Conference Speakers

Vasile SECĂREŞ is the Founding Rector of National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and Professor within the Department of International Relations and European Integration specialized in international relations theory. He chairs the NATO Partnerships Studies Center and is the coordinator of the Bucharest Security Conference. He is also Chairman of the Board of EximBank since 2015 and Chairman of the Board of the Romanian Banking Institute since 2009. He holds a bachelor in Sociology and a Ph.D. in Philosophy   from The University of Bucharest. He was resident fellow at the Institute for East – West Security Studies in New York, USA and the Peace Research Institute in Oslo, Norway. On July 1, 1990, Vasile Secăreş was appointed presidential adviser, Chief of Staff of the Romanian Presidency, with the rank of minister. He served in this position until 1992. He was founding member of the National Salvation Front, then of the Group “A Future for Romania” (GUVR) and other positions in the high administration. Between 1992- 2001 he was Vice President of EximBank. He is also member of an important number of scientific organizations and was awarded the National Order “For Merit” in 2004.

Anton Bebler studied various subjects in Slovenia, Serbia, Russia, USA, UK, France and earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA. Since 1972 he has taught at University in Ljubljana, Slovenia and became a full Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. For several years he regularly taught at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna and occasionally lectured at various universities and institutes in North America, Europe and Asia. He authored, co-authored and edited a dozen books in several languages, wrote chapters in numerous international compendia and several hundred articles in journals published in European, North and South American, Asian and African countries on various topics and organized a number of international conferences on various topics of international relations and security. Anton Bebler has served as member of councils and boards of several international professional associations (ISA, IPSA, IUS et. al.), of several national and international editorial and advisory boards and panels. In 1991 – 1992 he founded and chaired the Slovenian Council of the European Movement, in 1992 – 1997 served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Slovenia at the UN Office in Geneva, in 1999 – 2003 as Vice-President of the Atlantic Treaty Association, in 2006 – 2009 as Member, Executive Council, International Political Science Association and since February 1998 he has been President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia. His latest co-authored and edited book “Frozen Conflicts” in Europe was published in 2015 in Germany by Barbara Budrich Verlag.

Professor Remus Pricopie, Ph.D., Rector, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), Romania. Remus Pricopie graduated at the Chemistry faculty of the University of Bucharest in 1995. He also holds a Ph.D. in Political Science, granted by the University of Bucharest and by the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA). He began teaching at SNSPA in 1998. He was dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations from 2005 to 2007 and from 2008 to March 2012, when he became rector. He had an important number of government positions starting with the Minister of Education and Research of Romania between 2012-2014, State Secretary of Higher Education and Research between 2007-2008, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education and Research between December 2001 – June 2003 and January – October 2009. He was also Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Research in 2001 and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education and Research in 1997 and 2001. He is also involved in professional organisations and management activities in international affairs. He is Vice-President and Treasurer, International Association of Universities (IAU) since April 2017 and Member of the Board since 2012, Member of the International Association of the University Presidents since 2015, Member of Atlantis Group (20 former ministers of education around the world) associated with the Club of Madrid since March 2017, President of the Board of Directors of the Romanian – US Fulbright Commission 2009 – 2012; 2015 – present, Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science since 2013, Member of the Romanian Chapter of the Club of Rome since 2002.

Professor Iordan Gheorghe Bărbulescu is a Romanian diplomat and expert on International Relations and European Studies. He is the President of the Senate of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and Dean of the Department of International Relations and European Integration of SNSPA. Professor Bărbulescu completed his education by taking courses on European integration in Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Denmark and Spain. He obtained his doctoral degree in Political Science and Sociology at the Universitad Complutense from Madrid. Professor Bărbulescu served as a diplomat within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held different positions, as Deputy Head of the European Union Department, Head of the Latin America Department, Adviser on European Integration for Embassies and Minister Counsellor. He also activated as a member in the Comission for Preparing the Admission Negotiations of Romania to the EU between 2003 and 2004. He received important distinctions, such as the Order of Faithful Service, in 2002, for his contributions to the Romanian foreign policy promotion. In 2007 was awarded the “Personality of the Year for an European Romania”. In 2016 he was awarded the European Citizen of the Year by the European Parliament. At SNSPA Professor Bărbulescu teaches courses related to diplomacy, European Union and Latin America.

Ioan Mircea Pașcu is Vice President of the European Parliament since 2014 and he is also Vice President of the Commission for Foreign Affairs. He is former Minister of Defense between 2000-2004. He is member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists, and became a MEP on 1 January 2007. He had also an important number of political and governmental positions, as Presidential Adviser in 1990-1992, State Secretary of Ministry of Defense in 1993-1996, Vice President of the National Salvation Front, Member of Parliament in 1996-2000, and other positions. He was also the first dean of the Department of International Relations from National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), where he teaches Foreign Relations of EU, Global politics, etc.

