PRESS RELEASE: EUROPEUM has a new leadership. It will be led by experienced diplomat Zdeněk Beránek and Martin Vokálek

The EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy will be headed by a new director from October 1st. Zdeněk Beránek, who has worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served as Deputy Ambassador in Washington, has been appointed the new Director. After seven years, he replaces Vladimír Bartovic, who has been with the Institute since 1999. Also, current Deputy Director Martin Vokálek will be in a new position as Executive Director.

The new director, Zdeněk Beránek, ended his mission at the Czech Embassy in Washington this summer, where he had served since 2016. Previously, he also served as head of the EU/NATO division in the Office of the President or Deputy Ambassador in Amman, Jordan. Prior to joining the diplomatic service, Zdeněk Beranek studied Middle Eastern and North African history and received his PhD from Charles University in Prague in 2011. He has published two books and numerous articles on international relations and contemporary history. He currently teaches at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University.

The current Director Vladimír Bartovic will now be part of the team in the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic as Director of the Department of Political Affairs. He will also continue to work at EUROPEUM externally.

"I am convinced that the arrival of Zdeněk Beránek will strengthen our Institute. Zdeněk brings valuable experience and contacts in international politics and diplomacy, which will help to further improve the quality of EUROPEUM's activities and outputs. I wish him and the whole team success in achieving the Institute's vision and mission," said Vladimír Bartovic.

"Vladimir's stepping down as Director was a big surprise for all of us, but I am convinced that we have a very good team, successful projects, and interesting activities. That is why I think that thanks to my colleagues, current partners, continued support of Vladimir, and the arrival of Zdeněk Beránek, we can move EUROPEUM even further and be even more successful than ever before," added Martin Vokálek, taking on the new position of Executive Director.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Vladimir on his new position in the Slovak President's team. At the same time, I would like to thank him for his many years of work in the leadership of the Institute, which is currently one of the most influential and respected Czech think tanks. My intention is to further strengthen this position. I see the forthcoming Czech Presidency as a great opportunity, during which the Czech Republic will be tackling major issues at European level, such as climate change and energy security, or relations with the Western Balkans, the Indo-Pacific and the United States. The role of independent institutions such as the EUROPEUM Institute will be indispensable in this endeavour," said Zdeněk Beránek.

Barbora Genser
Communications Manager