Event
23.09.2026
Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1040, Brussels

Security, resilience and competitiveness: Europe’s industrial agenda for a new geopolitical era

As Europe strengthens its security and defence capabilities, competitiveness and resilience have become inseparable from the ability to build a strong industrial base and trusted international partnerships.

Following the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara and the publication of BusinessEurope’s paper “A European readiness, preparedness and defence strategy”, we are pleased to host a high-level discussion bringing together policymakers and business leaders to explore how Europe can reinforce its defence industrial capacity, deepen cooperation with allies and like-minded partners, and strengthen its long-term competitiveness.

 

23 September 2026, 14.00-17.00 CET

Moderated by: Danny McCoy, Chair of BusinessEurope Security and Defence Task Force and CEO of Ibec

 

14.00-15.00 Welcome

  • Markus J. Beyrer, Director General, BusinessEurope

Opening address

  • Klaus Holse, Vice President of BusinessEurope in charge of Security and Defence

Keynote address

  • Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space, European Commission

Keynote address

  • Sean Clancy, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC)

 
15.00-15.45 Panel I: Defence and security as drivers of competitiveness

How can Europe leverage security and defence to strengthen its competitiveness by scaling its industrial base and generating wider economic spill-over effects?
15.45-16.00 Short coffee break
16.00-16.45 Panel II: NATO, Industrial Partnerships and international cooperation

How can Europe strengthen its competitiveness and industrial base through deeper cooperation with NATO Allies and global partners?
16.45-17.00 Closing remarks
Photo Gallery
2026-09-23 Security and defence event_1 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_2 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_3 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_4 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_6 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_5 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_7 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_8 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_9 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_10 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_11 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 14 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 12 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 15 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 13 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 16 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 17 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_18 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 19 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 20 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 21 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be2026-09-23 Security and defence event_ 22 © BUSINESSEUROPE | Tryptique.be