Madrid office

The Madrid representation was established in September 2007 to provide ECFR with strong national and regional input into its analysis and research, and to help stimulate pan-European debate on strategic European foreign affairs issues. 

The Madrid office receives support from FRIDE, a leading Spanish think-tank established by Diego Hidalgo - a Spanish philanthropist, intellectual and businessman. Hidalgo is one of ECFR’s founders and a member of its Board. FRIDE is led by Pierre Schori, who is also a leading Council member.

Former Defence Minister Narcís Serra has also been involved with ECFR since its founding. Serra has previously also held the positions of Vice-President of Government (1991-1995) and Member of the Spanish Parliament (1986-2004). He is currently President of CIDOB, a leading think-tank in Barcelona which closely cooperates with ECFR and FRIDE.
 
Other key Council members include Manuel Castells, Juan Fernando López-Aguilar, Marcelino Oreja, Ana Palacio and Carlos Alonso Zaldívar.

ECFR inaugurated its activities in Madrid in December 2007 with a public event attended by Javier Solana, Secretary General of the EU Council and High Representative for the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Emma Bonino, Diego Hidalgo, Mark Leonard,  Mabel van Oranje and Ana Palacio. For a full agenda and press coverage of the event, please visit the office's Spanish site.
 
Headed by José Ignacio Torreblanca, professor of political science and El Pais columnist, the office focuses on research, advocacy and public activities. To access executive summaries of ECFR reports in Spanish, please visit the office's Spanish site.
 
In 2008, the office organised a round-table discussion on EU-Russia relations, a discussion with Martti Ahtisaari on prospects for stability in the Balkans, a high profile debate on the future of European defence co-operation (ESDP), and a public lecture by Joschka Fischer on the EU’s foreign policy.

At present, the office is focusing on issues relating to Spanish foreign policy during Spain's 2010 EU Presidency.

• Jose Ignacio Torreblanca on the prospects for the Spanish presidency of the EU.Click here for the audio (English)

• Lluís Bassets, director adjunto del diario El País”. “El desafío más importante que enfrenta la Unión Europea. Click here for the video (Espanol)

• Diego Hidalgo, presidente de FRIDE: “El desafío más importante que enfrenta la Unión Europea.” Click here for the video (Espanol)

Podcasts acerca del lugar de Europa en el mundo, las relaciones internacionales y la politica exterior de Espana y Europa - en espanol desde ECFR

• José Ignacio Torreblanca repasa los retos y prioridades de la Presidencia española de la UE. Click aqui por audio

ECFR staff in Madrid

José Ignacio Torreblanca
Head of ECFR Madrid and Senior Policy Fellow
Tel. + 34 912 444 770
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Marisa Figueroa
Advocacy and Communications Officer
Tel. +34 912 444 74
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

ECFR Madrid Office:
C/ Goya, 5-7. Pasaje 2ª,
28001 Madrid
Tel. +34 912 444 740 (switchboard)
Fax +34 912 444 771
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Si desea información en castellano acerca de ECFR, sus actividades y publicaciones, incluyendo su declaración de principios, puede visitar la página web habilitada a este respecto en la web de FRIDE - http://www.fride.org/page/11/european-council-on-foreign-relations