The Future of Democracy in Europe

With many elections in Europe being decided in the past year and more ahead in 2025, the topic of the future of democracy in Europe is timely. It is also a moment of evolving relations between the United States and the European Union. How might democracy and international diplomacy chart a path forward?

To invite consideration of this and other pressing questions, the Nanovic Insitutute has partnered with the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative to present a public lecture and dialogue with Mark Gitenstein, former United States Ambassador to the European Union. Gitenstein will be on-campus for several weeks during the spring 2025 semester as the Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence. His presentation will also be part of the ND Democracy Talks series.

The Nanovic Forum aims to bring Europe’s leaders to Notre Dame to engage with students, faculty, and its wider scholarly community. Likewise, the Democracy Talks series creates opportunities for Notre Dame students to better understand current events and pressing policy issues. With these two inter-related goals, this presentation will spark dialogue on the European Union, its relationship with the United States, and where democracy goes from here on both sides of the Atlantic.

This event is co-sponsored by the Nanovic Institute’s Nanovic Forum and the Notre Dame Democracy Initiatitive. For more information visit the event website. Join us on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET.

About the Speaker
Mark Gitenstein served as United States ambassador to the European Union from January 24, 2022, through January 17, 2025. Before this post, Gitenstein served as partner and counsel for Mayer Brown LLP for more than 30 years. He also held previous government roles, including serving as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2009-2012) and working with the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees.