Security and Defence Agenda

The 2010 UK Strategic Defence and Security Review

by Security and Defence Agenda

In June 2010 the SDA welcomed several high-ranking UK officials to discuss the upcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review. Against a backdrop of the financial crisis, panellists and participants discussed what to expect from this exercise after 9/11, two wars, and an ever changing European defence project. This report presents the principal conclusions of this debate.

NATO's European Dimension

by Security & Defence Agenda

In June 2010 the SDA hosted its annual conference on "NATO's European Dimension" with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. After a keynote speech by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, high-level speakers discussed the future of the Alliance, the implications of the financial crisis on the defence sector and the way ahead in Afghanistan with an audience of over 500 participants. This event was supported by NATO, Lockheed Martin and IBM. This report highlights the discussions on the day.

Is Europe's energy security policy a reality or an ambition?

by SDA

In May 2010 the Security & Defence Agenda organised a Policymakers' dinner entitled "Is Europe's energy security policy a reality or an ambition?" organised with Friends of Europe and the EURISC Foundation. The SDA is pleased to present the main conclusions of the debate.

Does Europe need "Homeland Security"?

by SDA

In May 2010 the Security & Defence Agenda organised a roundtable entitled Does Europe need "Homeland Security"? The discussions focused on security in Europe and on the specific case of Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).

The new global security landscape: 10 Recommendations from the 2010 Security Jam

by SDA

Leading think-tanks got together with the SDA to organise a 5-day online brainstorm that was supported by NATO and the EU, as a contribution to their effort to involve a wider audience in the current strategic rethink. The recommendations that came up during the brainstorming event have been sent to, and closely studied by, both institutions' reflection groups.

Disclaimer
This report offers an independent analysis of the Security Jam for which only the authors and the SDA can take full responsibility. The views expressed in this report by individuals are personal opinions and not necessarily the views of the organisation they represent, nor of the Security & Defence Agenda, its members or partners.

Cyber Security: A Transatlantic Perspective

by SDA

In March 2010 The Security & Defence Agenda, in partnership with McAfee, held an evening debate entitled, “Cyber Security: A Transatlantic Perspective”, attended by over 200 participants. Experts from NATO, McAfee, the EU, the European Parliament and thinks tanks spoke in the sometimes heated debate on so-called weapons of mass disruption.

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations

by SDA

On March 2nd, NATO, the Security & Defence Agenda and the British Council welcomed over 250 participants to the international conference “Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations”. This event brought together speakers from NATO, the EU, the British Council, and a variety of NGOs and cultural organisations. Three sessions focused on the pertinence of cultural awareness for both civilian and military personnel working in conflict areas, case studies from Afghanistan, Africa and the Balkans as well as the perspective of integrating culture in NATO’s comprehensive approach. The SDA is pleased to present the main findings of the Conference in the report.

NATO, the credit crunch and the new security environment

by SDA

In December 2009 the Security & Defence Agenda organised an international conference “NATO, the credit crunch and the new security environment” with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Hewlett Packard, Lockheed Martin and NATO. The discussions focused on the challenges facing NATO with the current economic crisis and the ever-changing global security paradigm. The SDA is pleased to present the principal conclusions of the conference in this report.

Meet Admiral James Stavridis

by SDA

On Monday 7 December, the SDA hosted the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral James Stavridis. He outlined his views on the enduring value of the NATO alliance, offered an update on the way the mission in Afghanistan is developing and shared his thinking on the issues to be addressed from a military perspective in developing the new Strategic Concept.

SDA Biopreparedness Report

by SDA

The SDA is pleased to present its Biopreparedness Report. The publication contains both the report from the SDA’s October 14th roundtable and a collection of contributions from leaders in the field, and from top European policymakers such as Commissioner Jacques Barrot and Commissioner Vassiliou.

SDA Evening Debate: Could Europe do better on pooling Intelligence?

by SDA

The SDA is pleased to send you the report of its recent evening debate entitled “Could Europe do better on pooling Intelligence?”, held on October 26 in Brussels. The panel, bringing together directors and high level representatives from the EU Joint Situation Centre, EU Satellite Centre, Europol, Interpol, and national intelligence services, came to the conclusion that deeper trust and greater understanding between European intelligence and security agencies is key to a better pooling of intelligence.

Security & Defence Day 2009 Report

by SDA

In November 2009, high-level representatives from EU institutions, member state governments, NGOs, think-tanks, industry, and the media, gathered to discuss how the combination of civilian and military power is the key to the European Union’s “smart power”. The Security & Defence Agenda and the CEIS (European Strategic Intelligence Company) are pleased to present the main findings of the conference.

The future of missile defence in Europe

by SDA

Ballistic missile threats have continued to grow during 2009. North Korea and Iran have both demonstrated short as well as intermediate range missiles, highlighting a potential threat to the United States and Europe.

Following the US Administration’s change of policy, what is the political outlook for the new US anti-missile system, in terms of both public opinion in the US and Europe and also in light of NATO's new Strategic Concept? Is there potential for a linked missile defence system for the US and Europe, and if so, what practical steps now need to be taken?

SDA Discussion Paper: Re-launching NATO or just re-branding it?

by SDA

The SDA is pleased to present its latest Discussion Paper entitled “Re-launching NATO or just re-branding it?” At a decisive time for NATO, experts tackle critical questions over the Alliance’s new strategic consensus, including France’s return to NATO’s military command, the relationship between NATO and European security and defence policy (ESDP), and the Obama Administration’s own security and defence agenda.

The security implications of Europe's energy thirst

by SDA

Energy security is quickly becoming a growing concern for ESDP. On the 25th May, the Security & Defence Agenda hosted a roundtable on this subject, gathering high representatives from Russia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, NATO, EU institutions and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum. Looking into strategic relations with Russia and the race to Arctic, the roundtable’s main conclusion was that the European Union's relationship with Russia is a fundamental factor to the security, or insecurity, of Europe's future energy supplies.

