Europe’s strategic choices 2024

Speakers
Dr Sarah Kirchberger, Academic Director, Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK)
Bronwen Maddox, Director, Chatham House 
Prof. Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering, Representative for European Affairs of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Former President of the European Parliament
 

Speakers
Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence, European External Action Service 
Chair: Bronwen Maddox, Director, Chatham House

How will Europe develop its defence capabilities and what are the implications for spending? Are Europe’s defence supply chain issues and production capacity being adequately addressed? What are the implications of the introduction of European Single Market rules for defence procurement? Have NATO’s deterrence strategies kept pace with the threats of modern Europe?

What kinds of defence strategies have been effective in combatting the cyber and information aspects of recent conflicts and political tensions? How will European states respond if the US cuts support for Ukraine?

Speakers
Captain Valerii Churkin, Commander, Technologies Scaling Center, Armed Forces of Ukraine
Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defense, The Netherlands (2022 – 24)
Bryan Wells, Chief Scientist, NATO
Chair: Armida van Rij, Senior Research Fellow & Head, Europe Programme, Chatham House

How will the Trump administration shape transatlantic relations and has the 2024 campaign helped or hindered America’s position as a global, democratic leader? Where does Europe’s strategy differ from the US, for example with regards to NATO? Can Europe offer aspects of deterrence complementary to the US in potential conflict zones?

Speakers
Norbert Röttgen MP, Co-Chair Member of the European Council on Foreign Relations & Member of the German Bundestag (CDU) 
Bruno Maçães, Former Secretary of State for European Affairs, Portugal
Dr Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany
James Carafano, Senior Counsellor to the President and E.W. Richardson Fellow, The Heritage Foundation (virtual)
Chair: Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and Americas Programme, Chatham House

What are Europe’s priorities with regard to Middle Eastern security?Does Europe have a role in mitigating regionalised conflict in the Middle East and beyond? How is Europe responding and preparing for refugee crises and conflict driven migration? What steps has Europe taken to address the influence of Russia, China and Iran across the region?

How do Middle Eastern states perceive Europe’s role within a context of escalating geopolitical competition? How united is Europe in playing a role in managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Speakers
Kimberly Dozier, Global Affairs Analyst, CNN
Dr Taha Ozhan, Director of Ankara Institute and Former Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commission of Turkish Parliament 
Dr Thomas Volk, Head of Middle East and North Africa Department, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
H.E. Ahmed Alattar, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Federal Republic of Germany 
Chair: Bronwen Maddox, Director and Chief Executive, Chatham House

 

Breakout sessions will run concurrently. They are in-person only and will be held under the Chatham House Rule. 

What role can European states meaningfully play in the Indo-Pacific?How are European states approaching the question of engagement with China? Is there the prospect of a common European approach? How should European states respond in the event of conflict over Taiwan?

Should alignment with the US in the Indo-Pacific still be the focus for like-minded European allies? How can European countries maintain their security imperatives while still successfully aligning with fast-paced and growing economies in Asia?

Speakers
Paul Graham, Defence Attache, Australian Embassy to Germany 
Sarah Kirchberger, Academic Director, Institute for Security Policy Kiel University (ISPK) 
Simon Menet, Research Fellow, Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique
Prof Dr Jhy-Wey Shieh, Taiwanese Representative to Germany 
Chair: Steven Erlanger, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Europe, New York Times
 

Breakout sessions will run concurrently. They are in-person only and will be held under the Chatham House Rule. 

What are Europe’s strategic goals concerning the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa? How have security threats in the Red Sea impacted economic dynamics, international shipping and global trade, including insurance risks? How can European countries best respond to instability in the Red Sea and safeguard their security and commercial interests?

Speakers
Ragnar-Sten Gulliksen, Deputy Chief Security and Contingency at the Intelligence and Operations Centre (IOC) at the Norwegian Shipowners Mutual War Risks Insurance Association
Dr Annette Weber, EU Special Representative to the Horn of Africa, and German citizen; formerly SWP lead on the Horn (virtual)
Rear Admiral Jürgen Ehle (ret), Senior Military Advisor to Managing Director for Peace, Security and Defence, European External Action Service (2019–24) (virtual)
Ambassador Andebrhan Giorgis, EU Senior Economic Adviser to the Government of Yemen / Consultation and Reconciliation Commission
Chair: Nils Wörmer, Head of Regional Programme Security Dialogue for East Africa, KAS 

 

Breakout sessions will run concurrently. They are in-person only and will be held under the Chatham House Rule. 

What is Europe’s role in the global AI Order? How can Europe’s AI industry become competitive amid US-Chinese competition? How can the EU adopt a flexible approach to its regulatory framework and how can it strengthen responsible AI governance? With an assertive Russia, multiple elections, and a dominant China, can Europe remain protected from malignant AI threats beyond 2024?

How does the rapid advancement of AI present a fundamental challenge to traditional battlefield and cyber threats? How should these be regulated within a competitive international environment?

Speakers
Frederike Kaltheuner, Senior EU and Global Governance Lead, AI Now
Sir Julian King, British European Commissioner (2016–19) 
Adriana Groh, Co-Founder, Sovereign Tech Fund with the German Ministry of Economic Affairs
Seemab Sheikh, Acting Deputy Tech Ambassador, Denmark (virtual)
Chair: Alex Krasodomski, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House

How can countries implement a whole-of-society defence strategy to enhance their societal resilience in the face of hybrid threats? What lessons can be drawn from the Nordics’ adoption of comprehensive security policies to enhance European defence? What practices characterise comprehensive security strategies and how can these be employed more widely across Europe?

What does ‘secure’ look like given the growing capabilities and agency of non-state actors?

