CESI breakfast meeting
‘A European Defence Roundtable: how to ensure better stakeholder consultation in the context of the future European Defence Union’

Realised by Lukas Mandl, Member of the European Parliament, and the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI)

A by invitation-only event
Wednesday, 29^th January 2020, 8:00 – 10:00 hrs
European Parliament (ASP 0 G saloon)

Working languages: EN/ DE; no simultaneous interpretation

Confronted with new geopolitical realities and security threats, the EU is under pressure to deliver progress in the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), with the ultimate aim of a genuine European Defence Union (EDU).  Support of citizens is strong and a window of opportunity is given, while at the same time, the complexity and lack of transparency in the area of ESDP endangers the process.

Also representing the interests of military and civilian personnel in the armed forces, CESI advocates a more structured engagement in the frame of ESDP and the meanwhile heralded EDU. A European Defence Round Table (EDRT) as a formalised platform for stakeholders, including representatives of the personnel of the armed forces, is being proposed. A structured and regular exchange with key stakeholders is considered key for success. During the breakfast, the feasibility, composition, tasks and potential mandate of such EDRT should be subject to discussion.

Welcome

Lukas Mandl, European Parliament

Introduction

Klaus Heeger,  CESI

Moderation

Steven Blockmans, CEPS

Statements

Thomas Sohst, German Armed Forces Association (DBwV)
Wilhelm Waldner, Austrian Armed Forces Union
Delphine Resteigne, Belgian Royal Military Academy
Georgis Bikakis, European External Action Service
Lisa Picheny, NATO
Raluca Csernatoni, Institute for European Studies
Sylvia Kainz Huber, European Commission/DG GROW
Alain Alexis, European Commission/DG GROW

Open discussion with the audience

Concluding remarks

Romain Wolff, CESI