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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ratiu Foundation for Democracy sign Cooperation Protocol
August 2026, Turda
Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Țoiu and Pamela Rațiu, Executive President of the Rațiu Democracy Foundation, signed the MFA – Rațiu Foundation Cooperation Protocol on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, in Turda.
The Protocol aims to strengthen cooperation in promoting democratic values, education, public dialogue, independent journalism, international relations, and the preservation and promotion of historical memory.
At the same time, the Rațiu Democracy Foundation has been included in the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a permanent mechanism for structured dialogue and consultation with civil society, launched in August 2025.
“I have come to the home of a free man so that we can continue to build on his legacy of courage and perseverance, at a time when democracy and European values are under pressure. Ion Rațiu had the courage to envision a Western future for his country, and today we have that future, but it must be protected. This requires forward-looking strategic thinking, the exchange of analysis, and cooperation with civil society.
From today, the Foundation is part of the MFA Advisory Council, and this year we will launch a mentoring programme for young diplomats, as well as expert dialogues, including within our cooperation with LSE and Georgetown. We have agreed to jointly organise, next spring, the Romanian stage of the seminar on democratic resilience for journalists and communicators from the countries of the region, under Romania’s Presidency of the Central European Initiative. Ion Rațiu’s dream of an open society built on freedom brings us together” stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Oana Țoiu.
During the ceremony, Nicolae Rațiu, President of the Rațiu Family Foundation, stated:
“My father’s dream was for this house in Turda to become a place where people could come together in the spirit of democracy, open dialogue, and a shared purpose, keeping alive the idea of a free and better Romania. I believe he would have been extremely proud to see the Minister of Foreign Affairs come to Turda today for such an important and meaningful occasion.
This agreement is a wonderful continuation of that dream and of the values in which he believed so deeply. He would have very much wanted to serve Romania as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister, or even President. Unfortunately for Romania, however, his independent style and his message were considered too threatening by those who held the levers of power at the time.”
For her part, Pamela Rațiu, Executive President of the Rațiu Foundation, emphasised:
“Joining forces in the service of democracy makes us stronger. At a time when democratic values are facing growing challenges, dialogue, cooperation, and a shared commitment to these principles are more important than ever. This agreement reflects the value of cooperation between institutions and civil society in strengthening democratic dialogue and building a more resilient future.”
The original press released is available here.
Volunteer with the Ratiu Forum
The Ratiu Forum welcomes applications from motivated individuals who are interested in contributing to our work on democracy, public dialogue, and education in Romania and the wider region.
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to engage with ongoing projects, support the organisation of events, and collaborate with a network of academics, journalists, and professionals working across Central and Eastern Europe.
We are particularly interested in candidates with an interest in:
- history, journalism, politics, or international affairs
- research and writing
- event organisation and communication
This is an excellent opportunity for students and early-career professionals to gain experience in a dynamic and intellectually engaging environment.
If you would like to get involved or find out more, please contact:
alexandru.parasca@ratiudemocracycenter.org
The Christopher Coker History Research Prize 2026
April, 2026
We are pleased to announce that The Ratiu Forum History Prize becomes The Christopher Coker History Research Prize, in memory of the late Professor Christopher Coker (1953-2023), co-director of LSE IDEAS and a key figure in the foundation of the LSE IDEAS-Ratiu Forum partnership.
Professor Coker was a remarkable intellectual whose contribution to international relations and foreign policy thinking has inspired generations of students, academics, and practitioners.
“Christopher was a most incredible professor, intellectual, human being and inspiration to all who have known him. For almost five years working together under his guidance and brilliance, our Ratiu Forum/LSE IDEAS association has succeeded in developing into a significant and admired hub on the CEE map of thoughtful debate and relevant regional programmes. We must and shall carry on and perpetuate his legacy – this is indeed his own immortality.” – Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation
Christopher Coker was Director of the London School of Economics foreign policy think tank IDEAS. His publications include Rebooting Clausewitz (Hurst, 2015), Men at War: what fiction has to tell us about conflict from the Iliad to Catch 22 (Hurst, 2014); The Improbable War: China, the US and the logic of Great Power War (Hurst, 2015); Future War (Polity, 2016), and The Rise of the Civilizational State (Polity, 2019). His most recent book is Why War? (2020). He was Professor of International Relations at LSE, retiring in 2019. He was a former twice serving member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute, a former NATO Fellow and a regular lecturer at Defence Colleges in the UK, the US. Rome, Singapore, and Tokyo. He had also been a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute for Defence Studies In Tokyo, the Rajaratnam School for International Studies Singapore, the Political Science Dept in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and the Norwegian and Swedish Defence Colleges.