General Mihail Ionescu, was born on 14th January 1948 in Ploiesti, Romania. He is professor within the Department of International Relations, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA), since 1992. Since 2004, he is major general in reserve. He was Head of The Integration Direction of Integration NATO/UEO of the Ministry of National Defense and since  2000, he is director of the Institute of Political Sciences of Defense and Military History. In 2005 he received the title of co-chair of the Working Group For the Extended Region of the Black Sea of the Partnership Consortium for Peace of Academicians and Institute for Security Studies.

Daniel Dăianu is economist, member of the Board of National Bank of Romania and member of the Romanian Academy. He graduated the International Economics Relations of The Bucharest University of Economic Studies. He has a Ph.D. in Economic Sciences from the National Institute for Economic Researches, and post-doctoral specialisations at Harvard University. He is also member of HLGOR. He held numerous high level positions between 2013-2014, as first Vice President of the Financial Supervisory Authority, member of the board of ESMA, the board of IOSCO and of the European Systemic Risk Board. He was also member of the board of the CEC Bank between 2012-2013, Minister of Finance between 1997-1998, Deputy Minister of Finance in 1992, Consultant of OECD, etc.

Gen. Nicolae Ionel Ciuca is the Chief of General Staff of Romania since January 15, 2015. His professional experience resides in many important positions abroad, as January, 2004 – July, 2004 – Commander of the ROU Infantry Battalion, Iraq; June, 2002 – January, 2003 – Commander of the ROU Battalion participating in Enduring Freedom Mission, Afghanistan; 2000 – Chief of Staff of 26 Infantry Battalion –SACEUR Strategic Reserve; May, 1996 – May, 1997 – Staff Officer, UNAVEM III Mission, Angola; In Romania he was also Deputy Chief of General Staff between October 15, 2014 – January , 2015, January, 2014 – October, 2014 –Chief of Land Forces Staff; January, 2011 – January, 2014 – Commander of 2 Infantry Division, Buzău; March, 2007 – February, 2009 – Deputy Commander of 282 Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Focșani; and from August 1998 until March, 2007– Staff Commander, 2 Infantry Brigade, and other positions in Craiova; he participated in numerous exercices – 2010 – Brigade Commander of “Eurasian Star“ Exercise (NRDC – Turkey); 2003 – OCE/EXDIR Exercise, as part of ISAF; 2001 – Commander of 26 Infantry Battalion –SACEUR, in “Dynamic Response“ Multinational Exercise, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 2000 – Commander of Ground Component in the “Blue Danube 2000“ Multinational Exercise. He also received an important number of distinctions and awards.

Mădălina Teodorescu has over 20 years of experience in the banking industry in Romania. Starting with 2014, she is Deputy CEO of Piraeus Bank Romania, where she leads the retail and SMEs operations, with a key role in the expansion and consolidation of the product portfolio, as well as in coordinating the bank’s marketing, performance management, credit and debit cards, electronic banking departments and its branch network. For over 12 years, Mădălina Teodorescu held various executive positions within Raiffeisen Bank, where she was responsible of retail sales and distribution, loans for private individuals and private banking clients. Among other companies where she previously worked are Citibank and BCR.

Dr. Sorin Ducaru, Assistant Secretary General, NATO. He is a Romanian diplomat who served as Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations (UN) – New York (2000-2001), ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States of America (2001-2006) and permanent representative of Romania to NATO (2006). In May 2013, he was appointed, through competition, as Assistant to the general secretary of NATO and head of the Division for Emerging Security Risks NATO.

Dan Sultănescu is Executive Director of the Center for Civic Participation and Democracy. He is also Mobilization Expert at the Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI. Since 2005 he is Owner of Creative Blueprint and since 2011 he is General Manager of Infopolitic Center for Studies and Research. Since 2011 he associated lecturer at National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) and he is presently a Ph.D. Candidate. He has a Bachelor in Political Science at SNSPA and an MA in Electoral Marketing and Political Communication also at SNSPA. He is specialized in Social Sciences, Political Consulting, Political Communication, Media Relations, Public Relations, Project Management, Crisis Communications, Strategic Communications, Corporate Communications, Message Development, Political Science, Research, Public Policy, Political Campaigns, Public Affairs, Press Releases, Corporate Social Responsibility.

Ionel Niţu, Chairman, New Strategy Center, Romania. Ionel Niţu graduated the National Intelligence Academy “Mihai Viteazul” Bucharest and holds a BA in Psycho-Sociology.  He holds a MA from National School of Political Studies and Public Administration, Bucharest and another one from the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest. He graduated a high level course at the Romanian National Defense College and he holds a PhD in Military Sciences. For over 16 years, he worked at the Romanian Intelligence Service – SRI, where he was for many years, the Head of the SRI Analysis Division. He is a university lecturer at the National Intelligence Academy and he is also guest lecturer at some other universities. He is the author of various articles, books, and scientific publications on geopolitics, management of military organizations, relationships between intelligence and policy-making, intelligence analysis and intelligence forecast.

Viorel Ardeleanu is Director General for strategic affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is a career diplomat with the rank of Minister Plenipotentiary. During 2012-1016, he was the Ambassador of Romania to Denmark and Iceland and held, in the past, the position of Special envoy/Director general for EU Strategy for Danube region and National Coordinator for the EU Danube Strategy and permanent representative to Political and Security Committee in Brussels.