A Full and Urgent Agenda for NATO in the 21st Century

by SDA

Speaking to 180 ambassadors, policymakers, journalists and think-tankers at the SDA’s June 8th evening debate, new US Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder outlined the Obama administration’s policy priorities for the alliance. He described the administration’s focus within the Alliance as being three-fold: achieving its objective in Afghanistan of disrupting, dismantling and defeating Al Qaeda, creating a more productive NATO-Russia relationship, and building a ‘new NATO for a new century’ which is capable of addressing a host of evolving transatlantic security challenges.

SDA Lunch Debate: Lessons from Mumbai

by SDA

On May 11, the SDA organised a lunch debate entitled ‘Lessons from Mumbai: Re-evaluating European counterterrorism policies”. The EU counterterrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove was joined on the day by counterterrorism and regional experts from EUROPOL, the EU Institute for Security Studies and the International Institute for Strategic Studies for this timely and interesting discussion.

SDA Evening Debate: Can NATO's solidarity crisis be fixed?

by SDA

The role of international institutions is being challenged by the growing complexity and unpredictability of today’s strategic environment. This context stretches the transatlantic community’s capabilities and political cohesion, severely testing NATO’s credibility as a constructive global security player.

In an attempt to generate truly innovative thinking on NATO’s future, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies launched the New Horizons project, a broadly inclusive online consultation with different stakeholder communities in interaction with leading experts from the transatlantic community. Do the principal findings of the study prove a trend of weakening solidarity within the Alliance? Or are they an opportunity for strengthening ties and rethinking the identity and role of NATO?

SDA Discussion Paper: Implications of Balkan integration

by SDA

Although it’s been nearly a decade and a half since the Dayton Accord that brought peace to the Western Balkans, and ten years since NATO intervened over Kosovo, dangerous tensions persist. How great is the risk that old enmities and rivalries between Balkan newcomers to the EU and of NATO will spill over into wider policy areas? The argument for stabilising Balkan countries through integration into the EU and NATO remains strong, but with Euro-American relations still badly scarred by last year’s disagreements over the advisability of Georgian and Ukrainian NATO membership, how deep are the pitfalls? These questions are tackled by regional experts, academics and diplomats in the SDA's latest discussion paper, published thanks to the support of the Czech presidency of the EU.

Policy Spotlight with Shirin Ebadi

by SDA

The Security & Defence Agenda, together with Friends of Europe and MO* were pleased to welcome Iranian human rights lawyer, activist, and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi at a special policy spotlight held on March 4, 2009 at the Representation of the State of Baden Württemberg to the EU in Brussels. Download the summary of this evening.

SDA Monthly Roundtable: Re-thinking Europe’s naval power

by SDA

Headline-grabbing reports of piracy off the coast of Somalia may have prompted calls for more EU action but the interests of individual member states take precedence while the presence of national industrial champions means defence procurement remains fragmented in Europe.

There have been piecemeal attempts to co-ordinate European efforts but none have so far added up to a comprehensive naval strategy.

SDA Monthly Roundtable : Assessing the value of security strategy reviews

by SDA

“The European Union produced a report on the implementation of its 2003 European Security Strategy (ESS) in December 2008 while NATO countries are set to task the Alliance to come up with a strategic concept at its summit in Strasbourg/Kehl in April. Co-moderated by Giles Merritt, Director of the Security & Defence Agenda, and Peter Weilemann, Director of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Brussels office, participants were asked if reviews were a good thing or if they were really an invitation to bureaucrats to rubberstamp things; and, if, after the ESDP review, it was now NATO’s turn to review its strategy.”

SDA Evening Debate: Transatlantic leadership for a new era

by SDA

On January 26th, at the beginning of the year marking the 60th anniversary of NATO, its Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer gave his first public announcement after the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. The Secretary General set out his vision for the future of NATO and transatlantic relations before an audience of 170 policymakers, industry experts, think-tankers and journalists.

SDA-FoE Report: Turkey's European Future

by SDA

On Monday 19th January 2009, the SDA kicked off the European political year with a stimulating discussion co-organised with sister think-tank Friends of Europe on Turkey’s European Future. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan put a powerful case for Turkey as future member of the European Union to a distinguished gathering of senior politicians, policy makers, managerial executives and journalists.

The Georgia-Russia Stalemate: Dos and Don'ts for avoiding a new Cold War

by SDA

The SDA's most recent discussion paper, entitled 'The Georgia-Russia Stalemate: Dos and Don'ts for avoiding a new Cold War,' focuses on the broader implications of the Georgia-Russia conflict last August. The paper features analyses and observations by expert policymakers, scholars, and industry leaders.

SDA-ECFR: Reflecting on 'Re-energising ESDP'

by SDA

Nick Witney, Senior Fellow of the European Council on Foreign Relations

Co-organised with the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), this evening event examined Nick Witney's recent report entitled 'Re-energising European Security and Defence Policy.' Describing his report as a rather unflattering account of the first 10 years of ESDP, Nick Witney explained that his criticism was directed mainly at the member states for failing to reform their militaries, rather than those in Brussels. The discussion also focused on transatlantic cooperation, effective spending strategies, and defence industry priorities.

Key questions defining Afghanistan's future

by SDA

The SDA session was timely given Brigadier Carleton-Smith’s October declaration that “a decisive military victory” against the Taliban should not be expected.

SACEUR General John Craddock questioned whether NATO’s member nations’ political will matched the Alliance’s ambition. Given the many caveats that limited his forces’ options, he argued that the political will was “irresolute”. Stressing that the “comprehensive approach” meant that all international bodies had to work together, General Craddock insisted that the insurgency-funding narcotics trade was the prime target. With the Taliban earning millions of dollars per annum, there was no time to lose.

