This event, organised by the Chatham House Europe programme in cooperation with Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, is an exploratory workshop aimed at developing a new way of thinking about European security by finding the right balance between ‘new’ risks and traditional threats. It is the first in a new project which will bring together a range of experts from the fields of economics, trade, migration, environment, digital and health policies, together with traditional security and defence experts.
Taking a critical look at the use of the term security in several policy areas, the objective of this project is to spark fresh debate on the question: what does and should constitute the European security agenda today?
The first session, ‘Securitization and policymaking in 2021’, will introduce and explore the concept of securitization and allow participants to debate its current influence and use in their own policy fields. To what extent is the concept of security more broadly used in Europe today? How does securitization affect policymaking and policies? How distinctive is the current European approach?
During the second session, ‘Securitization and economics/trade policy’, participants will explore the securitization of economic policy, including trade policy and industrial policy. Are we talking more about ‘economic security’ because there are economic shifts taking place? What are the consequences of looking at economic and trade issues through the security prism – if any? What are the potential risks and opportunities, especially in Europe?
