European Security & Defense Architecture
A closed-door conference on Europe’s evolving security and defense order
Europe’s security architecture is being rewritten in real time. NATO’s eastern flank is under sustained pressure, the transatlantic guarantee is being renegotiated on Washington’s terms, and Europeans are being asked to underwrite their own defense. The debates now unfolding around a European “pillar” within NATO, a coalition of the willing for Ukraine’s security guarantees, and an integrated European defense industrial base are no longer theoretical. These are the issues that this autumn’s conference on Europe’s evolving security and defense order, “European Security & Defense Architecture”, has been convened to address.
Progamme
08:30 – 09:00
Arrival & Coffee
09:00 – 09:05
Welcome
Lykke Friis, Think Tank EUROPA
09:05 – 09:15
History of the group and purpose
Shahin Vallée, German Council on Foreign Relations
09:15 – 10:15
From Vision to Implementation: Building Europe’s New Security Architecture
Chair: Josep Borrell, Former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Almut Möller, European Policy Centre
Julian King, UK
Michal Matlak, EU Security Initiative EUI
10:15 – 11:15
Inside the Machinery Room Where Foreign Policy Is Made
A rare conversation between foreign policy planners/strategists
Chair: Lykke Friis, Think Tank Europa
Eivind Vad Petersson, State Secretary, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Lotte Machon, State Secretary for Foreign Policy at Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Irene Eidemüller, Deputy Head of Policy Planning German Federal Foreign Office
Antti Helanterä, Ambassador, Strategy Director, Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
11.15 – 11:30
Coffee Break
11:30 – 12:15
Building an Integrated European Defense Industrial Base
Chair: Andras Racz, Hungarian Institute of International Affairs
Margarita Šešelgytė, Institute of International Relations and Political Science Vilnius University
Patrick Keller, German Council on Foreign Relations
Dr. Anna Wieslander, Atlantic Council (tbc)
12:15 – 13:00
European Nuclear Deterrence, NATO and a European Coalition of the Willing
Chair: Christine Nissen, Think Tank EUROPA
Minna Ålander, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies
Monika Sus, EU Security Initiative EUI
David Béhar, French Foreign Ministry
13:00 – 13:20
Closing Remarks: The Importance of European Independence
Lisbeth Bech-Nielsen, Danish Minister for Resilience and Preparedness
13:20
Lunch and Networking
Time and venue
Date: Friday, 25 September 2026
Time: 09:00–13:20 (registration and a light breakfast from 08:30)
Venue: Gorrissen Federspiel, Axel Towers, Axeltorv 2, 1609 Copenhagen V