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' Davood Moradian with
SDA Director Giles Merritt and
SACEUR General John Craddock

Risk Analysis and Preparedness for the next Influenza Pandemic

by SDA

On November 13th, the SDA hosted a meeting of health and security experts to discuss how attention is being given to the disparity in risk analysis from both public and private sector actors engaged in pandemic preparedness throughout Europe.

Security & Defence Days 2008 Report

by SDA

The Security & Defence Agenda (SDA), the European Company for Strategic Intelligence (CEIS) and the Robert Schuman Foundation are proud to present this Security & Defence Days 2008 conference report “The Outlook for European Security”. It reflects the contributions of the 27 speakers and 280 participants at this two-day conference on EU security policy issues held on November 3 & 4 November 2008.

Security and defence priorities during France's EU Presidency

by SDA

Some 120 experts gathered in Brussels to discuss the chief ESDP weaknesses to be tackled and debate what the impact will be of France's return to NATO. Though the debate almost got sidetracked by discussions of the skirmishes in Georgia, participants discussed whether the French Presidency's agenda was too ambitious, and many voices agreed that the Presidency's call for informal high-level meetings between NATO and EU leaders was a way forward.

French Military Representative
Patrick de Rousiers

SDA Policy Spotlight - Azerbaijan's view of the security situation in the Southern Caucasus

by SDA

The event, which took place on May 27, 2008, comprised a keynote address by Araz Azimov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, followed by a question and answer session.

Insights included:

Azerbaijan and Brussels have a mutual interest in increased dialogue.
The EU’s approach to the Southern Caucasus is still being tested.
Azerbaijan has a key role to play in European energy security.
The merits of missile defence and NATO and EU expansion in the Southern Caucasus are open to question.

The outlook for security and defence technologies

by SDA

The event focused on current developments in the field of security and defence technology including transatlantic interoperability, funding and civ-mil cooperation.

Insights included:

The European Defence Agency (EDA) is working to form a common set of R&T priorities for Member States.
European radio spectrums must be harmonised to ensure emergency first-responders have adequate access to communications technology.
EU-NATO cooperation within the realm of defence technology must be improved.

EU-US defence cooperation

by SDA

On 14 April, the Security & Defence Agenda together with the Atlantic Council of the United States organised a transatlantic roundtable on the question of EU-US defence cooperation. With two panels and 14 high-level speakers both in Brussels and in Washington, the debate proved to be highly fruitful and a start for more transatlantic dialogue on this subject.

Central elements of the discussions where:

§   The prospects for a permanent structured cooperation within the European Security and Defence Policy;
§    The importance of the EADS tanker deal for future defence cooperation;
§    Questions of interoperability and NATO-EU relations.

NATO in the Next Decade

by SDA

The Security & Defence Agenda is pleased to present you the report of its 2008 International Conference "NATO in the Next Decade - The Outlook for European Security and Defence". The event was co-organised with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Hewlett Packard, Lockheed Martin and NATO.

Re-visiting NATO-ESDP relations

by SDA

This Discussion Paper in two parts brings together the views of high level experts from both sides of the Atlantic on NATO and ESDP relations. Contributors include David Leakey, Daniel Korski, Ambassador Stewart Eldon, and Alyson Bailes.

On the eve of Bucharest

by SDA

Romania will be hosting the next NATO Summit in Bucharest on 2-4 April this year. On 12 March the Security & Defence Agenda hosted Romania’s Ambassador to NATO Sorin Dumitru Ducaru, US Ambassador to NATO Victoria Nuland and Belgium’s Ambassador to NATO Baron Frans van Daele.

NATO countries will be deciding whether to admit Croatia, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the club but a dispute over the latter changing its name is threatening to spoil the party. Moreover, the NATO Ambassadors discussed whether NATO should give Ukraine and Georgia Membership Action Plans, plus Afghanistan, Kosovo, missile shield plans, cyber defence and energy security in a debate full of interesting insights.

Assessing the cyber security threat - Roundtable Report

by SDA

Estonian Minister of Defence,
Jaak Aaviksoo

Following a fascinating debate that ranged from bullet-proof hosting to onion-routing, the conclusion had to be that the cyber security threat was evolving rapidly and was touching all aspects of society. Its political importance is also increasing and in a cyber society that “has no rules or borders, according to Estonia’s Minister of Defence Jaak Aaviksoo, there is a need for improved coordination at the highest level.

What is the EU's report card on pandemic preparedness?

by SDA

The debate started as usual, when SDA Director Giles Merritt posited the question “What is the EU’s report card on pandemic preparedness?” The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s Angus Nicoll launched the debate with a positive point, referring to the EU and its Member States’ growing coordination and communication to pandemic preparation in Luxembourg last year and that the three upcoming EU presidencies would keep pandemic preparedness on their agendas. DG SANCO’s Andrzej Rys alluded to the Commission’s publication of the Green Paper on bio-preparedness and the establishment of the new Health Security Committee as signs that the Commission is taking pandemic threats very seriously.

What future for a European disaster relief force?

by SDA

SDA Roundtable

Adriano Martins of the European Agency for Reconstruction advocated success in his organisation’s operations, most notably in the Balkans. International Crisis Group’s Alain Délétroz made a case that the EU should be developing its own capacities, via the ESDP, eluding to a permanent civ-mil response HQ in Brussels. Giuliano Porcelli of the Council of the EU, envisioned the tangible improvements in the EU’s operational capabilities for responding to international disasters, vis-à-vis a Lisbon Reform Treaty ratification, that would streamline decision-making when time matters most.

