Led by Monika Sus, ENGAGE invites policymakers to discuss a new dawn for European defence and security policy

In a closed roundtable discussion led by Visiting Professor Monika Sus and co-hosted by the ENGAGE project and GLOBSEC, policymakers and other officials gathered to discuss the changes in European security policy and give feedback on the first policy brief in ENGAGE’s ‘Rethinking Global Europe’ series.

The workshop, entitled ‘Breaking Taboos: A New Dawn for the European Defense and Security Policy?’, was the first of ten invite-only stakeholder workshops hosted in cities across Europe, with the next workshops to follow in Berlin, London, Paris, Madrid, Kiev, Warsaw, Brussels, Ankara, and Helsinki. The central aim of the workshops is to collect feedback from those working in policymaking at the EU and the national levels on ENGAGE’s policy-oriented output.

In keeping with that goal, this workshop centred around the policy brief "Prepare for the Fight of the Future" on joint defence procurement. The discussion was wide-ranging, touching on the progress and obstacles in the implementation of the Strategic Compass, the transformation of EU security and defence after the outbreak of the Russian war (inter alia, the decision to deliver lethal weapons to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility), and the challenges of unanimity voting in EU foreign policy. While the overall progress and deepening of the integration in this area is evident, differences between Member States continue to divide, for example with regard to China and the question of European strategic autonomy. Furthermore, the discussants reflected on the challenges in the transatlantic relationship, in particular in light of the possible victory of a Trump-like figure.

Speakers and respondents at the workshop included:

• David McAllister, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
• Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence
• Tania Latici, Policy Officer on Peace, Security, and Defence, European External Action Service
• Ester Sabitino, Research Analyst for Defence & Military Analysis, International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Bruno Maçães, Portuguese Europe Minister (2013-2015)
• Johann Frank, Director of Cabinet, European Union Military Committee

Read the policy brief here.

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