With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, transatlantic relations have entered a new phase of uncertainty, raising questions about the reliability of U.S. commitments to Europe’s collective defence. For Denmark, these issues are compounded by the growing U.S. interest in Greenland, underlining the importance of EU solidarity when Member States face external pressure.

At the same time, the EU has placed security and defence at the heart of the 2024–2029 agenda, with President Ursula von der Leyen’s ReArm Europe plan and proposals for a European Defence Union shaping a new chapter in Europe’s strategic autonomy. Participants in this discussion will examine Europe’s strategic autonomy, NATO and the EU’s future role in it, and the implications for Danish and European security policy, with a focus on cooperation, deterrence, and readiness in an uncertain and unpredictable time.

The panel, held at the margins of the European Movement International annual Assembly, and forming part of the EXPRESS2 project, will bring together MEPs, academics and civil society experts to explore how the EU and its Member States can safeguard stability and security, reinforce resilience against emerging threats, and develop the capabilities needed to defend Europeans in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Background

This event will contribute to deliberations taking place in the context of the EXPRESS2 project which aims to develop a more inclusive, democratic, and sustainable new social contract for the European Union. A fundamental aspect of achieving this goal is engaging citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) through a series of well-structured events and workshops. The event, organised in hybrid format in Copenhagen, while Denmark is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU, will gather various European civil society organisations, engage policy makers and emphasize insecurity as one the key disruptive elements.

Donor

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under the grant agreement No 101132426. More info on https://express2project.eu/