Transatlantic Alliance in Crisis
In this address, AMBASSADOR MARK GITENSTEIN leverages his nearly three decades of public service and deep engagement in Central and Eastern Europe to discuss the imperative of a unified transatlantic response in today’s volatile geopolitical climate. He draws on his experiences as U.S. Ambassador to Romania and as Representative to the EU to outline how fragile is democracy in Europe and why Americans should care about a strong transatlantic alliance of vibrant democracies. Drawing on the decisive actions of presidents of both parties from Truman and Eisenhower to Reagan and Biden how this has benefited our national security and what are the stakes in the current environment.
Championing Democracy Through Free Media and Transparent Institutions
AMBASSADOR MARK GITENSTEIN focuses on the critical role that independent media and transparent democratic institutions play in preserving democracy. Drawing on his distinguished career and accolades—including the Star of Romania and the ABA’s Silver Gavel award—he explains how free media serves as a bulwark against corruption and democratic backsliding. He advocates for new pathways to engage civil society leaders, financial experts, and media professionals, aiming to mobilize both international and local support for sustainable, pluralistic media markets in Central and Eastern Europe.
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.
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