Discussion on European Strategic Autonomy

On 5 May, 2021 the discussion 'European Strategic Autonomy - More than a Catchphrase' was held. The discussion proved that European Strategic Autonomy is definitely not just a catchphrase.

The panelists engaged in a productive discussion on European Strategic Autonomy. Topics ranging from the 'meaning' of the Strategic Autonomy term to the EU's relations with China, Russia and the USA were discussed.

When talking about European Strategic Autonomy, an undeniable consensus is that the EU should continue cooperation with its allies. The European Strategic Autonomy concept is not to replace NATO, rather it is to strengthen NATO capabilities in Europe.

MEP David McAllister talked about the importance of maintaining a close relationship with allies that uphold the same values as EU does, including the UK, the US and Canada. Furthermore, we should also not forget that the European Strategic Autonomy concept is not limited to defense, it also includes important aspects such as trade and finance.

Thank you, Linas Kojala, for moderating the discussion! We would also like to thank the panelists David McAllister, Arnoldas Pranckevičius, Dr. Alice Pannier and Dr. Jana Puglierin for your contribution to the discussion.

If you missed the discussion, a recording can be found on our YouTube channel or Facebook.

The discussion 'European Strategic Autonomy - More than a Catchphrase' was organized by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Baltic States and the Eastern Europe Studies Centre.