On 27 February Ditchley convened a small group of experts and representatives from a range of Central and Eastern European countries to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the region. We covered the effect of Russian influence, the role of the EU and the need for the UK to develop its understanding of the region and its own influence. The role of nationalism, both positive and potentially destructive, was also explored.
One of the insights of the evening’s discussion was that we have a tendency to think East to West but to ignore the North to South dynamic in Europe. Ditchley will return to this theme with discussions on the evolution of democracy and the future role of the UK in Northern Europe, including the Baltic states.