European countries’ defence budgets are shrinking under the pressure of the spending reviews, in contrast with a global defence expenditure that is on the rise and the multiplication of common security threats. However, many stress that budgetary cuts might prove an opportunity to speed up the defence integration in Europe through pooling and sharing and smart spending, as witnessed by many bilateral agreements within the EU aimed at reducing fixed costs such as redundant personnel and infrastructure. But is there the concrete risk that joint defence could be used as a pretext for less defence? How will this affect the consolidation process envisaged for the EU’s defence industry in the years ahead? And above all, how to overcome national resistance to pooling and sharing without the concrete identification of basic common interests, as was the case with Libya?
A Citizen's Controverversy with Mr Jo COELMONT, Senior Associate Fellow at Egmont Institute, and Mrs Nathalie ERRARD, Head of European and NATO Affairs at EADS.
The debate will be moderated by Mr Pierre DEFRAIGNE, Executive Directo , Madariaga-College of Europe Foundation.
The debate will be held in English.
To register, please send your name, title and the name of your organisation to info@madariaga.org or by fax to: +32 (0) 2 209 62 11.
For more information, do not hesitate to contact us on: +32 (0) 2 209 62 10.
Participation fee: € 10 / Students: € 3.Sandwiches and drinks will be provided from 12:30 onwards.