DEMOS

The pressing logic of closer European cooperation on security and defence became a reality at St Malo on 4th December 1998. The Anglo-French summit agreed the EU should have the capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible military forces, the means to decide to use them - and a readiness to do so in order to respond to international crises. The agreement set in train an unprecedented level of cooperation between European member states on security and defence.
Over the last decade the building blocks of European defence have slowly emerged. The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) has been driven by the ambitions of numerous EU Presidencies, while the European Security Strategy of 2003 sought to shape an alternative approach to the changing global security environment. Capacity-building and capabilities have been orchestrated by new agencies and units such as the European Defence Agency (EDA), the Situation Centre and the EU Military Staff. Since 2002, the EU has managed 20 ESDP missions in Europe, Africa and in Asia.
However, faced with a broad spectrum of transnational threats, from the spill over of conflict from fragile or failing states, to organised crime and terrorism and threats to energy security, doubts still remain over the capacity of European Governments to act in concert, swiftly and with the necessary capabilities.
In recent years the conflict in Iraq, operations in Afghanistan, the EU's relationship with NATO, and populist fears, particularly in the UK, over the creation of a 'European army', have strained political relations across the European Continent and the Atlantic often inhibiting necessary cooperation and the pooling of critical resources.
This half day conference will reflect on the trends and forces that have shaped and influenced the politics and policies of European defence and will assess current military, security and intelligence capabilities that the EU can draw on. The conference will end with a focus on the opportunities and challenges facing ESDP till 2018. 

Speakers include:

Keynote: Rt Hon Baroness Taylor, Minister for International Defence and Security, Ministry of Defence

Steven Everts, Special Counsellor, Private Office of SG/HR Javier Solana, Council of the EU*
Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform
Veronique Roger-Lacan, Deputy Director, Delegation for Strategic Affairs, Ministère de la Défense

Dr Bastian Giegerich, Research Fellow for European Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Lt General David Leakey, Director General, European Union Military Staff
Carlo Magrassi, Deputy Chief Executive for Strategy, European Defence Agency

Daniel Keohane, Research Fellow, EU Institute for Security Studies
Daniel Korski, Senior Policy Fellow, European Council on Foreign Relations
Andrew Mathewson, Head of NATO & Europe Policy Division, Ministry of Defence

For further information about the conference please email Charlie Edwards

*Robert Cooper has sadly had to stay in Brussels for Council Business.