As the global order fragments into blocks, as globalization wanes and as war has returned on the European continent, the European Union has stepped into the breach. Geopolitics, security, autonomy, resilience and derisking now top its agenda. At the same time, the European Union is readying itself for another leap forward, with defence, industrial policy, internal market and competitiveness among the priorities to further strengthen the European cause in a multipolar world.

Can the European Union indeed rise to the challenge of hard power and geopolitics? Can it find a way to move from crisis management to strategic leadership? Can Europe become the master of its own faith or do we remain vulnerable to outside events and third parties? What choices do we collectively face in Europe for the years ahead? How to achieve the indispensable political leadership at both the member state and the European level? Can we find flexible ways to fund, accelerate and scale the many European imperatives?

The Egmont Institute and the Itinera Institute with the Belgium’s Permanent Representation to the EU cordially welcome you to join the debate on the future of the European Union.

As the global order fragments into blocks, as globalization wanes and as war has returned on the European continent, the European Union has stepped into the breach. Geopolitics, security, autonomy, resilience and derisking now top its agenda. At the same time, the European Union is readying itself for another leap forward, with defence, industrial policy, internal market and competitiveness among the priorities to further strengthen the European cause in a multipolar world.

Can the European Union indeed rise to the challenge of hard power and geopolitics? Can it find a way to move from crisis management to strategic leadership? Can Europe become the master of its own faith or do we remain vulnerable to outside events and third parties? What choices do we collectively face in Europe for the years ahead? How to achieve the indispensable political leadership at both the member state and the European level? Can we find flexible ways to fund, accelerate and scale the many European imperatives?

The Egmont Institute, the Itinera Institute and the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU- cordially welcome you to join the debate on the future of the European Union.

Programme

17:15 – 17:40 Registration

17:40 Welcome

Pol De Witte, Director General, Egmont Institute

17: 50 ‘Superpower Europe: pathways to new European leadership in a new world order’

Marc De Vos, co-CEO, Itinera Institute, professor, Ghent University

18:15 – 19:15 The future of the European Union: debate and Q&A

Enrico Letta, President, Jacques Delors Institute, and former Prime Minister of Italy

David O’Sullivan, EU Sanctions Envoy, former EU-ambassador to the US and former Director General of the Institute for International and European Affairs

Nathalie Loiseau, MEP (Renew Group), former director of the École nationale d’administration (ENA) and former French Minister for European Affairs

Marc De Vos, co-CEO, Itinera Institute and professor, Ghent University

Moderator : Giles Merritt, former Financial Times Brussels correspondent, Founder Friends of Europe and Senior Associate Fellow Egmont Institute

19:15 Closing remarks

Peter Moors, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the European Union (TBC)

19:20 – 20:00 Reception