Europe with(out) the U.S. — the Future of NATO and the European Union
For years, NATO and the European Union have relied on the United States as a key player both to its economy and security. While the U.S. remains a member of NATO and a supporter of European security, there has been some strain on the transatlantic relationship under the Trump administration that calls into question what the future of NATO and the European Union would look like with and without the United States, especially in the face of the Ukrainian and Russian conflict. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein, a lawyer and diplomat who served as an ambassador to the European Union, will draw on his experience to explain how changes in global power dynamics would affect Europe.
Gitenstein began his role as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union in January 2022. A retired partner from Mayer Brown LLP, he previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2009–2012) and spent 17 years in the U.S. Senate, including 13 with then Sen. Joe Biden on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees.
Over the past decade, Gitenstein has focused on strengthening democracy in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Romania, through work on market transparency, anti-corruption, and rule of law initiatives. His work highlights the critical role of free media as a keystone of democracy. He also co-led Biden's transitions to the vice presidency (2008) and presidency (2020).
He holds a BA from Duke University and a JD from Georgetown Law. He was awarded Romania's highest civilian honor in 2012, a personal and professional achievement as the grandson of Romanian immigrants. He also received the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award in 1993 for his book "Matters of Principle" on the Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork.
Date/Time: Friday, October 24, 2025 7:00-8:30PM
Location: Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State St, Erie, PA 16508
Admission:
- General Admission (Early Bird Pricing) $25
- Preferred Seating (Early Bird Pricing) $50 (Closest Section Near the Stage)
Additional Fees: Amusement Tax, Processing Fee
Parking: TBD
Ambassador Mark Gitenstein was nominated July 27, 2021, to serve as Representative of the United States of America to the European Union. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 18. He ended his mandate on January 20, 2025.
Gitenstein is a lawyer who recently retired from Mayer Brown LLP, where he had served over most of the last 30 years as partner and counsel. Gitenstein served as U.S. Ambassador to Romania (2009- 2012) and began his career with 17 years of service in the U.S. Senate on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees. He worked for then- Senator Biden for 13 of those 17 years, co-chairing the then-Senator’s transition to the vice presidency in 2008 and helping set up his transition to the presidency in 2020. Over the last two decades, he has worked extensively in Central and Eastern Europe, focused on preserving and fortifying democracy by ensuring transparency in equity markets, fighting corruption, strengthening the rule of law, defending free and independent media, and protecting journalists.
As US Ambassador to the EU he focused primarily on supporting the allied response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine including extensive work on export controls, sanctions and developing innovative ways in which the US/EU could finance the war. He resolved vexing trade disputes on privacy and climate tech and worked in three successful summits to develop common approaches not only on the war and trade but on countering the People’s Republic of China and forging a common US/EU approach to the Gaza war.
Of particular note, Ambassador Gitenstein has worked tirelessly to raise awareness on both sides of the Atlantic of the importance of free media as a bulwark against democratic backsliding, along with a call for action and funding in this field. He forged new pathways to convene civil society leaders, financial experts, philanthropists, and successful media outlets to recommend policy actions to the EU Commission to leverage blended-finance equity investments in innovative ways to invigorate independent and pluralist media landscapes in the region. Recognizing international capital and EU policy support are not enough to fund sustainable financing of pluralistic media markets in Central and Eastern Europe, he brought media investor forums in local markets to galvanize local buy-in to ensure scale of financing and increase trust and accountability of media locally.
Ambassador Gitenstein earned a BA from Duke University and JD from Georgetown Law School. He was awarded the Star of Romania, the
nation’s highest civilian honor, by the president of Romania in 2012. In 1993, he was also awarded the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel award for his book Matters of Principle about his role as chief counsel of the Senate Judiciary Committee during its consideration of Robert Bork to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
