The European Security Round Table

The European Security Round Table is a neutral platform between the EU Institutions, NATO and other relevant actors to discuss European security and defence issues. A membership-based organisation, it provides a forum for the crucial topics of today as much as for discussions about the future direction of European security and defence policy. It is supported by a high-level Advisory Board and it is unique with its EU focus and its systematic approach.

Recent Conference

On 1 and 2 May the ESRT organised jointly with CSIS a major Transatlantic Cyber Security Conference in Washington. Keynote speakers were Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, DHS Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute and German Interior Minister Friedrich.
Malmström and Lute underlined their good and more and more intensified level of cooperation. Lute described the difference in the approach to privacy between Europe and the US in the following way: "Americans want to limit the access of government to their data. Europeans want to control what happens to their data in general once it is out there." Friedrich proposed for Germany and the US to develop some kind of international cyber soft law including the right for states to find out who attacked them. A topic that was intensely discussed was the new to be established European Cyber Crime Centre at Europol, its functioning, the interaction with the FBI and perceived and real differences between Europe and the US with regard to privacy and data protection.

Recent Round Table

25.04.2012, Technology Briefing on Cyber Security and Cyber Crime

On 25 April 2012, the ESRT held its first Technology Briefing, which focused on Cyber Security and Cyber Crime. This series of briefings, a new and unique format that the ESRT established this year, is aiming to translate technological difficulties into easy-to-understand facts and help to structure ideas in order to facilitate the legislative process.
The expert presentation was given by Dr. Victoria Baines, Strategic Advisor for Cybercrime at Europol. It illustrated the system and practices of the cybercrime business and explained the technological conditions necessary to commit i.e. theft identity. Moreover the briefing not only examined current cyber crime practices, but during the presentation and the discussion an outlook on future scenarios was developed.
The next Technology Briefing is planned to take place in early July.

Upcoming Round Table

31.05.2012, The Human and Social Dimension of CSDP Missions

On 31 May 2012, the ESRT, in collaboration with EUROMIL and chaired by Michael Gahler MEP, will host a breakfast meeting on the Social and Human Dimension of CSDP Missions at the European Parliament. Successful CSDP missions are not only about military numbers and hardware, but also include a human, economic, and environmental dimension. The social and human factor is of high importance for the success of international military operations, since long-term effectiveness of such operations is based among others on motivated, adequately equipped soldiers who can rely on welfare schemes which include also their dependants. The need to develop common social and legal standards on EU level for military personnel has been significantly increased. Therefore, the purpose of the meeting will be to discuss and analyse which approaches in the discussion between Member States are currently under way to create common standards and which role the EU can play to foster the process.

Programme

Our debate highlights 2012

Cyber Security The ESRT sets up an event cycle of conferences and briefings with focus on the coordination of Cyber Security in an international context. The cycle is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Defence and organised in cooperation with the US think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). A key component is a high-level Expert Working Group with members from Cabinet Malmström, UK Cabinet, NATO, US State Department, OSCE and other international institutions. Their goal: to assess key weaknesses in international coordination mechanisms and develop recommendations on how to overcome them. The results will be introduced at the ESRT’s Transatlantic Cyber Conference on 2 May 2012 in Washington D.C. and eventually at the International Cyber Conference in Brussels in September 2012.
Internal Security We will organise several events that deal with matters of privacy rights, electronic identification and an upcoming review on the European Security Strategy.	External Security Our debates will range from assessing current CSDP Missions,the security of MEP delegations, to demonstrating capabilities to facilitate CSDP Missions.
Disaster Management The new legislation of Commissioner Georgieva will be the focus of several events on European Disaster Management, also debated from a technological point of view and with regard to Pooling & Sharing.	Border Management We will closely follow the legislation on the European External Border Surveillance System EUROSUR and other topical matters of Border Management.
Research Our Horizon 2020 Insight Series will focus on security research, with special regard to maritime technologies.	Space Our agenda contains events with ESA and EDA regarding the future of GMES and SSA, as well as end user applications offered by Galileo.