Strategic Autonomy – Security & Defense

The war in Ukraine has made evident the relevance of the already debated concept of “European Strategic Autonomy”. It conveys the idea that the EU should be able to (more) quickly take united decisions and act in response to immediate threats, but also strategically set its priorities and interests in face of the increasing geopolitical competition. Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe had taken steps toward assuming a stronger and more pertinent role in the global order. What is the EU’s capacity and agency to set priorities and make autonomous decisions in its external action? What are the political, institutional, and material requirements to fulfill Strategic Autonomy, and on which dimensions is the EU expected to make more sovereign decisions? What is the relevance of Strategic Autonomy to facing the challenges within and beyond European borders?

The Virtual Breakfast Briefings invite experts, policymakers, activists, and citizens to debate the concept of European Strategic Autonomy, looking into what it means and how it has recently developed, as well as been interpreted in the context of the war in Ukraine. Going beyond the military dimension, it is time for progressive thinkers to provide an in-depth reflection on Strategic Autonomy and set the agenda on the directions it should go in times of war.

FEPS, together with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Fondation Jean-Jaurès (FJJ) invite you for a series of virtual breakfast briefings, open to the public, to discuss Strategic Autonomy from three dimensions, which are the building blocks of our collaborative flagship project “Strategic Autonomy – Pathways to Progressive Action”.

Security & Defense: 05 July 2022, 8:30 – 09:30 AM (CET)

The EU has learned to speak the language of power in a world of rising geopolitical competition. However, for a more independent and influential EU in the world, there can not only be a change in rhetorical projection of power but also concrete institutional and operational steps to increase military capacity.

In addition to discussing ways toward more capability in the field of security and defense, this session also explores existing strengths of the EU’s external action that can be the basis for achieving strategic autonomy, such as those in the field of conflict prevention, mediation, post-conflict peacebuilding, and resilience-building to become more autonomous.

Speakers:

• Speakers: Ana Juncos (Professor of European Politics at the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies, University of Bristol)
• Pol Morillas (Director, Barcelona Centre for International Affairs)
• Moderator: Sidonie Wetzig (FES-EU)

This is the first event of the Strategic Autonomy Policy Breakfast Series. You can find the rest of the events here:

Strategic Autonomy – Economy & Trade 6 July 8:30

Strategic Autonomy – Digital & Technology 7 July 8:30

Find out more about FEPS and partners’ work on Strategic Autonomy!