The questionmarks over Europe's maritime security

by SDA

A roundtable participant

This SDA roundtable examined maritime security and found that the EU had much work to do. The sessions showed that ensuring maritime security necessitated the coordination of disparate bodies, including customs, navies, coastguard agencies, border police and more. Although many speakers called for more coordination, there was disagreement as to how this could be achieved.

Security Sector Reform: private-public priorities

by SDA

Anna Leander, Alex Martin, Alex Bryden and Sir Tom Duggin

Seldom has an SDA debate thrown up so many concerns, and delivered so few answers. With the focus on Security Sector Reform (SSR), it became apparent that no widely accepted definition existed. Furthermore, it was not clear who the customers were and, therefore not surprisingly, no strategic plan had been developed to guide its implementation. Finally, on the public-private side, there were many concerns raised about the involvement of private security companies (PSCs).

What are NATO's next steps on missile defence?

by SDA

Jana Hybaskova, Edgar Buckley
and Norman Ray

Although the latest SDA roundtable looked at two issues – Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) and Territorial Missile Defence – the debate that flowed around them soon became one and the same. Several speakers argued they could not be separated, while others said that a focus on the defence of populations (Territorial Missile Defence) would dilute the current TMD programme.

The EU's Africa Strategy: 'What are the lessons of the Congo Mission?'

by SDA

Jean de Ponton d'Amécourt and
Gen. Christian Damay

This discussion paper is intended to offer a snapshot of the EU's latest military mission to Congo DRC and aslo aims to clarify thinking on the future development of the ESDP in Africa. A small group of acknowledged experts share their thoughts on the Africa dimension of ESDP. It also includes the report of the evening debate of 7 March between speakers who had been closely involved in the decision-making and then the command of the latest military operation.

Cutting through the Transatlantic Tangle of Defence Equipment Export Controls

by SDA

Bill Giles, BAE Systems and
Michel Troubetzkoy, EADS

There was hardly any room for optimism at the end of the latest SDA roundtable on export controls. One firm conclusion was that there had been a lack of progress – in industry’s eyes - on both sides of the Atlantic. In Europe in particular, the chances for a unified export control rulebook seemed as far away as ever. Within the EU, there was no agreement on whether a community solution was required or whether it should be left to the six arms manufacturing Member States to drive reform of exports controls in the defence market. Over in the United States, there was said to be widespread industry agreement that ITAR was broken, but the internal political scene meant that no action was likely in the immediate or medium-term future.

The Private Security Phenomenon: Policy Implications and Issues

by SDA

At the end of an enlightening debate on the private security phenomenon, there was clear agreement that further regulation of the sector was required. With a scope that was seen to include security sector reform (SSR), disarmament, demobilisation & reintegration (DDR), the administration of voter registration programmes, static guarding of critical infrastructure, monitoring activities, police training, assistance in prison services, peace negotiating, protection of senior figures, protection of humanitarian aid workers and airport security – at Baghdad airport – that was no surprise. No agreement was forthcoming, however, on the type of regulation that was required. Options under discussion included EU-wide or global legislation, national regulations that centred on the main protagonists – the US, UK and South African companies – and self-regulation. The EU, with the Council’s Director General, DG for External and Politico-Military Affairs, Robert Cooper, leading the way, favoured a set of international standards but actions from the Commission were seen to be several years away.

What prospects for a single European defence and security market?

by SDA

Speaking at the latest SDA Dinner, EU Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Günter Verheugen placed cooperation at the top of his priority list. All of the major players had to work together if Europe was to develop a defence and security culture, and thereby guarantee the protection of the EU’s borders and critical infrastructure. At the same event, Dr. Thomas Diehl, CEO of the Diehl Stiftung, said industry was ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century. To do this, however, he wanted a level-playing field for the EU’s defence and security companies, internally and externally. Regarding the internal level playing field, intra-EU export regulations and offsets were addressed.

Challenges for the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base

by SDA

The event launched the debate on the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Speakers discussed why the EDTIB is needed for ESDP to be effective, what industrial capacities will be needed in the future, the particular characteristics of the defence sector, and the importance of security of supply and industrial sustainability.

Nick Witney, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency acted as a moderator and the high-level panellists included Seppo Kääriäinen, Minister of Defence, Finland, Christian Schmidt, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence, Germany, Radoslaw Sikorski, Minister of Defence, Poland, Günter Verheugen, Vice-President and Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, European Commission and Charles Edelstenne, Chairman of AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association in Europe (ASD).

Once the panellists had had their say, it was clear that a certain amount of consensus had been reached on how the European defence industry, or rather the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), could be revitalised.

Several things were clear:

An increase in effective research spending was essential
The approach to rationalise the EDTIB had to be long-term and strategic
Cooperation, not replication, was seen to be the way forward
SMEs’ expertise had to be promoted
Centres of excellence should play a pivotal role in any plan.

Is Europe serious about Space and Security?

by SDA

Commissioner Günter Verheugen had no doubt that space is a strategic asset. In the 21st century, information is the key and diplomacy will never provide all of the answers. In terms of facing the many security threats, space could play an increasingly important role. The Commissioner was strongly supported by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain, who said he could not understand why the link between space and security is still being debated. Elsewhere it is a done deal and for most significant space powers, security is the main driver for space, as highlighted by the new US National Space Policy.

Defending Europe's vulnerable infrastructure

by SDA

The European Commission has been active since the SDA’s last debate on critical infrastructure protection in 2005. Following an extensive consultation process, it has issued a comprehensive Green Paper, emphasising public-private cooperation and the protection of all sectors against all hazards and will release a Policy Package this November. Giving a keynote address, President Putin’s Special Representative for international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and transnational organised crime, Anatoly Safonov, outlined the global dimension that Russia was bringing to the security dialogue as part of its G8 Presidency. UNECE’s Miodrag Pesut called for a global cross-sector approach that brought together all of the major players. Several speakers listed examples of the lack of international cooperation, especially between the public and private sectors. Perhaps the most telling point describing current cooperation came from HP’s John P. Smith, who referred to US government projects that had an average time span of 11 years, while his organisation aimed to produce new products every 9-18 months. The Commission’s Tjien Khoen Liem, Policy Officer for Preparatory Action for Security Research, stated that cooperation had to go beyond the exchange of best practices - all speakers supported that view.