Launched in 2021, the The Ratiu Forum History Prize was designed as an annual call for papers contest. The Christopher Coker History Research Prize continues to encourage young researchers in Romania and the region to engage critically with historical narratives, explore controversial or overlooked topics, and contribute to a deeper public understanding of history’s role in shaping contemporary society.
The call for proposals for the 2026 Christopher Coker History Research Prize will be launched soon.
PRESS RELEASE
The Ratiu Dialogues on Democracy 2025
Shaping a Post-2025 Transatlantic European Security Order
Turda, Romania, September 2nd 2025 The Ratiu Democracy Centre in Turda, Romania, will host on 6-7 September 2025 the Ratiu Dialogues on Democracy 2025, a conference series convening leading policymakers, scholars, and journalists to explore the evolving landscape of European and Transatlantic security. Organised by the Ratiu Forum in partnership with the LSE IDEAS, this two-day event will include panels, keynote speeches, and discussions addressing strategic, geopolitical, and defence challenges.
The speakers list includes top experts such as Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland, Mircea Geoană, former NATO Deputy Secretary General, Sir Laurie Bristow, former British Ambassador to Russia and Afghanistan, Professor Alexander Evans from the London School of Economics, and Baroness Gisela Stuart, member of the UK House of Lords.
The opening remarks will feature H.E. Giles Portman, British Ambassador to Romania, among other speakers.
In a year of heightened global volatility, the Dialogues will examine critical questions through six major panels, focused on global alliance restructuring, European defence priorities, Ukraine’s future, NATO’s strategic evolution, cognitive warfare, and the intersection of history with modern power politics.
Professor Alexander Evans from LSE IDEAS says: “The Ratiu Dialogues this year could not be more timely and the discussions will speak to Europe’s future in a challenging era.”
Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation says: “The principal world leaders of today unfortunately give us no real assurance of peace nor security. What to expect, what options do we have?”
The panels will feature experts from NATO, the London School of Economics, the US Naval War College, The New York Times, Financial Times, Chatham House, University College London, Associated Press, University of Warsaw, University of Bucharest, Jagiellonian University, University of Belgrade, and University of Iceland, alongside former ambassadors, military experts, and policy advisors from across Europe and North America.
The Dialogues provide a unique platform for dialogue across government, academia, and civil society, offering historical insight, scholarly expertise, and strategic analysis on the critical questions currently shaping Europe’s security and governance.
For more information, full speaker biographies, and the detailed agenda, visit the event page.
The Ion Rațiu Scholarship for Investigative Journalism: Măriuța Nistor (Moldova) is the 2025 Awardee
June, 2025
The investigative piece “În slujba Moscovei. Investigație sub acoperire” (In Moscow’s Service: Undercover Investigation), co-authored with Natalia Zaharescu from Ziarul de Gardă, also received the “Article of the Year” award and took first place in the “Investigation” category of the Superscrieri competition. It was further recognised internationally, winning The Investigative Reporting Award at the European Press Prize 2025.
New Director of the LSE IDEAS CSEEP of the Ratiu Forum
November, 2024
Professor Alexander Evans has been appointed as the new director of the LSE IDEAS Central and South East Europe Programme (CSEEP) and Director of the Ratiu Forum, with effect from 25 November 2024.
He is a Professor in Practice in Public Policy at the LSE, where he teaches on international affairs, national security, and technology. Professor Evans has previously served as an advisor to the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, Strategy Director in the Cabinet Office, and Director Cyber in the Foreign Office. He led the UN Security Council expert mission on Daesh, Al Qaida, and the Taliban; was British Deputy and Acting High Commissioner to India and (briefly) to Pakistan; and served in the U.S. government as a senior adviser to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. He was formerly a senior fellow at Yale, a Gwilym Gibbon fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford, and Henry Kissinger Chair at the Library of Congress.
Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation:
“It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we welcome Professor Evans to the Ratiu Forum Board. Professor Evans has, over the past years, frequently and brilliantly participated as both panellist and moderator at our annual Dialogues on Democracy. We very much look forward to the impact and diversity his wide experience and network will bring.”
Pamela Roussos Ratiu, Executive Director of the Ratiu Forum:
“We are honored that Professor Evans will be joining us to continue the outstanding work of Professors Christopher Coker and Mick Cox. Professor Evans’ work and knowledge in both political advisory and academic circles will bring a valuable additional dimension to the Ratiu Forum’s activities.”
