
<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%" id="bodyTable" style="font-size: 16px; font-variant-caps: normal; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyCell" align="center" valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 842px;"><table id="root" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody data-block-id="3" class="mceWrapper"><tr><td valign="top" align="center" class="mceSectionHeader" style="word-break: break-word;"></td></tr></tbody><tbody data-block-id="7" class="mceWrapper"><tr><td valign="top" align="center" class="mceSectionBody" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse; max-width: 660px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceWrapperInner" style="word-break: break-word;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="6" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--41" data-block-id="-41" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceGutterContainer" id="gutterContainerId-301" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceLayoutContainer" id="b301" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="301" id="section_68fddbca033f40e2794dab53a9f3c7f9" class="mceLayout" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--55" data-block-id="-55" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="center" id="b-29" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="-29" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--73" data-block-id="-73" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" id="b304" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="304" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="24" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId-303" data-block-id="303" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" id="b337" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px;"><div data-block-id="337" class="mceText" id="d337" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><h1 class="last-child" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">The <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=339d4c0312&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">Europe’s Futures Initiative</a> will launch in Vienna.</h1></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b17" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px;"><div data-block-id="17" class="mceText" id="d17" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><p style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">The developments of recent years make one thing clear: Europe must reinvent itself. Starting next year, a new geopolitical institution based in Vienna will contribute to this effort with creative and forward-looking solutions for the entire continent—the <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=c038954d61&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">Europe’s Futures Initiative</a> (EFI).</p><p style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;"><br></p><p style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">A remarkable network of individuals from academia, journalism, civil society, and think tanks forms the backbone of this new initiative. It builds on the success of the »<a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=63d7b2d652&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">Europe’s Futures Fellowship</a>«, a strategic partnership between the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) and ERSTE Foundation. It was from this group that the idea emerged to create an institutionalised platform for individuals who are internationally embedded in various institutions but will find in Vienna a new focal point for encounter and collaboration. These members will also be the ones to shape EFI’s content and projects in the future.</p><p style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;"><br></p><p class="last-child" style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">Step by step, this independent institution is now being further developed. Its director will be appointed in the coming months. What is already certain, however, is who will serve as President of the Board—the body responsible for governance, finances, and strategic direction: former Austrian Chancellor and Foreign Minister <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=074ec88294&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">Alexander Schallenberg</a>. As the initiator of EFI, ERSTE Foundation is delighted to have secured such a seasoned champion for a free and democratic Europe for this key position – and is looking forward to everything that lies ahead!</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceButtonBlockContainer" align="center" id="b20" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="20" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceStandardButton"><td valign="top" class="mceButton" style="word-break: break-word; border-radius: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; display: block;"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:300px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="300"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:300px;background-color:#E6E6E6;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="300"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#E6E6E6" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" style="table-layout:fixed;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgba(230, 230, 230, 1);-apple-color-filter:initial;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:500;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#272727" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847059);">Europe’s Futures Initiative: A New Geopolitical Institution of International Experts to Be Established in Vienna - ERSTE Foundation</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#808080" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039);">us18.list-manage.com</font></a></div></div></td><td style="padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-rightIconItem" width="30"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7c8ad2510b&e=bcdac5ea3b" draggable="false"><img style="pointer-events:none !important;display:inline-block;width:30px;height:30px;border-radius:3px;" height="30" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-rightIcon" alt="EST_Logo_Favicon-300x300.png" data-width="30" src="cid:836C6AD6-C0F2-46C2-AC8A-635F42AD08AB"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="20" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlockContainer" id="b243" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 30px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" class="mceDividerContainer" data-block-id="243" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 612px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlock" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceGutterContainer" id="gutterContainerId-244" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceLayoutContainer" id="b244" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="244" id="section_da17366b55083fcbb2658b5e7203bc41" class="mceLayout" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--52" data-block-id="-52" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="center" id="b-23" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="-23" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--70" data-block-id="-70" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" id="b252" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="252" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="24" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId-251" data-block-id="251" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceImageBlockContainer" align="center" id="b245" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b247" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px;"><div data-block-id="247" class="mceText" id="d247" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><h1 class="last-child" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">A permanent <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=7b301612ec&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">people’s assembly for Europe</a>kicks off in Vienna.</h1></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b249" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px;"><div data-block-id="249" class="mceText" id="d249" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><p class="last-child" style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">After stops in Athens, Florence, and online, the <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=20cb1f2b93&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">nomadic people’s assembly for Europe concluded its first cycle in Vienna</a>. Over nine months, 300 randomly selected residents of Europe co-created a Citizens Charter to revitalize democracy by learning from crises—climate, inequality, war, and more. The Vienna gathering, embedded in the Wiener Festwochen and supported by the city’s Office for Participation, showcased artistic and inclusive deliberation. The next step: bringing the charter to decision-makers and campaigning for a permanent assembly.