Europe's Long-Term Vision on the defence environment: sharp or fuzzy?

by SDA

On June 13, 2006, European Defence Agency Chief Executive Nick Witney and Security & Defence Agenda Director Giles Merritt co-chaired an expert level seminar focussing on the nature and the drivers shaping the future military environment. The meeting came at a time as the EDA is undertaking detailed analysis, using a range of conceptual approaches, aimed at developing an initial long-term vision for European capability and capacity needs. Experts examined questions arising from consideration of European internal and global security in the coming decades. Major factors influencing future capability needs identified include continued EU geographical proximity to sources of instability, new military and technological challenges, greater EU Member State cooperation, global economic, demographic and political change, civil-military co-operation and a further shift towards crisis prevention and management.

The Issues Shaping Asian Security

by SDA

By focusing on Asian security, the SDA’s Roundtable reflected the region’s growing importance. Speakers from Pakistan, South Korea, India, Afghanistan and China described an area that was teeming with major issues – nuclear proliferation, poverty, human rights, democracy, terrorism, health concerns, energy consumption, etc. It was similar to other parts of the globe, except that in Asia’s case, the issues were all major and coming to the boil at the same time. As it was, China received the most attention. On the issue of democracy, the China Institute for International Studies’ Ruan Zongze argued that China was not opposed to the philosophy but that in a diversified world, different formats of political systems could exist. The Commission’s Henriette Geiger gave an EU perspective, saying that China would remain inward-looking and that growing social imbalances if not properly addressed could have serious security implications. India’s EU Deputy Chief of Mission Ashok Sajjanhar wanted a stronger and more relevant UN as well as a successful Doha Round. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the EU, H.E. Saeed Khalid offered his country’s assistance in the nuclear dispute with Iran and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Victor Seleznev wanted a cooperative security system for the whole region with equal rights for all participants.

Borders & People: the liberty and security balance

by SDA

Among many questions posed, the latest SDA session asked one that dwarfed all the others: did the EU have an efficient and integrated border management framework? According to MEP Karl von Wogau, the answer was a resounding no! Giving an impressive overview of requirements, the parliamentarian said he wanted one-stop borders with commonality of systems and equipment, and an efficient exchange of information and intelligence. With the added complexity of the enlarged EU, a situation that was ongoing, von Wogau reasoned that integrated border management had to be part of the EU’s neighbourhood policy. Frontex’s Executive Director Brig. Gen. Ilkka Laitinen heartily concurred with that view, stressing that the need for a European strategy for border security is obvious. That filled a hole in the EU’s strategy as von Wogau had mentioned that Solana’s paper had paid insufficient attention to homeland security.

Charting the Developments and Uses of Network Centric Capabilites

by SDA

At the latest SDA roundtable, there was general agreement that network centric capabilities would define the future of the defence industries on both sides of the Atlantic. However, the key word there was “future”. With such capabilities still in their infancy, it became apparent that – despite repeated requests from industry – a coordinated European approach did not exist. As SDA Director Giles Merritt noted, network centric capabilities seemed to be still in the Middle Ages and the route towards an Age of Enlightenment was not clearly lit. Ericsson Microwave Systems’ Svante Bergh wanted clear leadership from the EU, someone to act as a symbol for the development of these new and important technologies.

The German Armed Forces Command and General Staff College’s Colonel Ralph Thiele noted that the US had developed a long-term plan towards network centric capabilities that covered the period 2001to 2016. That was perhaps too theoretical a timeframe for Europe, given that this was an area where technology was changing on an almost daily basis. As Thiele said, he who had the technology led the race … and a race it certainly was. Swedish Armed Forces former Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Johan Kihl even suggested that a certain amount of risk-taking might be allowed, even to the extent of deciding who joined the network centric club (or clubs). That was an unlikely scenario, especially if the politicians were calling the shots.

Is a transatlantic defence industry increasingly on the cards?

by SDA

Setting the scene, CSIS’s Pierre Chao explained that although figures could be used to prove anything, it was a fact that Europe’s direct sales accounted for less than 1% of the total US defence market. Taking an optimistic spin, he said the trend was in the right direction over the past few years, primarily as an increased focus on “systems of systems” meant the origin of all components was less relevant. This meant there would be an element of natural growth for European suppliers. The US presidential helicopter contract was used as an example of successful transatlantic cooperation by Lockheed Martin’s Scott Harris and Finmeccanica’sAlberto de Benedictis. Harris explained that Lockheed Martin had been familiar with the chosen platform and had backed it by its own knowledge of the US market. Alberto de Benedictis had seen a level playing field and argued that the best platform had won. Thales’ Edgar Buckley saw too much regulation on both sides of the Atlantic, while the US Mission to the EU’s Michael Ryan said impediments (on the US side) were due to a lack of agreement on the threat.

Utility of Force book presentation and debate

by SDA

At the outset of his presentation of his new book “The Utility of Force: the Art of War in the Modern World”,General Sir Rupert Smith called for fundamental changes in the way modern warfare is approached. General Smith argued that adversaries were now “of and amongst the people”. It was no longer a case of defending territory, the goal was now to defend a way of life. Wars had to be conducted differently, with the desired outcome being defined ahead of any campaign – force alone would never be sufficient.Expounding on the ideas set out in his book, Smith argued that today’s institutions were not suited to manage the types of holistic campaigns essential in the 21st century. General Smith concluded that the EU had the most potential to conduct such operations; while it carried no baggage from previous wars, it had an impressive “portfolio of power”. Dr. Javier Solana, the EU’s High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, welcomed the content of the book and the debate it would set out. The importance of the book was the manner in which it conceptualised ideas that had been around for a period, while at the same time bringing some new ideas. It was a book to help us understand how to do politics right.