Mr. Boyko Noev was member and deputy-head of the Bulgarian delegations to the CSCE and CFE Vienna negotiations and head of the European Organizations Department, during his diplomatic career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1981 – 1993).  In 1993 Mr. Noev was appointed Director of the Center for National Security Studies at the Ministry of Defense. He was Deputy Minister of Defense (1994) and Minister of Defense in the Interim Government (1994-1995). Mr. Noev has been Ambassador to NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg for three years (1996-1999) and was appointed Minister of Defense for a second time in 1999-2001.

Laurynas Kasčiūnas  is a political scientist and lecturer at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University. From 2012 to 2016 he was the Director of the Eastern Europe Studies Centre. Between 2009-2012 he was Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.  In 2016 he was elected in the parliament of Lithuania as representative of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.

Maia Sandu is a Moldovan economist, politician and the initiator and the President of Action and Solidarity Party (PAS). Maia Sandu started her professional career at the Ministry of Economy, and then she activated as adviser for the Executive Director of the World Bank and as economist at the office from Moldova of the same institution. Between 2012 and 2015 she held the office of Minister of Education and in 2016 was designated by PAS as its presidential candidate, reaching the run-off of the elections. Maia Sandu holds a B.A. in management at the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova and a M.A. in International Relations at the Academy of Public Administration in Chișinău. In 2010, she graduated from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Vladislav Kulminski was most recently the Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Moldova, on domestic politics and reforms. He was heavily involved in efforts to push reform in a number of areas, including public administration. He was also appointed as Programs Director at the Institute for European Studies and Reforms, and is running conflict resolution programs in Ukraine for Marti Ahtisaari’s center, the Crisis Management Initiative.  Prior to this, he led a Confidence Building Measure program for Moldova and its Transnistrian region, and worked as a Political Advisor to the UK Embassy. He has an M.A. in International Relations and EU studies from Central European University.

Brigadier General (ret.) Mircea Mîndrescu PhD is the Chair of the Executive Academic Board (EAB) of the European Security and Defense College (ESDC).  He is an experienced military officer whose professional expertise spans many of the most important activities in the field of defence, including operational units and formations, military educational institutions, the main bodies of the Ministry of Defence, defence planning, and politico-military diplomacy. From 2013 to 2016, he was commander of NATO’s Joint Analysis and Lessons Leaned Centre in Lisbon, Portugal. In his new post at EAB, he will be in charge with leading the ESDC, as the body responsible with the quality and coherence of the college’s training and education activities. Prior to taking the office at ESDC, Gen. Mîndrescu worked as director at the Strategic Planning Directorate within the Romanian Armed Forces General Staff (April 2017-August 2017), commander at NATO’s Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC), Land Forces Command (2013-2016), Chief of Staff of the Land Forces Operational Command (2010-2013), Senior National Military Representative to Afghanistan from Romania (2009-2010), Director of the National Defence College of Bucharest (2009-2010) and Defence Adviser to the Permanent Delegation of Romania to NATO (2003-2007). Gen. Mîndrescu earned his PhD from the National Defence University of Romania, Carol I. He also holds a master degree from the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, one from King’s College London and another one Advanced Military Studies Academy. He earned two bachelor degrees, the first from the Land Force Academy and the second from the National Academy of Physical Education and Sport.

Iulian CHIFU is the President of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, Romania. Also, Iulian Chifu is a foreign policy analyst, former presidential adviser and professor at SNSPA. He is the author of the books “Reconstrucție postconflict” (Post-conflict Reconstruction) and “Gândire Strategică” (Strategic Thinking). Iulian Chifu is a regular analyst on the Adevărul online platform, on issues related to politics and foreign affairs.

Liviu Muresan is the founder and the Executive President of the EURISC Foundation – European Institute for Risk, Security and Communication Management (1995). He was a member of the Romanian Parliament, leader of the Majority (1990-1991) and the Deputy Chief of the Romanian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He is Executive President of the Euro-Atlantic Council Romania – Casa NATO, EURODEFENCE Romania and Association des Anciens Auditeurs de l’IHEDN (Paris).  Since 2007, he is member of European Security Research and Innovation Forum (ESRIF), contributing to the development of a “Joint Security Research Agenda” (European Commission).

He received the National Order “Star of Romania” – Class Officer (2000).

Alina Bârgăoanu is  professor and the dean of the Faculty of Communication and Public Relations at SNSPA, and former rector of the same university between 2012 and 2014. She is the President of the European Institute from Romania and author, co-author and editor of multiple books, such as: United by or Against Euroscepticism. An Assessment of Public Attitudes towards Europe in the Context of the Crisis (2105, co-editor), The Crisis of the European Union (2013, co-editor), Comunicarea în Uniunea Europeană. Modele teoretice şi aspecte practice (2011, coeditor), Examenul Schengen. În căutarea sferei publice europene (author, 2011), Fondurile europene. Strategii de promovare şi utilizare (author, 2009); Istoria comunicării (coauthor, 2007); Tirania actualităţii. O introducere în istoria şi teoria ştirilor (author, 2006); Mass media şi societatea (coauthor, 2003), Geopolitica (2001, coauthor); author of over 50 articles, studies and chapters on topics related to Europe and European Union. She is the founder of the Center for EU Communication Studies from SNSPA and of the online magazine Convorbiri Europene (www.convorbirieuropene.ro). She was also lecturer within the MBA program “Process and Project Management” of Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (2009 – 2012) and Fulbright scholar (2001- 2002).

