The ELN exists to advance for the public benefit national and international conflict resolution, education and research on security and related challenges in Europe, including by the sound administration of, and compliance with, established international law on multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. These are the ELN’s goals.
The ELN’s strategic vision is to deliver these goals increasingly effectively through its Network of experienced and emerging leaders, which is at the heart of everything we do.
Consistent with the ELN’s goals, the Network will be an increasingly capable institution and community of purpose that supports coalitions of the willing to do what governments do not. Drawing on its uniqueness, independence and non-partisan character and on its diverse, intergenerational, pan-European membership, it will, for example, go places, convene people, conduct research, develop and explore policy options, publish balanced ideas, press for progress and create safe spaces for dialogue in ways that governments generally cannot. As far as practicable, the members of the Network will be the drivers of the Network in pursuit of the ELN’s goals.
To implement this strategic vision we will implement three parallel, mutually reinforcing things:
- Build the Network’s practical impact. To exert its full influence, the Network will develop a strong reputation and maximise its impact through the credibility that comes from great, impartial research and analysis; effective communications to its audiences, skilful informal diplomacy on conflict resolution and backing for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and a well-run operation. The Network will choose its activities and areas of focus according to alignment with the ELN’s goals, capacity, Network interests and aptitudes, impact achievability, partnerships, and institutional development.
- Build the Network’s institutional effectiveness. The Network will be able to reach and directly and indirectly educate and support the decision-making of governments, by helping to explore different policy options and contribute to conflict resolution and compliance with the NPT. That calls for: recruiting and developing a diverse membership for influence in all its relevant forms; highly effective partnerships; brilliant staff to engage and facilitate the rest of the Network; and a talent pipeline to sustain the institution and the policy field for the long haul.
- Build the Network’s resources. We will energetically raise funds and diversify our funding sources to make the Network strong, agile, sustainable and independent. We will develop the ELN’s staff and partnerships to support the Network as effectively as they can. We will nurture the Network’s reputation in order to maximise its influence and impact.