Public discussion on: “European Defence: The next steps”

On Tuesday 31 March 2026, the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy, in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation and Europe Direct ELIAMEP Attikis, organized an event titled “European Defence: The Next Steps”, aiming at fostering a forward-looking dialogue on the future of Europe’s security and defence landscape.

Bringing together academics and policy experts, the panel examined the evolution of European defence strategy, an inherently slow but necessary process, with the war in Ukraine acting as a catalyst for deeper integration and increased investment in emerging domains such as space and cyber. The speakers noted that, despite fragmentation among major European powers, the need for a common defence “shield” is becoming increasingly urgent, alongside the development of a new strategic culture.

The discussion also addressed EU enlargement as a geopolitical necessity and an institutional driver for reforming decision-making processes, enabling strategic autonomy to take shape and evolve into a unified international presence. Finally, the exchange provided an updated assessment of the transatlantic relationship, including the role of the United States and NATO, in light of growing security threats and increasing volatility in the EU’s broader neighbourhood.

SPEAKERS

• Dr Thanos Dokos, Secretary General for National Security, Presidency of the Government
• Dr Christian Mölling, Director of EDINA (European Defence in a New Age) and Senior Advisor at the European Policy Centre (EPC)

MODERATOR

• Dr Elena Lazarou, Director General of ELIAMEP

You may find the invitation  here.