2012.For her dedication and achievements in the field of European integration of Macedonia and the region of the Western Balkans, Shekerinska was awarded with

the title – Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Schengen White List project and of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy’s Advisory Council. Shekerinska was also a member of the European Strategy Forum.She was the President of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDUM) from 2006 to 2008, as the first and (so far) only woman to head any of the major political parties in Macedonia.She was also elected as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Socialist International (organization that unites social democratic, socialist and labour parties throughout the world) from 2008 to 2011.Shekerinska received her MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA and her BSc in Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Skopje.

Rose Gottemoeller, Deputy Secretary General of NATO

Gottemoeller took up her position in October 2016, after serving nearly five years as the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security at the U.S. Department of State. As Under Secretary, Gottemoeller advised the Secretary of State on arms

control, nonproliferation and political-military affairs. She was acting in this position from 2012 to 2014, while concurrently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (2009-2014). In this capacity, she was the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the Russian Federation, which entered into force on February 5, 2011 and is currently in implementation.During her time as Undersecretary of State, Gottemoeller focused on defense and security cooperation in Europe and Asia, peacekeeping policy and training, and weapons and mine abatement in post-conflict locales around the world.Prior to the Department of State, beginning in 2000, she was a senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with joint appointments to the Nonproliferation and Russia programs. She served as the Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center in 2006-2008.

From 1998 to 2000, as Deputy Under Secretary of Energy for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation and before that, Assistant Secretary and Director for Nonproliferation and National Security at the U.S. Department of Energy, she was responsible for all nonproliferation cooperation with Russia and the Newly Independent States.Prior to her work at the Department of Energy, Gottemoeller served for three years as Deputy Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. From 1993 to 1994, she served on the National Security Council staff as Director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia Affairs, with responsibility for nuclear threat reduction in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus. Previously, she was a social scientist at RAND and a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow. She has taught on Soviet military policy and Russian security at Georgetown University and is fluent in Russian.Gottemoeller was born in Columbus, Ohio. She received a B.S. from Georgetown University, and an M.A. from George Washington University. She is married to Raymond Arnaudo, a retired diplomat and expert on polar policy. They have two grown sons, Daniel and Paul, who work in information technology.

Sofia Maria Satanakis, research fellow, the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy

Sofia Maria Satanakis, M.E.S., studied "Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies" at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki / Greece until 2010. She graduated from the postgradual University

programme "European Studies" at the University of Vienna in 2012.In the years 2012 and 2013 she successfully completed internships at the Consular Section of the Greek Embassy in Vienna as well as at the Austrian Embassy in Athens/Greece. In 2017, she joined the Cologne Forum for International Relations and Security Policy (KFIBS e.V.) by becoming part of the research group 'Europe/EU'.Since 2013, Sofia Maria Satanakis has been working for the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES) as a research fellow. Her research covers the

topic European integration, focusing mainly on EU foreign, security and defence policy.

Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop, Director, Europe in the World Programme, Egmont - Royal Institute for International Relations. Professor, Ghent Institute for International Studies, Ghent University

Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop obtained his degree in Political Science at Ghent University (Belgium) in 1998, winning the best thesis award for his work on European defence. Subsequently awarded the Paul-Henri Spaak PhD scholarship of the Fund for Scientific Research – Flanders, he defended his dissertation in Ghent in 2002, published as Euro-Mediterranean Security: A Search for Partnership (Ashgate, 2003).Currently Sven is the Director of the Europe in the World Programme at the Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, which he joined in 2002, and a Professor at the Ghent Institute for International Studies (GIIS) at Ghent University. His research and teaching focus on the strategies of the European Union, NATO and their Member States.In 2015, on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Sven was made an Honorary Fellow of the EU’s European Security and Defence College (ESDC). He regularly lectures in its courses, as well as in various European and American staff colleges, and at the People’s University of China in Beijing, where he is a Senior Research Associate of the Centre for European Studies. Sven also is an Honorary Member of the ESDC Alumni Association and a Senior Associate Fellow of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy and of the Baltic Defence College.Sven chairs the jury of the annual Global Strategy PhD Prize awarded by Egmont, the ESDC, and the EU Institute for Security Studies. He represents Egmont in the Higher Studies in Security and Defence, a course for security practitioners organized with the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence.With Richard Whitman, Sven co-edits the European Strategy & Security book series for Routledge; and with Knud Erik Jorgensen he co-edits Global Affairs, the journal of the European International Studies Association (EISA). He is the editor-in-chief of Egmont’s journal Studia Diplomatica and its Egmont Papers, and a

member of the editorial board of the journals European Security (UK) and The International Organisations Research Journal (Russia).Sven’s latest book is Peace without Money, War without Americans – Can European Strategy Cope? (Ashgate, 2015).In 2017 he was awarded the order of merit of the Republic of Austria (Grosses Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste).Born in Willebroek (Belgium) on 10 February 1976, Sven now lives in Brussels with his husband Aberu, amid a great many books, military paraphernalia, and chinoiseries. Unfortunately they travel too often to keep a cat.

