From 11-13 September 2016, the European Leadership Network in partnership with the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) hosted a delegation of European parliamentarians for an international dialogue on global nuclear security in Washington, D.C.
The visit was designed to educate European parliamentarians on issues relating to nuclear materials security as well as develop new leadership to sustain progress on nuclear security in European capitals.
Led by ELN Chair Des Browne, the trip included meetings with experts from the Washington think-tank community as well as senior figures from the U.S. State Department, the Department of Energy, and members of Congress. The parliamentarians also visited the Norwegian and British embassies in Washington, D.C.
The delegation included:
– Lord Browne of Ladyton (United Kingdom) ELN Chair and NTI Vice-Chairman and former Defence Secretary.
– Dr Karl-Heinz Brunner MP (Germany) Chair of the Subcommittee on Disarmament, Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, member of the German NATO Parliamentary Assembly Delegation and member of the Defence Committee.
– Stephen Gethins MP (United Kingdom) Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Europe and member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.
– Trond Helleland MP (Norway) Leader of the Norwegian Conservative party, member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees and member of the Norwegian OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation.
– Dr Marek Ženíšek MP (Czech Republic) Member of the Chamber of Deputies, vice-chairman of TOP 09, member of the OSCE Parliamentay Assembly delegation and member of the Defence Committee.
– Shatabhisha Shetty (United Kingdom) Acting Director, European Leadership Network, London.
– Michael Meier (Germany) Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Washington, D.C.
– Michael Czogalla (United States) Program Officer for Foreign and Security Issues at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Washington, D.C.
This dialogue on global nuclear security is intended to create better understanding of the U.S. approach to nuclear security and to build sustainable relationships with partners from Europe.