What is “Europe’s role in a fragmented world order”? This question was at the core of conversations Princetonians were able to have thanks to LISD’s support, at the start of the year with their colleagues at Harvard and senior policymakers, academics, and private-sector leaders.  A delegation of Princeton undergraduates and Master in Public Policy students who have engaged in various programs at the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination traveled to Cambridge, MA for the 11th annual European Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School. Conversations focused on the challenges related to EU governance, the American European relationship, Russian aggression in Ukraine, the future of energy and technology regulation, among other important topics. 

During the conference, the LISD delegation engaged with prominent speakers, including Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Mirjana Spoljaric (President of the International Committee of the Red Cross), and former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Beyond the formal panels, they also joined these leaders in informal discussions on critical issues, such as the sustainability of EU asylum policies, emerging security collaborations within NATO, and Europe’s quest to lead in green innovation. These conversations enriched the delegates’ research and professional interests, fostering serious policy considerations and networking that will last well beyond the conference.

Reflecting on the opportunity, Klaas Keirse MPP’25, a Belgian career diplomat, said “The timing was particularly notable,” referring to a private dinner he attended with outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. This conversation took place just days before a government transition in Brussels, enabling a uniquely candid exchange. “The advantage was that the Prime Minister was in a position to speak freely on his past experience and expectations for the future.” Keirse noted that De Croo offered “a counterbalance to prevailing narratives of pessimism,” underlining Europe’s potential for global leadership together with its friends and allies.

For LISD International Policy Associate (IPA) Katherine Holden ’26, the panel “Migration: Shaping Elections and Societies” was among the event’s most memorable sessions “offering passionate discussion on the ethics of European asylum and the reconciliation,” she recounted, citing contrasting perspectives from a French Member of Parliament, the UN Migration Agency and an EU Commissioner. Holden also underscored the significance of a keynote from Mirjana Spoljaric Egger citing that “...her recent travels through conflict-affected areas… revealed the destruction, fear, hunger, and tragedy people face daily.” 

Ukrainian LISD IPA Zhenia Khalabadzhakh ’26 echoed these statements and was particularly struck by informal conversations with policymakers advocating for Ukrainian security cooperation. “During the gala, I had the chance to interact with former Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki,” Khalabadzhakh noted, calling it a timely discussion given tensions in Eastern Europe. Engaging with such high-level figures reinforced her sense that the region’s urgent priorities in defense, asylum, and Ukraine’s postwar future, must remain central in the broader EU agenda.

U.S. Army Major Josh Peters MPP’25, a Special Forces officer and European Foreign Area Officer, used the conference to assess Europe’s evolving security posture. For Peters, professional networking at the event was just as critical. Soon to be Deputy Director of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, he found that “Conversations with policymakers and thought leaders reinforced the importance of a Europe that is prepared to act decisively while maintaining its commitment to democratic ideals.” 

Collectively, these experiences underscored that Europe’s decisions resonate far beyond its own borders, shaping the trajectory of global governance in an increasingly interconnected world. All of the European issues covered don’t exist in a vacuum, but have a domino effect even in the most unexpected places. For the LISD delegation, the conference illuminated the urgent need for robust transatlantic dialogue, anchored in a clear-eyed understanding of humanitarian, security, and economic priorities. As global challenges intensify, sustained engagement with European leaders and institutions remains essential, not only for strengthening governance within Europe but also for advancing a more stable, inclusive, and innovative international community.

By TJ Eyerman '26