Daniela Lulache is former President and member of the Board of Directors of Nuclearelectrica. She started her career in 1993 as financial director of Transglobal Media where she worked until 1994. Between 1997 and 1999 she was financial analyst, chief analyst and general director of Expandia Romania S.A. In 1999 she was senior consultant at ERSTE Financial Consulting, deputy director and director of AVAB (2000-2002), general director of Lulache Group SRL (2002-2005), director at Raiffeisen Bank (2005-2006), deputy general director, general director and president of the directorate of Fondul Proprietatea S.A. (2006-2009), adviser to the Vice governor of the National Bank of Romania (2012-2013) and general director of Nuclearelectrica (2013-2017). She graduated the Academy of Economic Studies and participated to training courses at Barclays (finances), Euromoney (corporate finances), Romanian Banking Institute (brokerage) and at the Raiffeisen Management Academy.

Ambassador Tacan Ildem is the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since March 2016. Ambassador Ildem is a senior Turkish diplomat who previously served as Permanent Representative of Turkey to the OSCE in Vienna (2011- 2016), Director General for International Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Ankara (2009-2011), Turkey’s Permanent Representative to NATO (2006-2009) and Ambassador of Turkey to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2003-2006).

During his earlier assignments, Ambasador Ildem served as Chief of Cabinet and Principal Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey (2000-2003) when he also acted as the Presidential Spokesperson; Special Advisor to the Undersecretary of the MFA; Head of the NATO and Western European Union Department; Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Turkish Embassy in Athens; Head of the NATO Military Affairs Department at the MFA; Political Counsellor and Spokesperson at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C.; and First Secretary at the Permanent Mission to NATO as well as at the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi. Ambassador Ildem is a graduate of Ankara University, Political Science Faculty with a concentration in International Relations.

Fabrizio W. Lucciolli is the President of the Atlantic Treaty Association and President of the Italian Atlantic Committee since 2014. Mr Lucciolli is also a Professor of International Security Organizations, Military Policy, and National Security Policy at the Center for High Defense Studies of the Italian Ministry of Defense (2000-2015). His activity includes coordinating training courses for military officers and diplomats in the Western Balkans and the Middle East, director and promoter of NATO and EU cooperation projects in Central and Southeastern Europe and in the Mediterranean countries. Professor Luciolli is a Consultant on foreign affairs and security matters to various Governments and Members of Parliament as well as  Advisor  for International and Institutional Relations of private groups.

 Karl A. Lamers is the Deputy Chairman of the Defence Committee of the German Parliament. Previously, from 2010 to 2012, he was the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Mr Lamers studied law at the University of Münster where he obtained a doctorate in law in 1976, with a dissertation called “Representation and integration of foreign nationals in the Federal Republic of Germany with special regard to suffrage – also a comparative study about local election rights in the member states of the European Communities”. Subsequently he passed the Second State Examination and became a research associate at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law in Heidelberg. He became a senior Beamter at the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg, serving as the Head of the Office of the President of the Landtag.

Krzysztof Kaminski graduated from the University of Warsaw (Internal Security, Management) and completed the course in The Institute of World Politics in Washington. He gained his professional experience in energy sector (PGNiG SA – Polish Oil & Gas Company, PSA SA. – National Operator of the Electric Power Grid). He was member of the supervisory board of the Chamber of Natural Gas Industry (IGG). Previously Managing Director, presently President of the Warsaw Institute Foundation, Mr. Kamiński’s areas of interest are geopolitics, energy security and public affairs.

Darko Trifunović finished the Law Faculty of the University of Belgrade. He received his MA in 1999 at the University of Robert Kennedy in Zurich. In July 2007 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Faculty of Security of the University of Belgrade with the topic “New Forms of Terrorism in BiH” and in October 2008 he was promoted to the Doctor of Defense, Security and Protection. He is also a member of the Steering Committee of the RIEAS (Institute for American-European Studies) based in Athens, the Advisory Board of the Institute for Transnational Studies from Munich, a guest lecturer at FUDAN University in Shanghai and a permanent lecturer at the International Studies Center in Shanghai. After the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, he was hired as an adviser to two separate teams of lawyer victims (law offices Cozen O’Connor and Lloyd).  He performed several important functions, among other things: he was a member of the War Crimes Commission of the Government of Republika Srpska, an associate of the Institute for Political Studies from Belgrade, the Secretary of the Institute for Security Studies, Faculty of Security, University of Belgrade; expert for the issue of terrorism in the Ministry of Police of Republika Srpsk and so forth. He is a member of the advisory team of the Institute for International Studies.

