In her political guidelines presented on 18 July 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen identified defence as a priority. The preparation of a White Paper on the future of EU defence aims to launch a broad consultation on the establishment of a Union framework for defence investment needs and critical defence capabilities as well as funding options. The Commissioner for Defence, Industry and Space, Andrius Kubilius and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, have been tasked with producing this paper and will present it on March 19th.
This public event seeks to bring core ideas on current and future military doctrine, future force concept and military capabilities’ development as seen by Ukrainian experts.

The following questions and topics will guide the discussion:
1. Future battlefield through Ukrainian Prism: what factors are gaining weight?
2. The world of unmanned systems: what approaches to integration into the armed forces are optimal?
3. Triangle price-quality-time: best practices for adaptation.
4. Best practices in financing defense procurement.

Programme:

• 9:30-10:00: Welcoming coffee and registrations.

• 10:00-10:15: Opening remarks
– Hennadiy Maksak, Executive Director, Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism”
– Weronika Frydryszek, Deputy Head of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union (TBC)

10:15-11:00: Expert panel moderated by Jean-Louis De Brouwer, Director of the European Affairs Programme, Egmont Institute
– Yurii Buhai, Head of Analytics, Reform Support Office, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
– Bruno Lete, Defence Policy Director in the Private Cabinet of the new Belgian Minister of Defence (tbc)
– Mariam Khotenashvili, Executive Director, TEPSA (tbc)

11:00 – 11:30: Q&A Session and concluding remarks

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)