Speakers
Rear Admiral Christian Bock, Chief of Division MEO II, Federal Ministry of Defence  
Kusti Salm, CEO, Frankenburg Technologies; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Estonia (2021 – 24) (virtual) 
Kai Sauer, Ambassador of Finland to Germany
Dr Iro Särkkä, Postdoctoral Fellow, Finnish Foreign Policy, Northern European Security and NATO Research Programme, Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Chair: Dr Sarah Kirchberger, Academic Director, Institute for Security Policy Kiel University (ISPK)

What deters Russia? What have we learnt from Russia’s war on Ukraine? What security arrangements should be offered to Ukraine to boost its own and Europe’s security? Can Europe/the EU/NATO deter and defend itself? How fast is Russia rebuilding its military and in what areas? What do European countries need to do to prepare for a possible direct confrontation?

What is the best defence against cyber and information warfare? What should we expect from Russia and how much damage can it do? What is Russia’s declared and actual policy towards Europe (and the EU and NATO)? How much of a priority is Europe for Russia?

Speakers
Prof Dr Katarzyna Zysk, Professor, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies/Defence University College - Oslo; Russia Transatlantic Forum (CNAS); The US Atlantic Council 
Kurt Volker, US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations (2017-19); US Ambassador to NATO (2008-9) (virtual)
Oleksandra Ustinova, People’s Deputy of Ukraine
Mr Andrew Mitchell CMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany
Chair: Keir Giles, Senior Consulting Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House

To what extent are geopolitical risks and increasing protectionism helping or hindering competitiveness, innovation, and productivity in Europe? How might developing the industrial base and skills agendas boost competitiveness? Where are the greatest opportunities for secure and competitive growth and where should private and public sector investment be targeted for maximum impact?

How might competing interests of European nations impact the effectiveness of multilateral systems within Europe and what strategies can be employed to bridge these differences and strengthen collaborative efforts? What role can multilateral bodies, such as the European Union and NATO, play in fostering unity among member states and promoting a common European approach to international challenges?

Speakers
Dr Julia Reuss, Public Policy Director Central Europe, Meta
Dr Robin Winkler, Chief Germany Economist, Deutsche Bank Research I Deutsche Bank AG 
Michele Mestrinaro, Vice President & Global Head of Policy, Novartis
Dr Cinzia Alcidi, Director of Research, Centre for European Policy Studies (virtual)
Chair: John Kampfner, Fellow, Institute for Advanced Study 

 

Can Europe compete with China in technology and science? How are worsening US-China relations impacting Europe? Is China the answer to Europe’s future growth or a worrying dependency?

What are China’s shifting priorities towards Ukraine and what are the implications for Europe?

Speakers
Dr Yu Jie, Senior Research Fellow on China, Asia-Pacific Programme 
Grégoire Roos, Head of Political Dialogue & Policy Innovation, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt
Tim Rühlig, Senior Analyst, European Union Institute for Security Studies (virtual)
Jacob Stokes, Senior Fellow Indo-Pacific Security Program, Centre for a New American Security
Chair: Nora Müller, Head of International Politics and Head of the Capital Office, Körber Foundation

What is the impact of the US’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on European investment? Are industrial policies such as the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan adequately addressing current climate targets, energy security and economic stability? How is protectionism fostering competitiveness in the green economy, and how does Europe position itself in term of competition or collaboration around critical materials and key resources such as hydrogen?

How are climate risks accounted for in security policy? How can European nations and NATO enhance measures to address the dual challenges of climate change and security, particularly in regions vulnerable to energy security concerns and geopolitical tensions? 

Speakers
Andrew Gilmour, Executive Director, Berghof Foundation 
Norbert Gorißen, Deputy Special Envoy for International Climate Action, Federal Foreign Office, Germany    
Ben Gibson, Senior External Affairs Manager, Geopolitics, Orsted
Dr Svitlana Romanko, Founder and Executive Director, Razom We Stand
Chair: Sabina Wölkner, Head of Department 2030 Agenda, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

What are the greatest threats to European democracies and how will new administrations navigate growing internal and external pressures? How is Europe addressing rising illiberalism and what are the implications for the efficacy of democratic governance and institutions after a record year of elections? How are democratic governments’ responding to migration? Can centrist parties survive without that answer?

What does the future look like for centrist parties in Europe with election winners increasingly coming from the ideological poles? What responsibility do the European Union institutions have to bolster democracy in Europe and safeguard against external threats? What role should the EU play? Which strategies are effective in securing democratic processes and elections from malign interference such as disinformation?     

Speakers
Prof Dr. Joachim Krause, Director Emeritus, Institute for Security Policy Kiel University (ISPK)
Bruno Maçães, Senior Advisor, Flint Global; Author; Secretary of State for European Affairs, Portugal (2013–15) 
Felix Neumann, Policy Advisor for Extremism and Counter-Terrorism, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung 
Ambassador Natalie Sabanadze, Senior Research Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House; Georgia’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium (2013–21) (virtual) 
Chair: Gideon Rachman, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, Financial Times
 

How does Europe engage more effectively with the so called ‘Global South’ and on issues of official development assistance? What are the key considerations for establishing and building mutually beneficial strategic partnerships and countering competitive spheres of influence?     

What is the scope for further developing ‘minilateral’ security arrangements with partners beyond Europe? What is Europe’s continuing role in conflict prevention and peace building?

Speakers
Juan Battaleme, Secretary of Defense for External Affairs, Argentina
Ajit Gupte, Ambassador of India to the Federal Republic of Germany 
Lidet Tadesse, Head: Peace, Security and Resilience, European Centre for Development Policy Management (virtual) 
Chair: Tighisti Amare, Deputy Director, Africa Programme, Chatham House 
 

Speaker
Sir Simon Fraser, Chair, Chatham House Council