Tracking European Space Policies - Have we got the civil - military balance right?

by NDA

After a wide-ranging debate on European space policies, it was clear that overall requirements need to be defined and that space was receiving inadequate funding. It was anyone’s guess as to which came first. Almost all the panellists called for a clearer requirements definition to be produced on European level and by the member states. The ESA’s Gerhard Brauer wanted these to be harmonised, or even better, common. The EU Satellite Centre’s Frank Asbeck offered the EU the possibility of developing “geographic information systems” that would incorporate network-centric techniques and the option of having another force multiplier on board. NDA Director Giles Merritt added that the existence of a coherent space policy could be seen a quick fix to reduce the growing gap between US and European capabilities. The ESA’s Michel Praet estimated that this gap in expenditure was in the region of 30:1.

Strategic Priorities for protecting Europe's critical infrastructure against terrorism

by NDA

The last NDA roundtable before the summer break examined Europe’s plans to counter terrorist attacks on its critical infrastructure. Ten days after this NDA Roundtable on the vulnerability of critical infrastructures to terrorist attack, London's transport system was hit by four near-simultaneous bomb attacks. The London death toll, at just over 50, was mercifully low in comparison to Madrid's loss of almost 200 people in the Atocha railway station bombings of March 2004, to say nothing of New York's 9/11 casualty list of about 100 times as many deaths. But if London underlined the importance of chance in determining the loss of life, the bombings there have also given fresh impetus to efforts to better coordinate national counter-terrorism measures.

Will the EU get though on opening-up national defence procurements?

by NDA

Returning to address the NDA after 12 months, European Defence Agency Chief Executive Nick Witney concluded that something had to be done and done quickly. After admitting that time was not on his side, Witney was strongly supported by industry. Witney also shared the platform with representatives from the Commission, the member states and think tanks. No one doubted that the Agency and the Commission were taking positive steps but many speakers saw the need for greater political backing if a genuinely transparent and competitive European defence equipment market was to be created.

What policies will create effective peacekeeping?

by NDA

Peacekeeping was the topic of the day and it raised a multitude of questions. How should it be defined, where does it begin and end, and crucially, how does it vary in different regions of the world. A variety of views were expressed at the NDA Roundtable, disagreements surfaced and strong opinions were declared. On two subjects, however, there was universal agreement: 1) peacekeeping in all its forms is a growth industry 2) interoperability between the various players is an absolute must.

Defence Aspects of the NATO and EU Enlargements

by NDA

The questions of the day related to the new EU member states to the east: were NATO standards driving the transformation of their armed forces and how could their defence industrial base be revitalised? While there was general agreement that the need to be interoperable with NATO was acting as a catalyst, there was relatively little conformity when it came to the subject of the newcomers' industrial base.

Is the Transatlantic Defence Marketplace becoming a reality?

by NDA

“THE TIMES THEY-ARE-A-CHANGING”
That’s what Bob Dylan sang back in the sixties, and moderator Brooks Tigner had a similar message when he opened the latest New Defence Agenda roundtable on the status of the transatlantic defence marketplace. He wanted panellists to focus on today’s situation and he did not want to hear about the history of transatlantic co-operation. And Tigner got exactly that. All the panellists said exactly what they thought and it was not all good. If one word could sum up the mood of the morning, it was frustration. But in the afternoon, after a light lunch, a new panel under Giles Merritt’s careful guidance saw things in a different light. Several panellists reminded the meeting that defence and security requirements were international and not limited to a particular geographic sector.

Space and Security in Europe

by NDA

"The security of European citizens is a must and the information received from space is indispensable" ESA's Gerhard Brauer made it clear that this Roundtable touched upon a very timely topic. The debate showed that there were many facets to space and its potential use in the realms of defence. But as SAIC's Robert Bell noted "There are many miles to go in this saga"

Is Maritime Security Europe's Achilles Heel?

by NDA

If maritime security was indeed the EU security policy’s Achilles heel, there was complete agreement on how to respond – it was through more effective cooperation between all parties. Not all questions were answered but there was complete harmony in several areas – this was a policy where only global solutions would be effective, all actors had to be involved and the political will to succeed was paramount.

Does Europe need a Black Sea Security Policy?

by NDA

“Does Europe need a Black Sea security policy?” That was the question posed at the latest New Defence Agenda round table. A lively debate ensued but a precise answer was hard to find. Perhaps the most representative response was the ISS’s Oksana Antonenko’s “Yes… but!”, as it accurately reflected the lack of clarity in the region’s future.

NDA Bioterrorism Background Report by Drs. Jill Dekker-Bellamy

by Drs. Jill Dekker-Bellamy

"Defining a European Approach to Preventing Bio-Terrorism: Health Security Policy in the 21st Century"

On the Eve of Istanbul: Can NATO become a vehicle for reform?

by NDA

Ambassador Nicholas Burns opened his remarks by confirming the US’s firm commitment to NATO, a commitment that came from “every level and every branch of the US government”. Ambassador Burns stated that a strong NATO alliance was the basis of American policy. Despite well-publicised differences, he noted that the Alliance had proved to be “a flexible and supple instrument”. Despite arguing that both the US and Europe were taking NATO less seriously, the Centre for European Reform’s Charles Grant argued that NATO was unique and “here to stay”. His concern was that NATO was now operating in so many areas, it perhaps had an “identity crisis”.The GCSP’s Julian Lindley-French could not agree that Europe should completely buy-in to the US’s ideas on transformation as it would not be possible for all of the EU to transform to the US’s expectations. Lindley-French wanted less emphasis on network-centric warfare and he wanted the US to listen to Europe’s ideas at the forthcoming summit.