Igor Bandovic has been working as a Program Manager for the European Fund for the Balkans since 2008. He is in charge for the “Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group” policy research initiative developed in cooperation with the Centre for Southeast European Studies of the University of Graz, Austria, “Think, and Link”, capacity-building program for the emerging think tanks in the region of Western Balkans. Previously Mr Bandovic has worked for the different international organizations, including International Organization for Migration and United Nations Development Program as a researcher and trainer in the areas of human rights protection.

Jovan Teokarevic is Associate Professor of Comparative Politics at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia, where he had previously finished his BA, MA and PhD studies. Before joining the University of Belgrade, he was research fellow at the Institute for European Studies (Belgrade). His research has focused on post-communist transition, politics in the Balkans, EU and NATO enlargement and EU-Western Balkan relations.

His diplomatic experience includes a position as the Director of the UN Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic as well as Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to both NATO and the United Nations. He is a graduate of Czech Technical University in Prague, Economy and Civil Engineering.

Prof. Shaul Kimhi, PhD, is a full professor of psychology and head of the Master’s Studies Program, Psychology Department, Tel Hai Academic College, Israel.

He is also a Research Associate at the International Policy Institute for Counterterrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. Mr. Kimhi has also served as special adviser to the Research Unit of the Intelligence Branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

He is also a member of the American Psychological Association and a member of the International Society of Political Psychology.

Theodosios  Georgiou is the Chairman of the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation. Furthermore, he is a Member of the Board of Regents of the Fund for American Studies and Co-Chairman of the International Institute for Political and Economic Studies.

In the past he was the Director of the Office for the Minister of Interior Affairs Mr. Kostis Stefanopoulos (1974-1976), Member of the Greek Delegation to the European Communities, in Brussels (1976-1979), Secretary General of the Council of Economic and Social Policy (ECOSOC). He has also been a Member of the Economic and Social Assembly of the European Communities and a Founding Member of the “Democratic Renewal Party”.

Cindy Wittke became leader of the research group “Frozen and Unfrozen Conflicts” at the Leibniz-Institute for East and Southeast European Studies in Regensburg in June 2017. From 2014-2017 she was a senior researcher and lecturer with the Department of Politics and Public Administration of the University of Konstanz. Additionally, she is an external programme associate of the Peace Agreement Access Tool (PA-X) Database of the Political Settlement Research Programme, University of Edinburgh. Cindy Wittke earned a Magistra Artium (M.A.) in East European Studies (2007) and a Ph.D. in Law (summa cum laude) from the Faculty of Law of the Freie Universität Berlin (2014).

Liliana Popescu is a associate professor at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest. She has studied at the University of Bucharest, History-Philosophy Faculty (1982-1986) and in Great Britain during 1991-1996. She has a M.A. in Economy and a Ph.D. at the University of Manchester. She has been a consultant with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director with the Direction of Political Planning (1998-1999). Currently, she is Vice Rector of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, with responsibilities in the international relations field. Her research field is related to the evolution of the post-soviet space that neighbors the EU, and the EU’s process of construction. She is also the chief editor of the Romanian periodical “The Romanian Journal of Political Science”.

Antonia Colibășanu is a senior geopolitical analyst, focusing on strategic competitive intelligence analysis. She has recently joined Geopolitical Futures team as Senior Analyst, after working for more than 10 years with global analysis firm Stratfor in various positions, including Partner for Europe and Vice-President for International Marketing.

Prior to joining Stratfor in 2006, Dr. Colibasanu held a variety of roles with the World Trade Center Association in Bucharest. Among other academic credentials, she holds a doctorate in international business and economics from Bucharest’s Academy of Economic Studies, where her thesis focused on country risk analysis and investment decision-making processes within transnational companies. She also holds a master’s degree in international project management. She is an alumna of the International Institute on Politics and Economics, Georgetown University.

Detlef Puhl is a former Senior Adviser at NATO activating in this field for a period of 5 years (2011-2016). He also worked at the French Ministry of Defense, at the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies (Garmisch Partenkirchen) and as Director of Press and Information and Spokesman of the Ministry of Defense (Berlin/Bonn).

Tudor Buzatu is State Secretary for the working apparatus of the Vice-Prime Minister for the implementation of Romania’s strategic partnerships.

Tudor Buzatu graduated Sociology at University of Bucharest and has two MA degrees at University of Bucharest and the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration. He is specialized in European Law. He has a large experience in activities concerning management and customer relations.

H.E. Vladimir Války is the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Romania. He is a career diplomat in the former Federal Foreign Affairs Ministry of the R.S.F. Czechoslovakia in Prague, later served at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Czech Republic in Prague.

Ioannis Armakolacs (Ph.D. 2007) is Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics of South-East Europe, Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki) and ‘Stavros Costopoulos’ Research Fellow & Head of the South-East Europe Programme at the Hellenic Foundation of European & Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) in Athens where he runs the Foundation’s projects focusing on SEE.

