From Ambition to Action: Building Europe’s Defence Union

Date: Monday, 23 June 2025

Time: Doors open: 18:30 | Panel: 19:00–20:30 | Followed by a reception

Location: Representation of the Province of Salzburg to the EU, Rue Frédéric Pelletier 107, 1030 Brussels

We’ll explore Europe’s path toward strategic autonomy, collective defence, and security cooperation. Join us in the conversation!

As the world shifts into a more complex and contested geopolitical landscape, Europe finds itself at a critical crossroads. With the NATO Summit on the horizon, the urgency to rethink and reinforce Europe’s defence capabilities and political frameworks has never been greater.

The European Forum Alpbach, alongside its partners Club Alpbach Brussels and Friends of Europe, invites you to an exclusive evening of high-level dialogue dedicated to exploring the future of Europe’s security architecture. This event offers a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts, policymakers, and thought leaders who are shaping the continent’s strategic path forward.

Speakers:

• Othmar Karas, President of the European Forum Alpbach and Former First Vice-President of the European Parliament, will open the evening with insights on Europe’s current strategic challenges and opportunities.
• Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow for Peace, Security and Defence at Friends of Europe and former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO
• Benedikta von Seherr-Thoß, Managing Director for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service (EEAS)

A Societal Lens:

Friends of Europe will present key findings from their recent study on European citizens’ expectations around security and trust in institutions. This perspective highlights how defence is increasingly becoming a societal concern, emphasizing the importance of public support and trust.

A Strategic and Institutional Lens:

The panel will dive into the evolving EU defence architecture, examining landmark reports such as the Draghi and Niinistö Reports, the upcoming White Paper on Defence, the “Readiness 2030” plan, and proposals for a European Defence Industrial Strategy (EDIS). This discussion will explore how institutional frameworks can bolster Europe’s strategic autonomy and resilience.