NATO Secretary General announces Istanbul Summit Agenda at NDA Conference

by Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) made the first of a series of speeches leading up to the June 28-29 Istanbul Summit at the NDA Defending Global Security Conference at the Palais d'Egmont on May 17th. NATO will showcase its new plan for defending security by projecting stability. This will be done by strengthening relations with the Balkans, in the Caucasus, in Central Asia and in the Mediterranean; through military operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean Sea; and by modernising forces organisation and deployment for newer operations far from home. It is expected that the Summit should decide the expanding role to be taken by NATO in Afghanistan, including aiding the UN with upcoming elections; further development of the Alliance's partnerships, the termination of NATO's mission in Bosnia; and the continued development of NATO's military transformation, including enhanced airlift and sealift capabilities and missile defence and counter-terrorism measures.

Press Dinner with Nick Witney, Head of the European Defence Agency Establishment Team

by NDA

Speaking at the latest New Defence Agenda (NDA) hosted press dinner, Nick Witney, Head of the European Defence Agency Establishment Team, provided a wide-ranging overview of the role the agency might be playing in the coming years. Looking at the reason why an agency was required, Witney said that Europe needed to raise its game on defence. The root problem was fragmentation - insufficient coordination of defence requirements across the EU and hence no unity of supply. The end result, according to Witney, was a poor return on investment for the EU’s current expenditure of some $185 billion per annum. For the head of the Establishment Team, collaboration was the name of the game and the defence industry was calling on “governments to get their acts together”. Speaking more cautiously, Witney reminded his audience that the agency would start relatively small (less than 100 people with a few million euros to be spent on studies and advisors) and would therefore have to be extremely flexible. He likened the agency to a “systems integrator” who could bring all the main defence actors together – overcoming what he called “process fragmentation.”

Assessing the Military Threats of the Future

by NDA

The New Defence Agenda June roundtable set out to assess future military threats and in particular, how Europe should react to them. The first session, focusing on European security, developed into a power struggle between the US, with its “act now” approach, and a Europe, that wanted to give more thought to the root causes of terrorism and, in parallel, to avoid total dependence on the US. The afternoon session looked at intelligence, where a majority of speakers felt confident about the efficiency of data gathering and processing and a vocal minority warned of complacency in that area. Everyone, however, was in no doubt about the need for improved intelligence sharing across the board. In the morning debate, the US Mission to the EU’s Michael C. Ryan was critical of Europe, saying that it sometimes lacked political will. As an example, Ryan quoted Afghanistan, where the EU had publicly supported action but had not lived up to its commitments. The FT’s Peter Spiegel dismissed the idea of a separate European “Security Doctrine” and argued strongly that this matter was best discussed in NATO and nowhere else. Spiegel also spoke against European projects that duplicated US capabilities, i.e. the Galileo project where the US already had its GPS system in place.

Towards an EU burden-sharing of defence costs?

by NDA

At its latest roundtable, the New Defence Agenda discussed how defence costs could be shared across the EU. However, as the day progressed, there was a gradual change of topic with the focus moving firmly to security. Moderator Michel Berendt opened the morning session by noting that it was difficult to separate defence and security and later, Thales’ Martin Hill observed that industry was mainly talking security, as it was “chasing the money”. Several speakers emphasised the gap in expenditure between Europe and the US and there was universal acceptance that defence budgets were being squeezed. Europe therefore needed to get more bang for its euros – not forgetting the odd pound or two. Another recurring theme was the need to harmonise defence requirements, as NATO’s Vicente Martinez Candela noted that a pre-requisite for creating common budgets was an agreement on common policies. Throughout the discussions, the main stumbling block towards enhanced co-operation and burden-sharing was not difficult to identify: NATO’s Adrian Kendry said that the EU was “operating in a sea of nation states” while UKRep’s Sandy Johnston stressed while the EU would continue to decide collectively on the launching and running of military and civilian operations, member states would be unlikely to relinguish national decision-making over the deployment of their armed forces.

Europe's drive to implement an anti-terrorist strategy

by NDA

The latest New Defence Agenda roundtable asked if Europe was on track with its anti-terrorist activities. After three hours of keen debate, it was apparent that although Europe was tackling some of the major threats, it was far from having a comprehensive strategy at the EU-level. The key theme emerging from the debate, and echoed by many of the speakers, was the need for improved cooperation and coordination: within the EU-25 itself, between the EU and NATO, and between the EU and the US. Most speakers expressed optimism about the overall ant-terrorist situation while recognising that improved coordination was necessary. EUROCONTROL’s Victor Aguado argued that his organisation had reacted well in the wake of 9/11, while Kenneth Moss of the National Defense University, Washington DC insisted that much work remained to be done. SEMA’s Lars Hedström called for improved coordination between the EU and NATO. Adding a note of caution, the German government’s Susanne Welter emphasised the need for a balance to be found between control and the need for an open society. Speaking from the floor, the ISS-EU’s Gustav Lindström called for the various plans to be harmonised and the public to be more informed about the true nature of the threats. It was also clear that more agreement is needed on both the threat and the possible responses. The BWPP’s Jean-Pascal Zanders argued that the threats of terrorist attacks were often exaggerated, commenting worryingly that such assessments were now part of the US budget process.

