The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Transatlantic Security Initiative will host a conversation on the European Union’s (EU) defense ambitions on Thursday, March 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. ET.

On Wednesday, March 19, the European Commission is scheduled to release 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.

Will the white paper’s policy proposals be 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 will unpack the white paper and its recommendations and discuss how the EU should contribute to Europe’s defense transformation.

This conversation will take place virtually. To attend virtually, please register above.