Europe is confronted by a structural shift in the geopolitical landscape, which exposes its vulnerabilities and fosters uncertainty about the future of its security and defence policy. Questions of resilience, rearmament, strategic autonomy and independence have moved to the centre of political debate across the European Union (EU) and beyond.
To discuss the future of European security and defence policies, TEPSA organised “The future of European Security and Defence”, a public debate which took place at the Fondation Universitaire (Rue d’Egmont 11) on Tuesday, 2 June 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 PM (CEST).
The event was introduced by TEPSA Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili, followed by a panel discussion with:
- Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space;
- Daniel Fiott, Head, Defence, Investment and Innovation at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel;
- Moderated by Tyyne Karjalainen, Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
Watch the event recording
The event served as a launch for TEPSA’s book “Security, Defence and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, and Paul Schmidt, which compiles domestic perspectives on these questions from leading European experts. It examines the past, present and future of security and defence on the continent. 42 national chapters bring comparative, concise and accessible analyses and policy recommendations covering issues ranging from military preparedness and defence spending to public opinion, neutrality, hybrid threats, NATO cooperation, and the war in Ukraine. The book is introduced by a foreword penned by the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius.