The Powers and Responsibilities of the European Defence Agency

by NDA

The New Defence Agenda’s first roundtable of 2004 saw a packed house and three hours of intense debate surrounding the future of the European Defence Agency. Perhaps those who came expecting to hear revolutionary talk were disappointed, as although speakers reinforced the Agency’s importance, they emphasised that it is just one step along the way to a common European defence policy. Discussions concerning who would head the agency may have cast a shadow over the proceedings, but its creation was seen as a move in the right direction towards a converging CFSP. The UK Ministry of Defence’s Sarah Beaver was insistent that the challenge lay in defining “a consolidated demand” that could drive “a consolidated supply”. Listing a number of reasons why the agency was required, Beaver argued that Europe’s failure to collaborate successfully in defence matters was due to the countries of the enlarged EU “spending resources on the wrong things or inefficiently or both”. Emphasising the financial aspects of the agency’s plans, Beaver stressed that nothing would be achieved unless the 25 defence ministers buy-in to the shared vision as to how Europe’s defence capabilities should be developed. On behalf of the Italian Ministry of Defence, Lt.-Gen. Gianni Botondi declared that the agency would be a first concrete step towards the creation of a “single competent body responsible for armament cooperation in Europe” but that its success “depended on the will of nations” – a theme taken up by many speakers. Taking a similar tack, the German Ministry of Defence’s Hilmar Linnenkamp stressed the inter-governmental and advisory nature of the agency, and while noting that the Secretary-General High Representative would be in a position to “advise and bully” the defence ministers into collective action, they themselves held the key to success.

Is Europe's Defence Agenda due for Radical Change?

by NDA

The fifth session of the Defence-led R&D and Industrial Innovation working group looked at two strategic issues: the working of the proposed European Defence Agency and the future of warfare itself.

European Capabilities and Security Aims

by NDA

At the fifth session of the European Capabilities and Security Aims working group, it was agreed that the Headline Goal would be met in quantitative terms by year end. Serious concerns remained however, in the key areas of availability; mobility, intra-operability and sustainability.

Security and Defence Agenda

The 2010 UK Strategic Defence and Security Review

NATO's European Dimension

Is Europe's energy security policy a reality or an ambition?

Does Europe need "Homeland Security"?

The new global security landscape: 10 Recommendations from the 2010 Security Jam

Cyber Security: A Transatlantic Perspective

Conflict Prevention and Resolution: the Role of Cultural Relations

NATO, the credit crunch and the new security environment

Meet Admiral James Stavridis

SDA Biopreparedness Report

SDA Evening Debate: Could Europe do better on pooling Intelligence?

Security & Defence Day 2009 Report

The future of missile defence in Europe

SDA Discussion Paper: Re-launching NATO or just re-branding it?

The security implications of Europe's energy thirst

A Full and Urgent Agenda for NATO in the 21st Century

SDA Lunch Debate: Lessons from Mumbai

SDA Evening Debate: Can NATO's solidarity crisis be fixed?

SDA Discussion Paper: Implications of Balkan integration

Policy Spotlight with Shirin Ebadi

SDA Monthly Roundtable: Re-thinking Europe’s naval power

SDA Monthly Roundtable : Assessing the value of security strategy reviews

SDA Evening Debate: Transatlantic leadership for a new era

SDA-FoE Report: Turkey's European Future

The Georgia-Russia Stalemate: Dos and Don'ts for avoiding a new Cold War

SDA-ECFR: Reflecting on 'Re-energising ESDP'

Nick Witney, Senior Fellow of the European Council on Foreign Relations

Key questions defining Afghanistan's future

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Davood Moradian withSDA Director Giles Merritt andSACEUR General John Craddock

Risk Analysis and Preparedness for the next Influenza Pandemic

Security & Defence Days 2008 Report

Security and defence priorities during France's EU Presidency

French Military RepresentativePatrick de Rousiers

SDA Policy Spotlight - Azerbaijan's view of the security situation in the Southern Caucasus

The outlook for security and defence technologies

EU-US defence cooperation

NATO in the Next Decade

Re-visiting NATO-ESDP relations

On the eve of Bucharest

Assessing the cyber security threat - Roundtable Report

What is the EU's report card on pandemic preparedness?

What future for a European disaster relief force?

The questionmarks over Europe's maritime security

Security Sector Reform: private-public priorities

What are NATO's next steps on missile defence?

The EU's Africa Strategy: 'What are the lessons of the Congo Mission?'

Cutting through the Transatlantic Tangle of Defence Equipment Export Controls

The Private Security Phenomenon: Policy Implications and Issues

What prospects for a single European defence and security market?

Challenges for the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base

Is Europe serious about Space and Security?

Defending Europe's vulnerable infrastructure

Europe's Long-Term Vision on the defence environment: sharp or fuzzy?

The Issues Shaping Asian Security

Borders & People: the liberty and security balance

Charting the Developments and Uses of Network Centric Capabilites

Is a transatlantic defence industry increasingly on the cards?

Utility of Force book presentation and debate

Tracking European Space Policies - Have we got the civil - military balance right?

Strategic Priorities for protecting Europe's critical infrastructure against terrorism

Will the EU get though on opening-up national defence procurements?

What policies will create effective peacekeeping?

Defence Aspects of the NATO and EU Enlargements

Is the Transatlantic Defence Marketplace becoming a reality?

Space and Security in Europe

Is Maritime Security Europe's Achilles Heel?

Does Europe need a Black Sea Security Policy?

NDA Bioterrorism Background Report by Drs. Jill Dekker-Bellamy

On the Eve of Istanbul: Can NATO become a vehicle for reform?

NATO Secretary General announces Istanbul Summit Agenda at NDA Conference

Press Dinner with Nick Witney, Head of the European Defence Agency Establishment Team

Assessing the Military Threats of the Future

Towards an EU burden-sharing of defence costs?

Europe's drive to implement an anti-terrorist strategy

The Powers and Responsibilities of the European Defence Agency

Is Europe's Defence Agenda due for Radical Change?

European Capabilities and Security Aims

The Afghan Ministry of Foreign
Affairs' Davood Moradian with
SDA Director Giles Merritt and
SACEUR General John Craddock

French Military Representative
Patrick de Rousiers