</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceButtonBlockContainer" align="center" id="b338" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="338" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceStandardButton"><td valign="top" class="mceButton" style="word-break: break-word; border-radius: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=d65ca9c617&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; padding: 16px 28px; text-decoration: none; direction: ltr; letter-spacing: 0px;">Read the article</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="338" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlockContainer" id="b250" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 30px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" class="mceDividerContainer" data-block-id="250" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 612px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlock" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceGutterContainer" id="gutterContainerId-222" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceLayoutContainer" id="b222" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceGutterContainer" id="gutterContainerId-254" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceLayoutContainer" id="b254" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="254" id="section_01eff61d0437c7e28c60f01aec5e319a" class="mceLayout" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--53" data-block-id="-53" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" align="center" id="b-25" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="-25" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId--71" data-block-id="-71" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" id="b257" style="word-break: break-word; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" data-block-id="257" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceRow"><td valign="top" style="word-break: break-word; background-position: center center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="24" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceColumn" id="mceColumnId-256" data-block-id="256" colspan="12" width="100%" style="word-break: break-word; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceImageBlockContainer" align="center" id="b221" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b253" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px 18px;"><div data-block-id="253" class="mceText" id="d253" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><h1 class="last-child" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 30px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">Democracy needs more than defenders—it needs builders.</h1></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b218" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table width="100%" style="border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mceTextBlockContainer" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px;"><div data-block-id="218" class="mceText" id="d218" style="font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; width: 608px;"><p class="last-child" style="margin: 1px 0px; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word; font-size: 20px; line-height: 1.25; letter-spacing: 0px; direction: ltr;">That’s why we launched <a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=5760c5f070&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" style="word-break: break-word; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); direction: ltr;">Democracy Re:boot Camp</a>: a space where young Europeans didn’t just talk about democracy—they practiced it. In a time of rising disinformation and shrinking civic space, we brought together participants who were ready to act but needed tools, allies, and time to build. Through strategy sessions, mentorship, and shared purpose, they learned to organize under pressure and connect across borders. What emerged wasn’t just a network—it was a community. Re:boot Camp became a commitment to solidarity, action, and the future of democracy.</p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceButtonBlockContainer" align="center" id="b258" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 12px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="258" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr class="mceStandardButton"><td valign="top" class="mceButton" style="word-break: break-word; border-radius: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: none; display: block;"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><div style="-webkit-user-select: all; -webkit-user-drag: element; display: inline-block;" class="apple-rich-link" draggable="true" role="link" data-url="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b"><a href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" target="_blank" class="mceButtonLink" rel="noreferrer" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 30px; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); display: block; padding: 16px 28px; direction: ltr;"></a><a style="border-radius:10px;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;display:block;-webkit-user-select:none;width:300px;user-select:none;-webkit-user-modify:read-only;user-modify:read-only;overflow:hidden;text-decoration:none;" class="lp-rich-link" rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" dir="ltr" role="button" draggable="false" width="300"><table style="table-layout:fixed;border-collapse:collapse;width:300px;background-color:#B1E087;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class="lp-rich-link-emailBaseTable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="300"><tbody><tr><td vertical-align="center" align="center"><img style="width:300px;filter:brightness(0.97);height:199px;" height="199" draggable="false" class="lp-rich-link-mediaImage" alt="IMG_5312-scaled.jpeg" data-width="300" src="cid:250365F7-E030-4AB6-9643-B266EE081EB8"></td></tr><tr><td vertical-align="center"><table bgcolor="#B1E087" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="300" style="table-layout:fixed;font-family:-apple-system, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgba(177, 224, 135, 1);-apple-color-filter:initial;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:8px 0px 8px 0px;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStackItem"><div style="max-width:100%;margin:0px 16px 0px 16px;overflow:hidden;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack"><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:500;font-size:12px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-topCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#272727" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847059);">Democracy Re:boot Camp - ERSTE Foundation</font></a></div><div style="word-wrap:break-word;font-weight:400;font-size:11px;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;text-align:left;" class="lp-rich-link-captionBar-textStack-bottomCaption-leading"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://erstestiftung.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1b44b218b1ee3d0acaa7d807a&id=3bd882673c&e=bcdac5ea3b" style="text-decoration: none" draggable="false"><font color="#808080" style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.498039);">us18.list-manage.com</font></a></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div></div><font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" data-block-id="258" class="mceButtonContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlockContainer" id="b18" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 30px 24px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" role="presentation" class="mceDividerContainer" data-block-id="18" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 612px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" class="mceDividerBlock" style="word-break: break-word; min-width: 100%; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" id="b125" style="word-break: break-word; padding: 0px; border: 0px; border-radius: 0px;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody><tbody data-block-id="13" class="mceWrapper"><tr><td valign="top" align="center" class="mceSectionFooter" style="word-break: break-word;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></body></html>