Dear colleagues and friends,

In the four years of its existence, the FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (FES ROCPE), based in Vienna, has established itself as a think tank that generates ideas and then distributes them among decision makers, academia and society. Our focus is on the challenges for European Security in a rapidly changing environment – within the EU, among transatlantic partners and in the Eastern Europe region in the geographical framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The increasing intensity of tensions between East and West and possible steps towards de-escalation is as much our concern as it is that of the OSCE.

The cooperation with you on these important topics has been critical. COVID-19 made travel either difficult or impossible. Still, we kept each other in the loop and were able to continue the much needed conversation on difficult issues. On behalf of FES ROCPE and the whole Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung we would like to thank you. Without your input, your criticism and your cooperation we would not have been able to come this far.

Finally, we are very proud to announce that FES ROCPE is growing. Since the late summer of this year we have expanded our portfolio. Not only will we be working on European Security but also on challenges for democracy, rule of law and human rights. In the coming months we will inform you about these developments, about our programs and projects for the next year and beyond.
Only with our partners within the FES family and throughout the world will we be able to achieve tangible results.

We wish you a healthy, democratic and peaceful 2021.

Best regards,
FES ROCPE