Event report

During the roundtable, we talked with our expert guests and interested citizens about foreign, security and defence policy issues across the EU, which have a direct impact on the EU’s role in the world. EU leaders agree on the need to strengthen Europe’s defence. However, there are significant differences in the implementation of this. What are the different approaches? What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of a common military force? What are the tasks of the existing European Corps? What are the biggest challenges today, such as cyber defence or strengthening intelligence? We discussed these issues with our guests, experts in Hungary: Péter Sztáray, State Secretary for Security Policy, Attila Demkó and Réka Szemerkényi, with security policy experts and Péter Stauber (CEPOL). During the discussion, viewers and event participants were able to participate actively in the discussion (both online and offline). The roundtable also discussed global events and strategies (e.g. the US presence in Afghanistan), transatlantic relations and Europe-specific issues. EU-specific topics were: so-called “break lines” on the continent; battlegroups inside and outside V4 and their financial background; geographically defined objectives in defence. Defence-related projects and developments, including educational and industrial developments, have also been discussed, which require further investment. The public support for this and the willingness of citizens to participate in financing the security of their country is now high, which the EU can use for its own benefit.