European Strategic Autonomy – Mission (Im)Possible? 10th Delphi Economic Forum

In the framework of ELIAMEP’s initiative think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration (supported by Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans), Prof. Dr. Ioannis Armakolas (Director of think nea and Head of the South-East Europe Programme of ELIAMEP) was one of the speakers in the panel “European Strategic Autonomy – Mission (Im)Possible?” that took place on the 12^th of April 2025 at the X Delphi Economic Forum within the context of the theme of “The State of the World”.

The other speakers of high-level panel were the following:

• Kajsa Ollongren, Dept. PM of the Netherlands (2020-2022), Minister of Defense (2022-2024), The Netherlands
• Elżbieta Bieńkowska, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs (2014-2019), Belgium
• Volker Perthes, Senior Distinguished Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Germany

The discussion was moderated by Nik Gowing, Founder & Director of the organization Thinking the Unthinkable. 

Regarding future crises that Europe will inevitably have to face, Ioannis Armakolas emphasized that Europe must be prepared. Europe has collaborated, is collaborating, and will continue to build value chains together with its partners and allies. However, it must also be ready to fully mobilize its own potential when crises arise—to act independently, defend its societies, and ensure resilience.

He further underlined the necessity for Europe to become strategically autonomous not only as an institution but as a continent and a region. This perspective was emphasized within the framework of the initiative think nea – New Narratives of EU Integration. He stressed that the conversation is about Europe’s strategic autonomy—not just the European Union’s. To that end, Europe must leverage the full potential of its 27 member states, but also of the ten countries that aspire to join the EU. The Union must begin to seriously consider its strategic autonomy in a broader, more inclusive manner—one that integrates, in one way or another, the candidate countries. There is significant untapped potential there. Unlocking the full potential of Europe means also identifying, utilizing, and making available the capacities of those countries that are not yet EU members but are on the path to accession in the coming years.