On 24 & 25 June, 2026, the Institute of International Affairs (IAI) in Rome and the Armament Industry European Research Group (ARES Group) οrganized the high-level seminar “Defence and Space: Europe’s Future, Italy’s Role”. The event explored the growing interconnection between defence and space as critical pillars for Europe’s strategic autonomy.
As a member of the ARES Group scientific board, Dr. Elena Lazarou, featured as a key discussant in the session 1 on the defence industrial dimension of European strategic autonomy. Contributing alongside Auke Venema, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute, Guillaume de La Brosse, Head of Unit, DG DEFIS, European Commission, and Giovanni Soccodato, Board Member, Avio Aero, Dr. Lazarou shared her thoughts on strategic autonomy, emphasizing the critical importance of reinforcing Europe’s industrial base through deeper cooperation and highlighting the vital need to successfully balance national priorities with collective European objectives. The discussion was moderated by Elio Calcagno, Senior fellow IAI, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Rome.
