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Europe at a Crossroads: Security, Defence, and the Polish EU Council Presidency
Poland has assumed the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU at a time of significant geopolitical uncertainty. Under the new US administration, we are witnessing the high-speed dismantling of the transatlantic alliance. It is therefore no surprise that questions of European security and defence are glued to the top of the political agenda. EU leaders projected unity at the Special European Council on 6 March, welcoming the recent proposals by the European Commission to strengthen the EU's defence readiness. Behind the scenes, however, differences between EU Member States still need to be negotiated - in particular regarding the details on financing and procurement of additional military capabilities. Security is right at the heart of the Polish EU Council Presidency’s programme. In light of the geopolitical context, the challenges are tremendous. The EU’s defence industrial base needs to be strengthened, and a joint approach on military procurement as well as a sustainable financing solution must be developed. This online discussion analyzed the current state of play, explore key areas of contention and discuss potential paths forward, as well as take stock of the Polish EU Council Presidency’s efforts. With:
  • Sophia Besch, Senior Fellow, Europe Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
  • Łukasz Maślanka, Senior Fellow, Security and Defence Department, Centre for Eastern Studies, Warsaw
  • Nicole Koenig, Head of Policy, Munich Security Conference
Moderated by: Roderick Kefferpütz, Director, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels

Follow along using the transcript.

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

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