Professor Alexander Evans:
“I am delighted to be taking up this role and look forward to building on the existing success of the Ratiu Forum – a major driver of strategic reflection and impact across the region.”
More details about LSE IDEAS Central and South East Europe Programme are available here.
Rațiu Forum Journalism Mentorship Programme: Call for Applications (2025)
September, 2024
- Closed
The Ratiu Forum is seeking passionate and talented early-career journalists to apply to its 2025 Journalism Mentorship Programme.
This intensive programme offers an exceptional blend of expert guidance, skill development, and real-world experience, designed to launch your journalism career.
Who are we looking for?
- Aspiring and early-career journalists, including students and young professionals
- Age: 26 or younger when joining the programme
- Experience: Maximum of two years of newsroom experience
- Countries: Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine
What will you gain?
- Develop outstanding reporting skills through individual guidance from senior journalists.
- Opportunity to produce high-quality journalistic content with potential for publication in respected media outlets.
- Hands-on learning experience and permanent access to expert advice throughout the programme.
- Fully funded kick-off meeting in Turda, Romania.
Meet the Mentors:
- Alison Mutler (Director of Universul.net; former Associated Press correspondent for Romania and Moldova)
- Diana Oncioiu (Journalist at Să fie lumină and Dela0.ro)
- Dan Perry (Communications professional and world affairs analyst; former Associated Press chief for Europe, Africa, Middle East and Caribbean)
- Adam Reichardt (Editor in Chief of New Eastern Europe)
- Emilia Sercan (Assistant Professor at University of Bucharest and freelance journalist)
- Nick Thorpe (East and Central Europe Correspondent at BBC News)
- Ovidiu Vanghele (Journalist at Centrul de Investigații Media and Să fie lumină)
- Luiza Vasiliu (Freelance journalist)
For more information on the programme, eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits, please visit our website here.
JOURNALISM MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME: ANNOUNCING THE WINNER
September, 2024
We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2024 Journalism Mentorship Programme is Ingrid Ștefan, who was mentored by Emilia Șercan. Ingrid documented the lives of Romani beggars in the Netherlands in the article she submitted to the competition. The article is available here.
Ingrid, from Iași, Romania, is a third-year Media Studies student at the University of Groningen, aspiring to become a journalist. She works at UKrant, the university newspaper, and dreams of living off of writing people’s stories. Her main interests include narrative and investigative journalism.
THE SUPERSTORIES SCHOLARSHIP
May, 2024
The 2024 winner is Bianca Albu (Buletin de București).
The Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation, together with the Friends For Friends Foundation, organizer of the Superstories Awards, announces the launch of a partnership aimed at supporting investigative journalism in Romania.
Starting in 2024, within the Superstories Awards Gala, the two foundations will annually offer the “The Superstories – Ion Rațiu Scholarship for Investigative Journalism,” worth 3600 EUR.
This scholarship continues the traditional “Ion Rațiu Journalism Award,” launched in 2015 and inspired by Ion Rațiu, who – upon returning to Romania in 1990 after 50 years of exile – fought for press freedom. This project will address multiple needs of investigative journalists, beyond recognizing their work.
The scholarship will be awarded to a journalist following an evaluation process of investigative work carried out in 2023. Both journalists participating in the Superstories competition and proposals not included in the competition will be considered. Members of the Superstories jury and representatives of the Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation will participate in the decision-making process.
“It is an honor to join forces with a foundation we respect, and it is a joy to be able to do something useful for the work of journalists. Especially in the field of investigation where, if we look at the topics that have emerged in the past year, we can see how much they serve the public interest. Both Superstories and the Ion Rațiu Award can be considered successful initiatives. In terms of notoriety, at least. However, these are uncertain times, and it will not be easy for us if we do not come together more often, in partnerships of this kind,” declares Alexandra Cantor, Executive Director of the Friends For Friends Foundation.
More details about the Superstories Awards are available here.
About Superstories, the program of the Friends For Friends Foundation (FFFF.RO): Superstories is a tribute that we have been paying to authors since 2011, whose writings, through their strength, originality, honesty, and courage, still tell us the stories that matter. To authors who believe in the power of well-chosen words, who show us how things really are, who free us from prejudices and stereotypes, who move us, enrich us, and protect us from fake news. We dedicate to them, with gratitude, the Superstories awards, scholarships, and seminars.
