The event featured panel discussions and interviews with representatives from EU institutions, national governments, NATO, industry, academia, media and civil society.
Video message by Commissioner @ThierryBreton at #EDSS2023 with focus on #ammunition & #ASAP:
„I am confident that we can ramp up our production capacities in the coming months.“ pic.twitter.com/ydNSgO3cMb
— ASD (@ASDEurope) May 11, 2023
High-level speakers included, amongst other, Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Union; Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the Commission for Promoting our European Way of Life; Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market (video message); Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defence, Ukraine (video message); Greta Monika Tučkutė, Vice-Minister of Defence, Lithuania; Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee; Micael Johansson, CEO of Saab, and Claudio Graziano, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Fincantieri. See here for a full list of speakers/panelists.
🇺🇦Minister of Defence @oleksiireznikov: „If we want peace and #security for #Europe, we must move forward. No alternative to ramp up military capabilities and replenishing stockpiles.“
@DefenceU#EDSS2023 pic.twitter.com/f24IFzMWig
— ASD (@ASDEurope) May 11, 2023
The summit was set up amid the broad societal consensus that the new security environment marks a turning point and necessitates a change of paradigm for how to deal with defence capabilities in Europe, after decades of having taken peace and freedom for granted. Europe must catch up rapidly which comes along with enormous challenges – for citizens, politicians, armed forces as well as industry. This raises many important questions, amongst other related to ramp-up of defence production, technological superiority, hybrid threats, cyber security, the protection of critical infrastructure, space, and the energy transition – topics that were discussed at the conference.
HR/VP @JosepBorrellF being interviewed live on stage by @mariatad at #EDSS2023:
“It is very important that the #defence side of our foreign policy grows in importance.”
“#Europe needs a stronger #defence industry.
Defence starts with the industry!” pic.twitter.com/8ii1XsL1PA— ASD (@ASDEurope) May 11, 2023
“This Defence and Security Summit was an important forum and has clearly shown: To cope with the new security environment, Europe must have a strong defence industry that provides the technologies and systems our armed forces need,” said ASD Secretary General Jan Pie.
“The debates have highlighted the vital role our industry plays for the protection of European citizens against military and hybrid threats, while at the same time being a key enabler for a secure and sustainable development. I am very pleased about the high interest and the turnout of this summit. ASD looks forward to continuing the conversation as we work together to strengthen Europe’s defence and security posture. I would like to thank all participants and our partners at EBS for co-organising this conference,” he stressed.
A recording of each panel can be accessed via this link. Some of the key messages have also been reported here.
