NextGen Network: Transatlantic Initiative
Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship
The NextGen Network: Transatlantic Initiative, organized by the Aspen Institute International Partners and supported by Microsoft, held its launch event last January 26th under the title of ‘Make it Durable: Renewing the Transatlantic Relationship’. Over the past months, NextGen members engaged in surveys, virtual workshops, breakout groups, and moderated discussions on the current state—and possible future for—the transatlantic relationship. In his laucnh event the group presented the NextGen Network Report.
Suzanne Lynch, Co-Author of Brussels Playbook for POLITICO moderated a conversation with Beatriz Camacho Ávila, Manager for Southern Europe for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Casper Klynge, Vice President of European Government Affairs for Microsoft and Adrian Shahbaz, Director of Technology and Democracy for the Freedom House, who were the panelists of the launch event and the members in charge of presenting the Report. Additionally, Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe, Former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and VP of the European Commission (2014-2019), made some initial remarks about the role young people can play in developing the transatlantic relationship.
The deeply rooted transatlantic relationship now faces old and new challenges. With rising autocracy, growing economic insecurity, climate threats, and the rapid development of technology, what is the transatlantic relationship’s role in mitigating these challenges?
The Aspen Institute’s International Partners convened the NextGen Network of millennials and Generation Z, from across the United States and Europe, for a deep dive on these questions and others. The group concluded that strengthening democracy, building economic opportunity, increasing sustainability efforts, and focusing on the development of technology will remain crucial for a prosperous transatlantic relationship and democratic world. In their report, NextGen members outline their perspectives and provide concrete policy recommendations to today’s leaders.
The NextGen Network: Transatlantic Initiative
NextGen Network was created by the International Partners of the Aspen Institute and supported by Microsoft in 2018. Its purpose was to bring together young leaders from different sectors of civil society such as business, policy, technology and journalism to debate and promote possible solutions to the main challenges facing the global community. In the different phases of the NextGen Network: Transatlantic Initiative, the group has participated in workshops and small group discussions, and colaborated with leaders in the field to produce a report outlining their perspective on the issue and their ideas for the way forward.
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Photo: NextGen Network. International Partners Aspen Institute.