Sergiy Gerasymchuck is involved in political studies since 2001 and has the experience of working for the Secretariat of the Parliament of Ukraine, scientific research institutions under the President of Ukraine and under Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. Besides, he was involved in projects implemented by national and international think tanks in Ukraine and in the area of Eastern Partnership. Among these organizations and structures, Sergiy used to cooperate as an expert, analyst and project manager with the National Democratic Institute, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, NATO Center for Information and Documentation, NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine, Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, Volkswagen Foundation, International Renaissance Foundation. As an expert, Sergiy cooperated with Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (HSFK), International Center for Defense and Security (Tallinn, Estonia), International Center for Democratic Transformation in Budapest (Hungary), International Research Company GfK Ukraine and also conducted the research at Uppsala University (Sweden) and Lublin University (Poland). Sergiy is also Board member at Strategic and Security Studies Group.

Radu Magdin trains politicians and staff (at international, national and local level) on issues dealing with media relations. He is a visiting professor on political analysis and political leadership at the University of Bucharest’s Journalism and Science of Communications Faculty.

From December 2014 to June 2015, Radu served as Honorary Advisor to the Romanian Prime Minister, on foreign media and political strategy. In 2014 he was one of the 15 Members of NATO’s Emerging Leaders Working Group where he did advisory work on the future of the Transatlantic Bond and NATO. From 2010-12, he was based in Brussels where he worked as an Associate on behalf of Google for the European Parliament, as communications manager for EURACTIV, and served as press officer for the Romanian Social-Democrat Delegation in the European Parliament. From 2006-2007, he was an editor on EU Affairs for the Romanian National News Agency. From 2004-2005, Radu served in the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked on regional cooperation and bilateral relations.

Radu writes on national and international politics, communications, EU affairs, IT and energy in both Brussels and Bucharest based publications and has been quoted in the foreign media, as an analyst, by The Economist, The Financial Times, The Guardian, AFP, AP, La Libre Belgique, XINHUA.

In October 2015, Radu enrolled in a PhD program at the National University for Political Studies and Public Administration, with a focus on Russian Propaganda during the Hybrid War. Radu holds a BA in Law from the University of Bucharest with a thesis on international settlement of disputes. He holds a MA in European Union Law and a MA in Security Studies from the University of Bucharest.

Victor Adrian Vevera started his career as a Counselor for National Security in 2006. In 2008, he became the Counselor for the General Director of the General Directorate for Intelligence and Internal Security, and in July 2009 he became the Personal Counselor of the Prime Minister. He was the President of the Administration Council of Transelectrica Company, and afterwards became the General Director in 2012. He was also the General Director of Romanian National Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Martin Mendelski is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies in Cologne. Dr. Mendelski studied, lived and worked in several countries from Central and Eastern Europe. He graduated from the University of Mannheim and the European University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Luxembourg. For his doctoral thesis he received the “THESEUS Award for Promising Research on European Integration”.

Current research topics: 1. Why do we see an emergence of Constitutional Crises and “disputes about the rule of law” in CEE and how can they be resolved? 2. How can European integration be reconciled with national integration? 3. Under which conditions do processes of modernization result in pathological consequences for states, markets and societies? 4. What are the causes of deficient anti-corruption policies and practices? 5. What are the consequences of state and market fragmentation for national security?

Visiting positions: Harvard University, European University Institute, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, University of Georgia, Bilkent University, Max Planck Institute for European Legal History and European Law Academy.

Publications: Constitutional Political Economy, Comparative European Politics, East European Politics, Southeastern Europe, Polish Sociological Review, Leviathan and The Routledge Handbook of East European Politics.

Iurie Reniță, was appointed as the ambassador of the Republic of Moldova in Romania in 2010.

His Excellency was part of the first graduating class of the Moldovan students at the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest. During 1996-1999 he was counselor at the Moldovan Embassy in Washington, D.C., after which he served as adviser to Foreign Minister. Iurie Reniță also worked for several years with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Mission to Croatia and was manager of the British American Tobacco, Moldova.

His Excellency was decorated with Romania’s National Order “Faithful Service” with the rank of Grand Cross in 2015. During 2016 and 2017 he served as the ambassador of NATO and Belgium.

Miruna Butnaru-Troncotă is a Lecturer and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of International Relations and European Studies of the National University of Political Science and Public Administration (SNSPA) since 2016. She has a direct research interest in EU integration, Europeanization and post-conflict reconstruction of the Western Balkans. In the last years she combined academic research with experience in the field of European diplomacy in the Balkans. She graduated the National Program for Young Diplomats organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Diplomatic Institute (2011), and she worked as an intern Political officer for the Romanian Embassy in Sarajevo (2013) and the Delegation of the European Union in Prishtina (2014) as an intern – political officer.

