THE FUTURE OF EU DEFENSE - The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Transatlantic Security Initiative hosts a conversation on the European Union’s (EU) defense ambitions.

On March 19, the European Commission released its white paper on the future of defense, outlining how the EU will take forward the defense ambitions articulated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The paper’s release comes at a critical time for Europe, as the continent faces renewed calls for increased agency to provide for its own security in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a growing uncertainty about the future of the transatlantic relationship.

Are the white paper’s policy proposals enough to propel the EU’s defense ambitions? What is the political outlook for the EU’s defense agenda and what are the next steps? And how could these proposals impact EU-NATO relations and transatlantic security? This expert panel unpacks the white paper and its recommendations and discuss how the EU should contribute to Europe’s defense transformation.

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 03/20/25