On 11 December 2019, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the activation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), and one day before the European Council Summit, the European Movement International held its latest Breakfast Briefing entitled ‘EU Security and Defence: State of play & Future Challenges’.

The panel shared their insights and remarks on the latest developments in the fields of EU security and defence cooperation. With new transformations and actors in the international arena, security has become a more relevant matter of concern for the European citizens. With the implementation of new tools within the context of PESCO, the European Union seems to be heading in the right direction towards strategic autonomy. Nevertheless, the Union still lacks a common approach among Member States in addressing defence issues, and it lags behind in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and disruptive technologies.

The upcoming Croatian Presidency will work on the functioning of EU defence initiatives, while preserving the NATO alliance and working on possible solutions in case of the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union.
The briefing was followed by an open discussion with all participants during which the panel responded to questions regarding the transatlantic alliance, the role of civil society and the future of NATO.

This event gathered senior politicians and stakeholders in order to discuss with representatives of EU institutions, civil society, the private sector, think-tanks and others. 

OPENING REMARKS
– Petros Fassoulas, Secretary-General| European Movement International

PANEL DISCUSSION 
– Raluca Csernatoni, Guest Professor specialised in European Security and Counter-Terrorism | Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB)
– Zoran Drča, Minister Plenipotentiary ( Head of CSDP Section, Defence Issues) | Permanent Representation of Croatia to the EU
– Lukas Mandl MEP (EPP) | European Parliament

Moderated by Vanessa Cotterell, Head of Policy & Advocacy | European Movement International

Address: The Office, rue d’Arlon 80, 1040 Brussels
Date: Wednesday, 11 December 2019
Time: 8:00-9:15