Zoran Dragišić is a Member of the Serbian Parliament and security analyst. He has served in the National Assembly of Serbia since 2016 as part of the parliamentary grouping of the Serbian Progressive Party and he was previously a candidate for president of Serbia in the 2012 presidential election. He is currently a member of the parliamentary defense and internal affairs committee; a deputy member of three other committees; a deputy member of Serbia’s delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; the head of the parliamentary friendship group with Turkey; and a member of the parliamentary friendship groups with China, Israel, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

He graduated from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Security Studies in 1991 as valedictorian and subsequently earned a master’s degree (1999) and Ph.D. (2004) from the university’s faculty of law.

Lyubomir Kyuchukovis a career diplomat and politician. He served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, as member of the Council on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to the President of Bulgaria, as member of the National Security Council, and as ambassador to the United Kingdom. He was a member of the Board of Editors of International Relations and Novo Vreme magazines (Sofia). Currently Mr. Kyuchukov is Director of the Economics and International Relations Institute (EIRI) and member of the Board of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Society.

Brigadier General Corneliu Postu is the Director of the Defence Staff within the Ministry of National Defence. In what education is concerned he graduated the military High School (1979-1983) from Câmpulung Moldovenesc and further he continued his studies in Artillery and Radar Active-duty Commanders, followed by the Academy of Higher Military Studies, AD Missiles in Bucharest, post academic courses in security and national defence and a Master in ‘Defence Diplomacy’. Regarding the professional experience, Mr. Postu had many important positions such as Chief of Staff of the 1^st AD Missile Division/12^th AD Missile Regiment in Galați, Commander of 210^th Logistic Battalion and Training officer of the Air Force’s Staff, Staff Officer for the Aero-spatial operations in Izmir, Turkey and many more. For his services in the military domain, Mr. Postu was awarded the “În Serviciul Patriei” Honorary Sign for 15,20 and 25 years of military service, the Naval Forces’ Emblem of Honor, Air Force’s Emblem of Honor, “Virtutea militară” National Order in the rank of knight, with military mark and the Alabama Commendation Medal.

After 1990 Prof. Balázs joined the Government and the diplomatic service of Hungary several times. He was a State Secretary for Industry and Trade (1992-1993) and a State Secretary for European Integration (2002-2003). He was nominated Ambassador of Hungary to Denmark (1994-1996), Germany (1997-2000) and to the EU in Brussels (2003-2004). In 2009-2010 he was Foreign Minister of Hungary. He was Government Representative of Hungary in the European Convention drafting the Constitutional Treaty which has become, after several modifications, the Lisbon Treaty.

In 2004, he was nominated the first Hungarian Member of the European Commission responsible for regional policy. Upon the invitation of the European Commission, he coordinates priority projects of the Trans-European Transport Network.

Prof. Balázs is currently holding a Jean Monnet Ad Personam Chair at CEU. His research activities are centered on the foreign policy of the EU and problems of the late modernization and European integration of the Eastern part of the continent. He also analyzes questions of European governance including the future of European institutions.

Spanish Navy Commander Juan Ozores Massó graduated in the Spanish Naval and Military Academy in 1986 after 5 years of naval and military education. Subsequently completing his educations at the Naval Academy, in 1986, he attained the rank of Lieutenant and his first assignment was on board of the Aircraft carrier “Dedalo” as flight deck officer. Later on, he embarked on different units of “The Royal Spanish Fleet”.

Due to his experience on board of combat ships, he was posted as Combat System Section Chief in the “Combat Operational Qualification and Assessment Centre (CEVACO)”. Then, he was selected as attendee to the Joint Staff Course and once he finished, he was assigned in the Navy Headquarter to lead a Logistic Section and the Navy Bureau for Operative Safety. During that period he was temporary deployed as Naval Liaison Officer of Spanish Minister of Defence for “Iraqi Freedom” Operation in CENTCOM, Tampa (Florida).  Afterwards, he was assigned abroad, as staff officer in the Joint Force Command Headquarter in Naples. In that period he initiated the core team for the “NATO Training Mission in IRAK (NTMI)” and after two year he was move to a new vacancy in JFC Naples as “Head of the Training and Exercises Section”, to lead the Key Leaders Training of the NRF10.

Back to Spain, he was nominated as technical advisor of the General Director for the policy of Armed Forces Personnel. Finishing that period he was assigned as Head of the Intelligence Systems Section in the Spanish Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (CIFAS). CDR OZORES MASSÓ is also a professor associate in the “Foundation for Strategic and International Studies (FESEI)” for civil intelligence courses, speaker in military intelligence courses and also a writer in the Spanish Navy magazine. Also, he has a degree in High Management of Human Resources, a diploma in Joint Staff Course, and is specialist in Mechanical Engineer and Electronics. As of August 2017 he assumed the Deputy Commander position (DCOM / EXO) of the NFIU Romania in Bucharest, Romania.

Dănuț Sebastian Neculăescu was appointed in 2017 as state secretary for the liaisons with the Eastern neighbourhood and multilateral relations at global level. He is a Romanian diplomat and has been working for the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry since 2002. Between April and July 2017 he was a state counselor for the Romanian Prime Minister, while between June 2016 and April 2017 he was secretary of state for strategic affairs. He has graduated from the Faculty of Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Bucharest and the Faculty of Law at Nicolae Titulescu University.

