European Defence Cooperation: geopolitical ambitions vs. reality?

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Thursday 19 November 2020, 13.00-15.00
DIIS ∙ Danish Institute for International Studies
Auditorium

The EU is currently facing a range of challenges with implications for European security cooperation, such as Brexit taking effect, the uncertainties of a new US administration, assertive Russian and Chinese governments, the economic crisis and the widespread consequences of Covid-19. Against this, are the EU’s geopolitical aspirations (“strategic autonomy”) merely a vague vision or are they a realistic scenario? How do these issues affect European ambitions on increased defence cooperation? Will Denmark have a significant role to play or will the country due to its CSDP opt-out be put on the sidelines?

These are some of the questions that will be discussed in a seminar organised by DIIS in cooperation with the Netherlands Embassy in Copenhagen. We have gathered some of the leading academic experts in the field as well as policy practitioners from Denmark, Germany – which currently holds the Presidency of the EU Council – the Netherlands and Sweden to discuss European defence cooperation in the light of the current state of affairs.

Programme

13.00-13.10   Welcome

• Welcome by Kristian Fischer, Director, Danish Institute for International Studies
• Welcome by Ambassador Rob Zaagman, Netherlands Embassy in Copenhagen
• Introduction by Cecilie Felicia Stokholm Banke, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies

13.10-13.40   Panel I: Academic expert presentations
Chair: Cecilie Felicia Stokholm Banke, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies

• Taking stock: What is the status of the 2016 EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy?  Speaker: Jana Puglierin, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council of Foreign
• Will Brexit challenge European defence cooperation, or will it be business as usual? 
  Speaker: Juha Jokela, Programme director, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• Transatlantic security relations – close allies or a relationship beyond repair?
  Speaker: Mikkel Runge, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies
• The Danish defence opt-out: how does this affect Denmark’s defence cooperation with the EU
  Speaker: Christine Nissen, Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies

13.40-13.50   Break

13.50-14.20 Panel II: Policy presentations  
Future perspectives: What are the biggest threats and possible responses to the European security challenges?
Chair: Jessica Larsen, Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies

• The Netherlands position 
  Speaker: Rob Zaagman, Ambassador, Netherlands Embassy in Copenhagen 
• The German position
  Speaker: Markus Woelke, Head of Division, Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union, German MfA
• The Swedish position 
  Speaker: Anna Hammarlund Blixt, Head of Division for CSDP and sanctions policy, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Danish position 
  Speaker: Jørgen Gammelgaard, Special Representative for Euroatlantic Security, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

14.20-15.00   Q&A
Questions & answers with the audience

Practical information
The seminar will be held in English and livestreamed on diis.dk.
All MUST WEAR FACE MASK when arriving at DIIS (until seated).

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form no later than Wednesday 18 November at 10:00. Livestream does not require registration.