The EU Conversations 2025

The EU Conversations 2025

Opening Addresses

0:00 - 26:35

Speakers

• Dr. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
• Zane Petre, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia
• Dr. Kārlis Bukovskis, Director of the Latvian Institute of International Affairs

Opening Keynote: A New Age for a Competitive EU Economy

26:56 - 54:00

In an increasingly complex global economy, the European Union has come to the conclusion that simplifying its economic structures and regulations is a path to keeping it competitive and resilient. The need to boost the competitiveness of European products and services is becoming increasingly urgent, especially when technological advancements on other continents are taken into consideration.

The new Competitiveness Compass defines five enablers to boost European competitiveness across all sectors. The aim of this conversation is to investigate how these five enablers are different from previous approaches to boosting EU competitiveness and why these are expected to ring in a new age for competitive EU economy

Speakers

• Dr. Ditte Brasso Sørensen, Deputy Director of Think Tank Europa
• Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification

Panel Conversation: A New Age for the Future of the EU

54:48 - 1:57:50

In an increasingly complex global economy, the European Union has come to the conclusion that simplifying its economic structures and regulations is a path to keeping it competitive and resilient. The need to boost the competitiveness of European products and services is becoming increasingly urgent, especially when technological advancements on other continents are taken into consideration. The new Competitiveness Compass defines five enablers to boost European competitiveness across all sectors. The aim of this conversation is to investigate how these five enablers are different from previous approaches to boosting EU competitiveness and why these are expected to ring in a new age for competitive EU economy

Speakers

• Dr. Steven Blockmans, Associate Senior Research Fellow at CEPS and ICDS
• Dr. Ivars Ījabs, Member of the European Parliament
• Dr. Sophie Vanhoonacker, Chair in Administrative Governance at the Maastricht University
• Dr. Mihai Sebe, Head of European Affairs Department at the European Institute of Romania

Panel Conversation: A New Age for the Foreign Policy of the EU

0:00 - 1:11:00

As global power dynamics shift and new challenges emerge, the European Union faces critical decisions in shaping its foreign policy for the decades to come. Geopolitics have returned to household debates throughout the European Union. Facing challenges posed by geopolitical rivals around the globe, the EU also faces domestic quarrels on foreign and security policy. The aim of this conversation is to understand how unity on foreign policy among EU members may be achieved.

Speakers

• Dr. Ramūnas Vilpišauskas, Professor at the Institute for International Relations and Political Science of the Vilnius University
• Dr. Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
• Dr. Louise van Schaik, Head of Unit at the Clingendael Institute
• Funda Tekin, Director of the Institute for European Politics (IEP), Germany

Interim Keynote Conversation: A New Age for European Defense and the EU’s Role

1:11:26 - 1:56:31

Long-term threats from Russia and elsewhere require the EU to develop a stronger defense posture to underpin its ambition of ensuring united and effective responses and protecting its citizens. EU countries will have to invest more and more in common defense capabilities and a European defense technological and industrial base that is fit to deliver these requirements, and the Union will also need to urgently improve the structures and processes that support the building of its military capability.

The EU’s growing defense dimension must also be aligned with NATO, whose role in Europe’s territorial defense will remain indispensable. The aim of this conversation is to explore how the EU can best support its Member States in strengthening their defense postures and building a coherent defense together.

Speakers

• Dr. Kristi Raik, Director of International Centre for Defence and Securi
• Dr. Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence of Sweden

Parallel Conversation: A New Age of Clean Industries

The EU has placed decarbonization at the heart of its agenda, aiming to foster a green and sustainable economy. This transition necessitates a rapid and efficient shift towards clean technologies, renewable energy sources, and sustainable manufacturing practices.

Decarbonizing EU industry swiftly while simultaneously strengthening its competitiveness is a central challenge. The aim of this conversation is to investigate how the EU can balance its quest for industrial competitiveness and economic security with fast and efficient decarbonization and the role of clean industries in the EU’s global orientation.

Speakers

• Dr. Federica Prandin, Research Fellow at Finnish Institute of International Affairs
• Edmunds Cepurītis, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia
• Michal Baranowski, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of Poland
• Christian Egenhofer, Associate Senior Research Fellow at CEPS

Parallel Conversation: A New Age for Civilian Protection

Security threats are becoming more complex and diverse. With a growing number of occasions of threats and sabotages, and related increasing fears of potential adversary action in a conventional or non-conventional manner also grow, people are looking for both national and EU protection. An evolving landscape of civilian protection, focusing on strategies to safeguard citizens and to battle terrorism, cyber threats, natural disasters, and pandemics, are among the priorities. The aim of this conversation is to investigate where the EU actually can protect civilians and make Europe safer for all.

Speakers

• Nicholas Aylott, Head of the Europe Programme at Swedish Institute of International Affairs
• Dr. Marija Golubeva, former Minister of the Interior of Latvia
• Dr. Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik, Assistant Professor at the Institute of East-Central Europe (IESW), Poland
• Dr. Viljar Veebel, Senior Researcher at the Baltic Defence College

Closing Conversation: A New Age for the EU Membership

The European Union is moving towards enlargement. With the possibility of six Western Balkan and three Eastern European countries joining the EU, the bloc may grow by up to seventy million people. As with previous rounds of enlargement, like in 2004, this pushes the EU to prepare institutionally, financially and politically.

The conviction prevails that enlargement is a geopolitical necessity. At the same time, it is a lengthy procedure without a quick-fix solution. The aim of this conversation is to investigate the benefits for the EU economically and in its global role and to discuss steps that need be undertaken to make enlargement a reality, including new approaches to the EU integration process.

Speakers

• Dr. Barbara Lippert, Director of Research at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)
• Valdis Zatlers, President of the Republic of Latvia (2007-2011)
• Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, President, Centre for International Relations, Poland
• Dr. Matteo Bonomi, Senior Fellow at the Institute of International Affairs (IAI), Italy