The European Defence Agency (EDA) hosted its annual conference ‘European Defence Matters’ on 27 March 2014. The conference brings together more than 500 high level participants from government, military, and industry, making it the only comprehensive rendez-vous on European defence.
The event is opened by Claude-France Arnould, the Chief Executive of the EDA and includes keynote speeches from Catherine Ashton the Head of the EDA, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Vice President of the Commission, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and the Italian Under Secretary of Defence, General Domenico Rossi – representing the current and upcoming EU Presidencies.
Building on the Council Conclusions
The conference is the first since the European Council in December 2013, which brought an increased level of focus and political support for European defence cooperation. The priorities outlined by the Council include the need to enhance the development of Europe’s military capabilities and to strengthen Europe’s defence industry.
To address the decisions that came from December’s summit and focus on concrete actions, panel discussions will bring together experts on European defence cooperation with high level figures from military, policy, and industry. Panelists include Pieter De Crem Vice-Prime Minister, Belgian Minister of Defence; Ine Eriksen Søreide, Norwegian Minister of Defence; General Patrick de Rousiers, Chairman of the EU Military Committee; General Sverker Göranson, Swedish Chief of Defence; Alexander Vershbow, NATO Deputy Secretary General; Bernhard Gerwert, CEO Airbus Defence & Space; and Tim Rowntree, Director OCCAR.
Note for editors
Live updates from throughout the day will be posted on the EDA’s website. Participants and anyone else interested in European defence are invited to get involved in the debate on Twitter, using #DefenceMatters and the EDA’s Twitter handle @EUDefenceAgency.
Regularly updated, copyright free photographs will be available on the day of the event via the EDA’s Flickr page. Please just credit ©European Defence Agency when using.
Background
For the first time since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council discussed defence as the main topic on the agenda in December 2013. It identified priority actions for stronger cooperation, increasing the effectiveness, visibility and impact of the Common Security and Defence Policy, enhancing the development of European capabilities and strengthening Europe’s defence industry.
More information