11-12 April 2024:
The Belgrade History Teaching Symposium
April, 2024
We are pleased to announce that the Ratiu Forum is a partner of The Belgrade History Teaching Symposium. The event, themed “Disarming History,” is scheduled from April 10th to April 12th, 2024, and is organized in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe. Dedicated to fostering quality history education and nurturing intercultural understanding amidst contemporary challenges, this symposium promises to be a vital platform for engaging discussions and collaborative initiatives.
At this symposium, esteemed experts, educators, and students from across Europe will converge to engage in enriching discussions and workshops. The agenda is curated to address pressing issues, including the misuse of history for political and ideological purposes, with a keen focus on post-conflict environments like the Balkans.
The symposium aims to address the misuse of history for political and ideological purposes, particularly in post-conflict environments like the Balkans. Sessions will focus on innovative approaches to teaching history and promoting reconciliation.
In addition to engaging in panel discussions and workshops, the 3rd Belgrade History Teaching Symposium offers participants the unique opportunity to explore the city through guided walking tours. These tours are designed to provide an immersive experience, shedding light on the historical context of Belgrade, particularly focusing on the events of the 1990s.
Click here for the press release.
More details are available here.
Click here to see the event agenda.
BI-ANNUAL REVIEW 2022-2023
Please click here to download.
PROFESSOR CHRISTOPHER COKER (MARCH 28th, 1953 - SEPTEMBER 5th, 2023)
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Christopher Coker, co-director of LSE IDEAS, who supported the foundation of the LSE IDEAS Ratiu Forum.
Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundations:
“Christopher was a most incredible professor, intellectual, human being and inspiration to all who have known him. Over the past almost 5 years working together under his guidance and brilliance our Ratiu Forum/LSE IDEAS association has succeeded in developing into a significant and admired hub on the CEE map of rare thoughtful debate and of relevant regional programmes of which we can all be proud. Recently Christopher had written to myself and others of how much he had valued and enjoyed our working together and how important it had been for him. This is praise indeed. We must and shall carry on and perpetuate his legacy, building on what he has shown us to be possible. Under the circumstances it is the most important thing we can do to show our admiration and respect for him and to register our eternal appreciation for the example he gave us. This is indeed his own immortality.”
Christopher Coker was Director of LSE IDEAS, LSE’s foreign policy think tank.
His publications include Rebooting Clausewitz (Hurst, 2015), Men at War: what fiction has to tell us about conflict from the Iliad to Catch 22 (Hurst, 2014); The Improbable War: China, the US and the logic of Great Power War (Hurst, 2015); Future War (Polity, 2016), and The Rise of the Civilizational State (Polity, 2019). His most recent book is Why War? (2020).
He was Professor of International Relations at LSE, retiring in 2019. He was a former twice serving member of the Council of the Royal United Services Institute, a former NATO Fellow and a regular lecturer at Defence Colleges in the UK, the US. Rome, Singapore, and Tokyo. He had also been a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute for Defence Studies In Tokyo, the Rajaratnam School for International Studies Singapore, the Political Science Dept in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok and the Norwegian and Swedish Defence Colleges.
Memories and messages can be shared here.
The Times obituary is available here.
THE ION RAȚIU JOURNALISM AWARD – 2023
June, 2023
The Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation, the Rațiu Democracy Centre and the Rațiu Forum are pleased to announce the 2023 recipient of the Ion Rațiu Journalism Award: journalist Andreea Pavel, co-founder of Info Sud-Est.
Andreea Pavel was selected for her prolific journalistic activity in the local media (Constanța), which includes among others investigation series on corruption, articles regarding social problems and cultural heritage, and also for her commitment to recruiting and training young journalists.
Among the other investigations carried out by the 2023 winner, the nomination committee has considered her investigation series regarding the European funds accessed for the Danube Delta through the Integrated Territorial Investment mechanism. These articles were followed by a European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigation into the fraud in 2022.
HISTORY PRIZE
July, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Casian Gămănuț, PhD researcher in History at the University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iași, Romania, is the recipient of the 2022 Ratiu Forum History Prize.
More details about the Award can be read here.
THE ION RAȚIU JOURNALISM AWARD – 2022
May, 2022
The Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation, the Rațiu Democracy Centre and the Rațiu Forum are pleased to announce the 2022 Recipient of the Ion Rațiu Journalism Award: journalist Cristian Andrei, Senior Editor at Europa Liberă.
