For the first time in over 400 years, Europe is no longer the core of global economic security and power. For good or ill, the security landscape of the 21st century is changing, and new geopolitical situation taking shape. For many years, Europeans have talked of ambitious foreign and security policy goals. Safe in the embrace of an increasingly over-stretched America, they’ve talked the talk, but not walked the walk. It is not a path we can follow anymore. In a geopolitically contested world, the future of European security is as much about Europe’s place in the world as it is about its internal security. What role should Europeans aspire to play in our interconnected world? No region is immune from the effects of crisis. What are the implications of these crises for Europe? For too long Europe has been focused on European institution-building. But what role should Europeans play in bringing their experience in building the institutions essential to European peace? If Europe is to be an effective actor in an integrated world, then it will need to generate greater diplomatic, informational, economic, and military power. But what can be done; and to what extent? how can this be organised; to what end? These are urgent questions to which the world is now demanding concrete answers from Europe.
Alexandre Escorcia, Assistant Policy Director for Europe, North America and Multilateral Action at the Ministry of Armed Forces of France (online)
Ian Bond, Director of Foreign Policy at the Centre for European Reform
Joanneke Balfoort, Director, SECDEFPOL DMD – Security and Defence Policy EEAS European External Action Service (online)
Sławomir Dębski, Director of the Polish Institute of International Affairs
Álvaro Imbernón Sáinz, Director of Strategy and Foresight in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Moderator: Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow for Security and Defense at the German Marshall Fund of the United States