Berlin – ESI at the Federal Foreign Office on building a more united Europe

10 February 2026
Werderscher Markt, Berlin. Photo: flickr/Torben Fruchtenicht
Werderscher Markt, Berlin. Photo: flickr/Torben Fruchtenicht

ESI’s Gerald Knaus gave a talk at the Auswärtiges Amt in Berlin. The event was organized by the Internationale Club im Auswärtigen Amt, an organization for former diplomats, for Gerald to discuss the future of Europe.

At the talk, Gerald highlighted Europe’s post-Cold War history, which has had both great crises and great success. He drew two key conclusions: first, European integration has successfully promoted peace, transforming once adversarial relationships, such as between Germany and Poland, into close partnerships through diplomacy and shared institutions. Second, he emphasised the continued importance of transatlantic cooperation, with NATO playing a crucial role in deterring imperialist Russia.

In this context, Gerald stressed that strong international diplomacy and engagement with neighbouring states are essential to countering Russia’s imperial ambitions. To this purpose, we need a renewed diplomatic push for further integration, including of the Balkan States and Ukraine, with Gerald pointing to ESI’s plan to extend the four freedoms to any country which meets EU membership criteria. We also need Europe to deepen its defence cooperation and show both Putin and MAGA a united front. Thus, amidst the rise of the nationalist far-right and ongoing international strife, Gerald argued that defending Europe’s progress requires proactive diplomacy and a renewed commitment to cooperation over nationalism.