European Horizons

European Horizons

Founder(s)	Igor Mitschka, Melina Sánchez Montañés
Established	February 14, 2015
Focus	European and Transatlantic Affairs
Executive Directors	Max Krahé
Location	New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Website	www.europeanhorizons.org

European Horizons is a transatlantic, non-partisan think tank based at Yale University.^[1]

European Horizons think-tank is devoted to exploring the meaning of European identity, modernizing and reforming the concept of the social market economy, advancing the cause of European integration, and deepening transatlantic relations. To this end, European Horizons has established a network of students, professors, and European decision-makers, with links to academia, politics, civil society, and business. By bringing together students and notable members of academia, government, and private sector European Horizons strives to provide opportunities to engage in a constructive dialogue that will propound a platform of ideas for reforming the European Union and set a policy vision for its future.

As the only think tank in the USA focused exclusively on the progress of the European idea, European Horizons works towards forging a vision for the future of the European Union. European Horizons is endorsed by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme.^[2][3]

As part of its activities, European Horizons hosts an annual European Student Conference at Yale University,^[4] publishes a bi-annual academic journal, the Review of European & Transatlantic Affairs,^[5] and maintains chapters^[6] across universities in the United States and Europe.

History

European Horizons was founded on February 14, 2015 at the inaugural European Student Conference (ESC) at Yale University,^[7][8] with the encouragement of policy-makers, such as Pascal Lamy, Tony Blair, David O’Sullivan, and Erhard Busek, and professors, such as David R. Cameron, Jolyon Howorth, and Vivien Schmidt.^[9]

After several months of deliberations, European Horizons ratified its "Declaration of Principles" on October 24, 2015 at its first Fall Policy Convention.^[10]

Activities

European Horizons pursues activities across four branches: “Policy", “Network", “Innovation" and "Outreach".^[11]

The “Policy” branch generates policy reports on topics of European identity, the social market economy, European integration and transatlantic relations.^[12]

The “Network” branch connects undergraduate and graduate students from various American and European universities to high-profile professors and decision makers.^[13] Currently, European Horizons has chapters at 20 universities across the U.S. and Europe, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Texas A&M, University of Wisconsin, University of Iowa, and College d’Europe.^[14]

The “Innovation” branch brings together young innovators and entrepreneurs in order to develop business ventures that can have a direct positive social and economic impact on the European Union.^[15]

The “Outreach” branch aims to reach out to the American society and inform the public about the history, values, and global presence of the European Union.^[16]

European Student Conference^[17]

Annual European Student Conference organized by European Horizons provides an opportunity to students from the United States and Europe to share their ideas and visions for Europe and engage in debate with notable policy-makers, decision-makers from civil society and business, and professors.

Spring Forum^[18]

European Horizons hosted its first annual Spring Forum in April 2016 in Washington, D.C. The Forum brought together rising trans-Atlantic leaders and thinkers to explore challenges facing Europe and the US-European partnership. The main topics that were covered at the Forum included European Army, European Intelligence System, European Border Security and Security Policy & the Social Contract. Participants were also asked to develop and present European responses to various security challenges, and had the opportunity to discuss their findings with one another and with seasoned policymakers and experts.

Transatlantic Digital Economy Youth Summit^[19]

The Youth Summit on the Transatlantic Digital Economy will take place at College of Europe on November 21 and 22 2016. European Horizons will bring together students, business representatives and policymakers to discuss the future of the digital economy and its meaning for Europe. The purpose of the Youth Summit is to elaborate a set of policy options that current young leaders deem essential for advancing the transatlantic digital agenda.

Fall Policy Convention^[20]

European Horizons assembles all chapters and their leaders at an annual Fall Policy Convention to discuss the think-tank’s strategy and long-term impact on the European Project and transatlantic relations.

References

European Horizons, The Huffington Post, Yale University