Almost three decades ago, the end of the Cold War ushered in a new era of unparalleled opportunities, and a challenge to alter the face of Europe and the Western world in search for a new Pax Atlantica by bringing freedom, peace and prosperity to capital cities from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Former countries of the communist world embraced reforms and began rebuilding their societies to join and partake in the completion of creating a Europe whole, free and at peace, as part of a vast Euro-Atlantic community of values and institutions.
As early as 1990, Romania assumed its role within this family by embracing its historical, cultural and contemporary legacy as a European state, firmly committed to the family of Atlantic values and institutions. In 2002 and 2004, at the Prague and Istanbul NATO Summits, the efforts of generations and governments, supported by private sector and civil society initiatives, materialized into Romania’s NATO accession, a historic moment that future generations will remember as the most vivid proof for our country’s commitment to being a part of the Euro-Atlantic community.
The Euro Atlantic Council of Romania – created in 2002 as a consortium on NGO’s – was formally recognized by the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) as a full member and national chapter of the ATA when Romania became a member of NATO. A non-governmental, non-profit umbrella, the Council seeks to bring together Romanian NGO/s, think tanks, universities and researchers, to promote the central role of the Euro-Atlantic community in the contemporary world context, through a better understanding of traditions and values, and of current structures and policies of the Atlantic community institutions.
Our mission is rooted in the concept that “the journey is as important as the destination”. As Romania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and became one of its strategic members in the Eastern flank, it became obvious that the path towards future objective offers an experience that creates unique opportunities for national growth, learning, and self-knowledge. Through our publications and series of events, through conferences and seminars, through research and education programs, a through youth programs and the Young Atlantic Treaty Organization – YATA, the Council aims to be a catalyst throughout this crucial process. By inspiring young and future generations of politicians, business leaders, academics, media representatives, and civil society leaders …
In recent years, NATO has changed fundamentally, from its historic role as a military alliance towards its new status as a community of nations built on shared values of Western civilization and principles that have built, for over a century, a cooperation framework on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Our predecessors laid the foundations for these values which today we believe in and defend: democracy, freedom, peace, human rights and rule of law.
Today, this “civilizational alliance” (Vaclav Havel) ensures the proper functioning of the world’s engine of growth, opportunities, economic development, social justice and globalization.