Thorsten Geissler, Head of Bulgaria office of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung

Since 01-04-2016 - Director, Bulgarian Office, Konrad Adenauer Foundation; 2010 - 2016 Director Rule of Law Program South East Europe; s. 01-09-2010 Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation, Employee;

2004 – 2010 Senator for Environment, Security, and Public Order and Second Deputy Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck; 1987 – 2004 Member of the Schleswig-Holstein State Legislature; since 1992 - Deputy Leader of the CDU Parliamentary Party Spokesman on Legal Affairs; Member of several Standing Committees, temp. Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Federal and European Affairs, member of the Judicial Appointments; Commission, member of several Committees of Inquiry and Study Commissions; 1991 Second State Examination in law, admittance to the bar. 1982 - 1987 City Councillor, Hanseatic City of Lübeck; 1979 - 1984 Student at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (Law: First State Examination 1984, Political Sciences) 1978 – 1979 Military Service (Current Rank in German Army Reserve: Colonel). Born on 16-10-1959 in Bad Schwartau, Germany

Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, Minister of Defense, Germany

After graduating from secondary school, Ursula von der Leyen studied economics at the University of Göttingen, the University of Münster and the London School of Economics and Political Science. From 1980 to 1987 she attended Hanover Medical School (MHH). After obtaining her licence to practise medicine, she worked at the Clinic for Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She obtained her Dissertation in Medicine in 1991 and was awarded the degree of Dr. med.. In 1992, Ursula von der Leyen and her family moved to the United States. She returned to Germany in 1996. From 1998 to 2002 she worked as a research assistant at the Department of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research at Hanover Medical School and completed her Master’s degree in Public Health in 2001.

Ursula von der Leyen started her political activities in 1990 when she became a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). From 2001 to 2003 she held various political offices at municipal level in the Hanover region. In 2003 she became a member of the Lower Saxony state parliament and was appointed State Minister of Social Affairs, Women, Family Affairs and Health. In 2005 Ursula von der Leyen started her career in federal politics as Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. In 2009 she became a Member of Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) and was appointed as Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. After her election as member of the CDU Executive Committee she was elected as party vice chairwoman in 2010. In 2013 she was appointed as Minister of Defence.

Ursula von der Leyen was born in Brussels in 1958. She lives near Hanover. She is married with Professor Heiko von der Leyen. The couple has seven children.

Dr. Werner Fasslabend, President of AIES, Chair of the Academic Council of Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

Werner Fasslabend was born on March 5th, 1944 in Marchegg in Lower Austria. He attended school at Gänserndorf in Lower Austria

and in Vienna at the Theresianum, where he passed his school-leaving examinations in 1963.

After one year studying at Wilbraham Academy, USA, he went back to Austria and he graduated at the University of Vienna with the doctor’s degree of law. Afterwards he worked one year in a court practice.In 1971 he became Product Manager for Henkel-Persil/Austria and later on Director for Sales.After being elected to various councils in his hometown Marchegg and in the Province of Lower Austria, he was nominated by the Austrian Peoples Party (ÖVP) for a Representative to the Lower House (Member of Parliament) in 1987.From December 1990 until February 2000 he was Federal Minister of Defence and thus became the longest serving Minister of Defence in the history of the Republic of Austria. During his tenure he initiated a far-reaching reformation in the Ministry and adapted the organization of armed forces to the new threat scenario.He also strongly supported Austrias active participation in the formulation of the future European security-policy and organized the first meeting of EU-Ministers of Defence in 1998.Furthermore, he founded the Central European Cooperation in Peacekeeping (CENCOOP) in 1997.From the 8th of February 2000 until the 20th of December 2002 he was the 3rd president (=speaker) of the Austrian parliament.From the 11th of January 1997 until the 11th of October 2003 he has been holding the position of the chairman of the Austrian Workers and Employees Association in the Austrian Peoples Party.Besides being the president of the Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES), he is member of the managing-committee of the Austrian Peoples Party and president of the Austrian-Slovak-Society as well as the Austrian Iranian Association.Werner Fasslabend is married and has two children.

Yordan Bozhilov, President of Sofia Security Forum

Yordan Bozhilov was born on November 27, 1969. He holds a Master's degree in Political Science and a Master of Law. In 1992 he began his career in the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of

Bulgaria. His professional career goes successively through all grades and

positions. As an expert and senior expert he worked on the coordination of the Ministry of Defense with the other ministries and the Council of Ministers. He was subsequently appointed Chief of the Chancellery Department. As such, he managed the entire documentary work of the Ministry and was responsible for the development and implementation of a number of information systems. In 2002-2003, he completed a course at the Geneva Center for Security Policy. On his return he was appointed Chief of International Organizations and Arms Control Department of the Ministry of Defense. As such, he represented the Ministry of Defense in a number of international organizations. From 2005 to 2008, he was the Director of the International Cooperation Directorate, responsible for the bilateral relations of the Ministry of Defense and the participation of the Ministry in international organizations. He has led the negotiations and the conclusion of bilateral defense agreements. From 2008 until the beginning of 2010, he was the Deputy Director of the Defense Policy Directorate. Between 2005 and 2008 he represented Bulgaria in various NATO working groups. In 2008 he worked as Chairman of the Multinational Advisory Group of RACVIAK – Centre for Security Cooperation, Zagreb.In the period 2010-2013 he served as Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense. Since 2013 he has been working as an analyst in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and is Chairman of the Sofia Security Forum, a non-governmental organization, working in the spheres of security, defense, international relations and the training of young leaders.