Please join the Atlantic Council on January 30, 2015 for a flagship conference to mobilize the transatlantic community around an effective strategy for Europe’s East. 
 
The Ukraine crisis and Russia's renewed assertiveness in Europe's eastern neighborhood have vast implications for the region. The situation in Ukraine underscores the need for a reinvigorated transatlantic strategy which effectively addresses the most pressing political, economic, and security challenges facing the countries that remain on the margins of democratic transformation in Europe's East. 

Organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and anchored by Latvia’s Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, this conference will also mark the beginning of Latvia’s 2015 EU Presidency and will help inform efforts to reassess the EU’s Eastern Partnership, shape the role of the United States in the region, and advance an effective neighborhood policy in advance of the May 2015 Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.

In addition to Minister Rinkēvičs, prominent European Union officials and high-level US representatives will participate in the conference, including several other ministers of foreign affairs from the region and prominent architects of the Eastern Partnership policy.

The event will be preceded by a reception to mark the beginning of Latvia’s EU Presidency hosted by the Embassy of Latvia on January 29th at the Capitol Hill (upon separate invitation). The reception will feature remarks from H.E. Margot Wallström, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Menendez, Senator Chris Murphy, Senator Rob Portman, and Representative John Shimkus.