Żurawski vel GRAJEWSKI- is a political scientist and professor at the University of Lodz. He is specialized in issues concerning contemporary history and contemporary international relations. In 1992, he worked for the Ministry of National Defense in the Office for Defense Policy Planning. Between 1995-1996 he was activating in the Government in the area of European Integration and Foreign Assistance. In the years 2005-2006 he was an expert of the EPP-ED faction in the European Parliament in Brussels and dealt with the monitoring of the European Union’s eastern policy . In 2006 he became an academic teacher at the Belarusian European Humanities University in Vilnius. He is also a researcher of the Natolin European Center , and a lecturer at the National School of Public Administration . In 2015 he became a member of the National Development Council appointed by President Andrzej Duda.

Nicolae Nasta is State Secretary in the Ministry of National Defence and head of the Department for the Relation with the Parliament and the quality of life of the personnel. Mr. Nasta has a wide experience in politics, being also a former senator. In regard to the field of Defence, Mr. Nasta served as member of the Commission for Defence and National Security of the Romanian Senate. He has studied Foreign Policy and Diplomacy at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and he holds a master’s degree in Community Security and Terrorism.

General (Ret) Alexandru Grumaz is a security adviser, he has expertise in strategic military planning and budgeting, in international military and civilian relations, in managing complex organization, expertise in risk management. Between 2007 and 2009 he was the general Consul of Romania in Shanghai, in the People’s Republic of China. Between 2001 and 2005 he was first deputy of the Director of the Special Telecommunications Service. He holds a Master’s degree at the National Defence University in Washington DC on the Strategy of Defence Resources.

H.E. Viorel Isticioaia Budura is the Former Managing Director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service of the European Union. Between 2002 and 2010, he was the Romanian Ambassador in Beijing. He also worked at the Romanian embassies in South Korea, as Romanian Ambassador in Seoul between 2000 and 2002, in Japan and in the United Kingdom.

H.E. Mihai Gribincea is the current Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Romania. He was formerly the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Kingdom of Belgium. He was the Head of the Mission of the Republic of Moldova to NATO and the Political Advisor to the OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities in the Hague, the Netherlands, between 2001 and 2010. He is an Alumnus of the National University for Political Sciences and Public Administration.

Ms. Maria Magdalena Grigore serves as state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs beginning with July 19^th 2018. Former state secretary in the Ministry of Transports, Ms. Grigore held numerous positions of manager and coordinator, as for instance coordinator of the European Affairs and International Relations department in the Ministry of Transports. Additionally, Ms. Grigore represented Romania in various high ranking international organizations related to the field of Transport, as the Intergovernmental Organization for International Carriage by Rail, the Organization for Cooperation of Railways, and also in the Intergovernmental Commission for the Transport Corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA), where she holds the position of National Secretary of Romania. Graduating the Faculty of International Economic Relations at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Ms. Grigore holds a wide expertise in the fields of management and international cooperation, while her professional background reveals her expertise in transport management and development.

Florin Georgescu serves as First Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Romania since 2004. Having a wide expertise in the fields of finances and economy, Mr Georgescu held important positions both in national and international institutions. Beginning with 2011, Mr. Georgescu serves also as one of the members of the European Systemic Risk Board. Between 2004 and 2010, Mr. Georgescu was member of the Banking Supervision Committee of the European Central Bank. In the past, he served also as Minister of Economy and Finance. Besides his professional activity, Mr. Georgescu works also in the academic environment, being Professor at the Academy of Economics in Bucharest and doctoral supervisor in the field of “Money and Credit”. Having graduated a Bachelor in Finance and Accounting at the Academy of Economics in Bucharest, Mr. Georgescu holds a Ph.D. Degree in Finance, Money Circulation and Credit. Mr. Georgescu also graduated the International Institute for Management Development in Laussaune, Switzerland.

Dorin Popescu is a former Romanian diplomat, political analyst and expert on International Relations and European Studies. He is the President and Founding Member of the Black Sea House Association (Constanta) since July 2017, Associate Professor at Andrei Şaguna University of Constanta (Professor Popescu teaches courses related to diplomacy, European Union, International Relations and Journalism) and Doctor of letters / PhD since 2012. He had previously served as a diplomat within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he held different positions, as a Romanian diplomat in Moscow (Russian Federation), Chernivtsi (Ukraine) and Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), including as General Consul ad interim and Deputy Head of Mission. He holds the diplomatic rank of Minister-Counselor.  Dorin Popescu is a graduate of the Ovidius University of Constanta and holds a doctoral degree in Philology from Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava. Dorin Popescu has authored numerous articles (over 140 studies, essays, reviews, thematic articles, etc.) published in various journals and magazines (geopolitical, cultural and scientific) in Romania and abroad. He is a co-author of thematic programs and university courses in the field of public relations and history of the Romanian mass-media. He is a frequent media commentator on Romanian foreign policy, geopolitics of the Black Sea area and domestic politics. Member of the Scientific Committee of “Patrimonium. Romanian Journal of Historical and Intercultural Studies”.