BRUSSELS, Belgium—At The Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s December 2014 dinner event hosted by Dr. Stefan Gehrold, director of the organization’s office in Brussels, Becky Norton Dunlop, vice president of external relations at The Heritage Foundation and former director of the White House Cabinet office for President Reagan, delivered the keynote address communicating the importance of strengthening the transatlantic partnership based on key principles and addressing the unfinished work of advancing the rule of law and economic freedom.
The keynote address presented by Dunlop articulated President Ronald Reagan’s vision and principled leadership, and, his direct engagement with America’s allies in Europe during the Cold War period. The dedicated efforts of stalwarts, including Ronald Reagan, Lady Thatcher, Konrad Adenauer, Pope John Paul II, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn and other distinguished leaders were acknowledged in hastening the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The speech outlined three key points commencing with remembrance—reflecting on the challenges and hardships brought by World War II and the Cold War decades and the accomplishments and results in freeing a continent from the threat of communism and tyranny. Dunlop encouraged a recommitment to the high ideals which transformed the world and resolve to pass these principles to families, friends, and future generations.
In highlighting the historic accomplishments by the leading lights of liberty from the West and within Eastern Europe, Dunlop reminded the audience of the challenges faced by Americans and Europeans, including the rise of anti-Semitism across Europe, uncertainty in Ukraine, Russia’s encroachment and the instability in the Balkans. The vulnerabilities exposed on Europe’s continent revealed weak rule of law states and rampant corruption. The message underscored the message that there is unfinished work in advancing the rule of law and freedom.
The speech called for bold ideas for the 21st century, based on principles and affirming the foundation of the rule of law and protection of property rights—in addressing challenges within the countries of the transatlantic alliance and advancing freedom in difficult places around the world.
Prior to Dunlop’s keynote, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation invited Natasha Srdoc, chairman of the Adriatic Institute, co-founder of International Leaders Summit and former contributor to The Economist Intelligence Unit, to present an overview of the Index of Economic Freedom for the European region, co-published by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.
The prominent dinner event was attended by a high-level visiting delegation from the German Bundestag in Berlin, senior leaders from EU member states and diplomats.
Dunlop’s visit to Brussels included high-level meetings with Europe’s elected leaders including meetings with Paulo Rangel, vice chairman of the European People’s Party (EPP), Monica Macovei, member of the European Parliament (MEP) and former justice minister of Romania, Tunne Kelam, MEP, Estonia and one the Baltic region’s pioneering freedom fighter calling for Estonia’s independence. During her visit, Dunlop addressed the Young Leaders Network affiliated with the EPP.
