Recent Round Tables
Regular Round Tables are the key meeting format of the ESRT. These structured and results-oriented meetings bring together key actors in the field of security and defence to discuss and develop scenarios and political options for current and upcoming issues. The Round Tables are usually composed of participants from the EU institutions, national governments, business and academia or the research sector.
Round Table on Cyber Security:
Which Role for the European Parliament?
On Tuesday 22 November, the European Security Round Table (ESRT) hosted in coordination with Tunne Kelam MEP their event "Round Table on Cyber Security:
Which Role for the European Parliament?" in the Parliament's Altiero Spinelli building. The event focused on concrete ways that the Parliament could establish itself as a forceful actor in cyber policy at the European level. Included in the discussion was the exploration of how to get a constant stream of expert information on cyber incidents and technical developments into the European Parliament, and balancing legislative speed vs. democratic accountability. And the quickly changing nature of cyber threats compounds the difficulty in finding an effective and long-term solution.
We would like to thank Christian Ehler MEP, Ivalio Kalfin MEP, Prof Peter Martini, Marietje Schaake MEP, Monika Hohlmeier MEP and Anze Erbeznik for their leadership of the discussion. The European Security Round Table continues to follow the issue of cyber security and is in the process of organising additional conferences in Washington DC and Brussels in 2012.
Pooling & Sharing - Reconciling budget cuts and growing political ambitions of deployable capabilities
The ongoing topic of Pooling & Sharing was the focus of a Round Table in the European Parliament on 18th October 2011, hosted by the European Security Round Table with support of Michael Gahler (MEP). The debate was introduced by Dick Zandee, Senior Research Associate of the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, and Christian Moelling of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik in Berlin. After their presentation of scientific findings on potential benefits of Pooling & Sharing, Ana Gomes (MEP), Commodore Mike Finney, Deputy UK Military Representative to the EU, Graham Muir, head of Policy and Planning Unit, EDA, and Michael Sieber, R&T Acting Director, EDA, discussed among more than 30 participants how budget cuts and growing political ambitions of deployable capabilities could be reconciled. One of the key questions was how to avoid double structures regarding the EU member states as well as NATO and how to coordinate the downsizing due to economic crisis. The ESRT will follow the ongoing discussion in that field and initiate a follow-up debate.
CSDP Mission Breakfast Briefing
On 4 October 2011, the European Security Round Table along with Michael Gahler MEP hosted a CSDP Mission Breakfast Briefing in the European Parliament, this time focusing on the comprehensive approach towards Somalia in terms of harmonising the military and humanitarian purposes - protection of food delivery and the cope with the humanitarian catastrophe as well as.
The Roundtable was opened with short introducing statements given by Didier Lenoir, Head of Division Integrated Strategic Planning, CMPD, Cees Wittebrood, Head of Unit East, West and Southern Africa, DG ECHO, and Jeremy Lester, Head of Unit MD Africa, EEAS, providing a detailed insight into the topic from both, the military and civilian side. The Breakfast Briefing brought together MEPs as well as Commission, EEAS officials and representatives of think tanks to discuss the existing challenges like the lack of governance and the threat of Al Shabab as well as a possible enhancement of the comprehensive approach.
A particular focus of the discussion was placed on the cause of the problems in Somalia and whether future actions should be mainly political, civilian or rather military.
European Security-Related Research under Lisbon - Raising Synergies or Raising Money?
On 03 May, the European Security Round Table ESRT invited to a Round-Table entitled, „European security-related research under Lisbon, Raising Synergies or Raising Money?”, Kindly hosted by Dr. Christian Ehler MEP.
The expert-discussion, moderated by Karl von Wogau, Secretary General, European Security Foundation drew a very interesting and complex picture of the ongoing processes in the field of security–related research, the added-value that can be expected and the amount of money that has to be spent in future but also regarding institutional arrangements and the quality of cooperation between the European Commission and the European Defence Agency. The key-note Speech by Paul Weissenberg, Deputy Director General, DG ENTR was followed by a lively debate between the discussants Marco Malacarne, Head of Unit - Research Activities on Security, DG ENTR, Reinhard Priebe, Director - Internal Security, DG HOME, Christian Bréant, Director Research & Technology, EDA, Irmtraud Taufer, Head of Section Armaments, German Permanent Representation, Giancarlo Grasso, Former Vice-Chairman ESRIF, Finmeccanica. The ESRT will follow the ongoing discussion in that field and initiate a follow-up debate.
Briefing - Roberto Gualtieri annual CSDP Report
On 16 March, the European Security Round Table organized a briefing hosted by MEP Roberto Gualteri that provided a platform for discussing the European Parliament’s Draft Initiative Report. The report aims to describe and define the role of the European Parliament (EP) in the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) after the Lisbon Treaty. Roberto Gualtieri presented this report to stakeholders and discussed future approaches that could bring more effectiveness and efficiency to CSDP. Among the innovative attempts that the report provides is the claim for the establishment of a permanent European military-civilian headquarter as well as for the set-up of a special European Summit on Defence.
Mission Breakfast Series – Breakfast on Counter Piracy with Ltd. General Ton Van Osch
On 25 January, the European Security Round Table held another CSDP Mission Breakfast Briefing on the role of the military in countering piracy, with the intention of providing more and better information and first-hand knowledge for Members of the European Parliament. Lieutenant General Ton Van Osch inspired a lively debate on current piracy issues as well as the root causes of these problems. The ESRT plans to hold its next briefing in June on Libya.
Luncheon on the Instrument for Stability
On 25 January, the European Security Round Table (ESRT) organised in cooperation with the EEAS a luncheon centred on the Instrument for Stability (IfS), which provides funds to support programmes actively addressing security issues all over the world. This roundtable involved key stakeholders in the discussion on current issues and future possibilities of the IfS in order to raise awareness on issues surrounding the IfS. Keynote speaker Mr. Richard Wright made valuable points regarding the Commission’s contribution in fighting underlying root causes of instability.
