Under the title “the path to 2030: How will the Strategic Compass show the way on EU Security and Defence?” the seminar looked forward to the implementation of the Strategic Compass in March 2022. After the opening remarks of Mr. Dirk Dubois, Director of the ESDC, and Dr. Daniel Fiott, present on behalf of the EUISS, a keynote speech from Stijn Mols, Head of the Security and Defence Policy Directorate at the European External Action Service (EEAS), provided a state of play of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) developments.
The central part of the seminar consisted of a panel addressing the theme of the event, “the path to 2030”, but as it was unavoidable, in the light of the dramatic events that we are witnessing in Ukraine, to avoid a discussion about the war. Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop, Prof. Dr. Elena Lazarou, Ms. Nynke Tichelaaar, European Commission, and Mr. Jean-Pierre Van Aubel, from the EEAS, looked forward to the implementation of the Strategic Compass.
They raised interesting points, such as the need to speed up the process in the light of current situation in Eastern Europe, or the need to identify critical technologies and priorities to reduce strategic dependences; as well as the need to spend more and better on defence capabilities. According to some panelists, the EU is on the right path with the strategic compass, where building resilience in our neighborhood has become a top priority.
Other crucial points were addressed like the capacity to confront hybrid threats and respond to cyber-attacks. The speakers also underlined the need for the EU to focus on the ripple effects of the war on Ukraine, such as food and energy security in and around Europe. . Now, more than ever, Europe’s way of living is in danger and the EU needs to take action and to deliver quickly and efficiently in line with the ambition to become a strategic actor and a global security provider.
Last but not least, before the seminar was closed Mr Dirk Dubois and Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop presented the 2021 Global Strategy PhD prize to Dr. Magnus CHRISTIANSSON, Senior Lecturer at the Swedish Defence University.
On behalf of the ESDC Alumni Association I would like to thank the ESDC and the EUISS for co-organising this event and also to express our gratitude to Stijn Mols and all of the panelists for their participation in the Seminar. Finally, I wish to congratulate Dr. Christiansson for the PhD prize.
Fernando Moreno (ESP Colonel, Reserve)
Chairman of the ESDC Alumni Association
