ELNET-Germany expands security policy expertise

Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl becomes member of the Advisory Board – Philip Krämer new ELNET Fellow

With effect from June 2025, two proven security policy experts will strengthen the work of the European Leadership Network (ELNET): Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the European Leadership Network’s branch in Germany and former Member of the German Bundestag Philip Krämer will become a new ELNET Fellow. Their respective security policy experience as well as their deep understanding of the geopolitical challenges in a changing global security architecture will contribute to the work of ELNET in the future. The appointments go hand in hand with the expansion of ELNET’s security policy focus.

ELNET launches Security & Defense Initiative (ESDI)

Against the backdrop of growing threats, ELNET is launching the ELNET Security & Defense Initiative (ESDI) in the 60th year of German-Israeli diplomatic relations. The aim is to strategically deepen security policy cooperation between Germany and Israel – as an industrial and security policy dialog. The ESDI brings together key players from politics, the military, science and industry from both countries. A particular focus will be on innovative technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, UAVs, SpaceTech and BioTech.

Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl: New impetus for security policy

Major General Stahl has been President of the Federal Academy for Security Policy (BAKS) since 2024, with which ELNET has been organizing the Germany-Israel Strategic Forum for over a decade. In over 40 years as a soldier in the German Armed Forces, he served as a commander in Afghanistan and in leading positions in the Federal Ministry of Defense and NATO. As a member of ELNET’s advisory board, the Major General will contribute his security policy expertise and international perspective.

Philip Krämer: Defense expertise becomes ELNET Fellow

Philip Krämer was a member of the Bundestag for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen from 2021 to 2025, focusing on defense, sports and the reappraisal of the Afghanistan mission. He has been committed to German-Israeli relations for many years, including as Chairman of the German-Israeli Society in Darmstadt. As a Fellow, he will support ELNET in future, particularly in the field of aerospace technology – a subject area that is becoming increasingly important for Germany and Europe. The German Israeli Space Forum, initiated by ELNET and the BDI (Federation of German Industries) in 2021, will also be further developed against this backdrop.

Carsten Ovens, CEO of ELNET for Germany, Austria and Switzerland:

“The appointment of Major General Wolf-Jürgen Stahl to the Advisory Board and the acceptance of Philip Krämer as a Fellow are exemplary of ELNET’s claim to combine security policy excellence with strategic foresight. Both personalities contribute valuable experience and thus strengthen the content-related work of ELNET – both in general and in the context of the new ELNET Security & Defense Initiative (ESDI). With the new initiative, we would like to make a contribution to promoting exchange and cooperation on security and defense policy issues between Germany and Israel in a more structured way in the future.”