Concordia Europe

Concordia launched its Europe Initiative in 2017, with the inaugural Concordia Europe Summit in Athens, Greece, taking place at a pivotal time for the continent following significant shifts in regional leadership. The Summit, which explored the role of partnerships in preserving a modern-day union, quelling the refugee crisis, and reigniting regional economic growth, highlighted Greece as one of the fundamental foundations of democracy in the world. It featured a keynote address from U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, who discussed the importance of the transatlantic partnership between Europe and the U.S. in addressing economic challenges and enhancing security. 

Given the current state of international affairs, Europe remains at the forefront of many of the most pressing global issues, among them the changing landscape of global commerce, addressing mass migration, achieving the SDGs by 2030, and adapting to technological developments. The region has therefore remained a focal point of Concordia’s programming since the inaugural Europe Summit in 2017. The Concordia Annual Summit has heard from European leaders such as Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the UK, Alexis Tsipras, Former Prime Minister of Greece, and Lt. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, Commanding General of the United States Army Europe, among many other key European figures. 

The 2019 Concordia Europe – AmChamSpain Summit, held in Madrid, Spain in June 2019, provided an international platform to elevate action-oriented dialogue for both Spain and Europe as a whole, while also exploring the critical relationship between the European Union and the international community. 

Concordia returned to Madrid to host the 2023 Europe Summit on June 15-16, 2023. Through a new and innovative format for Concordia, this one-and-a-half day event brought together 75 decision makers for a set of high-level closed-door conversations centered on the theme of Democracy, Security & Geopolitical Risk, with a focus on cyber and energy security and diplomatic tools. Through a Concilium format, key leaders were positioned in front of an intimate, dynamic audience, fostering honest and transparent interaction between the public and private sectors. While conversations were off the record, participants had the opportunity to share their perspectives with select reporters in dedicated press breakouts and interviews. Following the 2023 Europe Summit, Concordia presented key recommendations to Spanish and EU leadership as Spain assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July 1, 2023.  Learn more here. 

In May 2024, the 2024 Europe Summit brought together decision makers for a high-level two-day gathering in Porto, Portugal, filling a critical gap in diplomatic conversations shaping Europe and the role of the private sector. Mornings featured closed-door conversations focused on three key themes: The Energy Transition; Economic Growth & Competitiveness; and, Cooperation, Peace & Security. Afternoons saw participants enjoy local cultural activities and networking opportunities across a range of sectors and industries.