In 2019 he started a series of investigative articles regarding the funding mechanisms of Romanian media outlets, fuelled by the budget of the largest parties in Romania. The series continued in 2021 and 2022 and it includes – among others – the following investigative articles: Bani de la partid pentru televiziuni și presă. PSD a cheltuit în șase luni de 33 de ori mai mult decât USR PLUS (Money from the party for TV stations and media: PSD spent in six months 33 times more than USR PLUS); Cadoul de 90 de milioane de lei făcut de Cîțu partidelor. Modelul german de finanțare și modelul PNL – PSD (The 90 million Lei gift from Cîțu to the parties. The German funding model and the PNL-PSD one); Investitorii ascunși din presă. PSD ține informațiile la secret, deși plătește milioane pe lună (The hidden media investors. PSD withholds information, despite paying millions every month).
THE RATIU FORUM
ANNUAL REVIEW 2021
ION RAȚIU JOURNALISM AWARD – 2021
June, 2021
The Rațiu Family Charitable Foundation, the Rațiu Democracy Centre and the Rațiu Forum are pleased to announce the 2021 Recipient of the Ion Rațiu Journalism Award: journalist VICTOR ILIE, who currently reports for Recorder.
In November 2020 Victor Ilie published the investigation that discovered and brought to the public’s attention the “King of the pandemic”, the main person responsible for purchasing vital medical equipment for the Romanian state and its citizens, a master of a “kingdom” dominated by corruption, defiance and incompetence. According to the members of the Jury Committee that evaluated this year’s proposals, the article written by Victor Ilie is an example of quality journalism produced by an independent press project, an investigation carried out at a time when the access to information was often limited for journalists.
Photo credits: Andrei Pungovschi
ION RAȚIU JOURNALISM AWARD – ANNOUNCING THE 2020 WINNER
2020
The Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation, the Ratiu Democracy Centre and the Ratiu Forum are pleased to announce the 2020 Recipient of the Ion Ratiu Journalism Award.
DIANA ONCIOIU, reporter at the alternative publication Dela0 and also a member of the Să Fie Lumină team, has been nominated for her investigation regarding the trialing of sexual abuses against minors by Romanian courts.
Diana Oncioiu sheds a light on a painful reality in Romanian courts: the manner in which sexual abuses against minor victims are trialed and the tendency of judges to assume that sexual relations took place also with the acceptance of the child-victim. This is possible in a system that assigns blame to the victim, despite the condemnation of the Romanian State by the European Court for Human Rights, which concluded that the Romanian criminal-law system had failed to legally protect children against degrading treatment and to pursue the best interests of minors in the administration of justice. The investigation can be read here.
The Awardee writes for the alternative publication Dela0 and is also a member of the Să Fie Lumină collaborative project, initiated by Dela0.ro and the Center for Media Investigations. She also has a background in broadcasting, having worked for five years for Realitatea TV and Digi24. She covers mainly social topics – domestic violence, education, social assistance, extreme poverty. Diana Oncioiu will officially receive the Award at a ceremony during the 2020 Ratiu Dialogues on Democracy, an event that will occur online this year between September 15th-18th.
More details about the event are available here.
Established in 2015, the Ion Ratiu Journalism Award is inspired by the example of Ion Ratiu who, upon his return to Romania after 50 years in exile, fought for freedom of the press, a necessary condition of any functional democracy. The Award promotes and encourages investigative journalism in Romania by rewarding the most important achievements of Romanian journalists. The nominations of investigative journalists are made by the Center for Independent Journalism, the Romanian Center for Investigative Journalism, Active Watch, and by representatives of Romanian journalism faculties and departments.
More details about the Award can be read here.
Former Awardees
2019 Alex Nedea, journalist at Recorder.ro
2018 Paul Radu, co-founder of RISE Project
2017 Ovidiu Vanghele, journalist at Să Fie Lumină
2016 Emilia Șercan, journalist at Pressone.ro
2015 Cătălin Tolontan, chief-editor of Libertatea
“The brave, highly detailed and well-researched investigation into the Romanian Courts’ handling of sexual abuse cases amongst minors impressed the jury and convinced us that Diana Oncioiu well deserves the Award for this and indeed for other subjects she has investigated. We believe very strongly that investigative journalism must be supported and encouraged by those in a position to fill the gap left by mass media. The quality also has necessarily to be excellent to be picked up more widely and she has certainly achieved this. To this end, we have and continue to organize workshops for Romanian journalists, involving both Romanian and international experts”, states Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Family Charitable Foundation.
