CER/HSF discussion on 'Rearming Europe: Short-term priorities for personnel, public support and procurement'

Welcome remarks:
Markus Ferber, Member, European Parliament & Chairman, Hanns Seidel Foundation
Armin Hartmuth, Director, Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union

Presentation of publication:
Armida van Rij, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform

Speakers:
Andrius Avizius, Director of the Political Committee, NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Ionela Ciolan, Research Officer, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies
Christophe Gomart, Member, European Parliament
Benjamin Hartmann, Expert, Cabinet of Andrius Kubilius, European Commission
Graham Webber, Minister Counsellor Defence, UK Joint Delegation to NATO
Chair: Teri Schultz, Freelance NATO & EU Reporter

The security environment facing Europe has changed fundamentally. Russia's sustained aggression and the evolving nature of transatlantic commitments have made a serious and sustained increase in European defence investment not merely a political aspiration, but a strategic necessity. The debate has therefore moved on from whether Europe needs to rearm to how this should be done and which priorities should be set.

Closing every capability gap simultaneously is neither feasible nor strategically coherent. European governments face acute near-term choices: how to build and maintain public support for increased defence spending; how to address pressing personnel and skills shortfalls; and how to accelerate procurement in a way that delivers the greatest possible effect within the relevant time frame, without compromising quality. These are the operational and political challenges that will ultimately determine whether Europe's rearmament ambitions translate into real security gains. The panel examined these short-term priorities and the policy options available to European governments.

This event launched 'Rearming Europe for deterrence: Short-term priorities and policy options' by Armida van Rij, a CER policy brief written with support from the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). The event was co-organised by the CER and HSF with support from the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union who hosted.