European Security and Defence Forum

The European Security and Defence Forum (ESDF) was established to analyse the shifts and developments in national and European security and defence policies and to promote a better understanding of Europe's wider strategic relationship with the United States.

Working in conjunction with the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome for the next two years, and supported by Finmeccanica, the Forum will bring the business, NGO, and defence policy community together to reinvigorate public debate about the meaning and role of common security and defence policies. It will investigate areas of international cooperation, as well as identifying potential responses to new and emerging threats and challenges.

The Forum will convene a series of workshops and hold an annual conference. Additional events will also take place to develop specific areas. Over the course of the two years, a series of briefing papers will be published, together with an annual compendium of essays and commentaries known as The Carrington Papers. This will provide the opportunity for dissemination of policy-oriented research and recommendations to policy experts and the wider public.

A Steering Committee provides guidance and advice on the focus and substance of the meetings and reviews the Forum's progress. Members of the Steering Committee include:

  • Sir David Omand GCB, formerly Security and Intelligence Co-ordinator and Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office
  • Professor Alyson Bailes, Visiting Professor, University of Iceland; formerly Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
  • Bernard Jenkin MP, Defence Select Committee, House of Commons
  • Dr Carlo Musso, Head, Research Department, Finmeccanica
  • William Shapcott, Director, EU Joint Situation Centre
  • Dr Jamie Shea, Director, Policy Planning NATO
  • Professor Stefano Silvestri, President, Istituto Affari Internazionali
  • Sir Kevin Tebbit, Chairman, Finmeccanica UK

The Steering Committee works closely with Dr Paul Cornish, Head, International Security Programme and Carrington Chair in International Security at Chatham House.

Funding is underpinned by Finmeccanica, the leading Italian industrial group operating globally in the aerospace, defence and security sectors.

Events

Fee-paying or special invitation events A New European Security Architecture?
11 November 2010
Call for Papers >>

Research and other events European Security and Defence: Capabilities and Cooperation
4 June 2010

Fee-paying or special invitation events European Defence and Security: New Challenges, New Choices
25 - 26 January 2010

Fee-paying or special invitation events New Transnational Security Challenges and Responses
11 November 2009
Adobe PDF documentWorkshop Summary
Adobe PDF documentPapers presented at the Workshop

Fee-paying or special invitation events Changing Concepts of Security and Defence
10 June 2009
Adobe PDF documentWorkshop Summary

Young Professionals and Academics in ESDF

One central component of the Forum is a focus on young academics and professionals, so that new UK and European voices can be heard at a time of considerable change in European security and strategic thinking.

We are requesting abstracts from young academics and professionals for out next workshop in November 2010 on A New European Security Architecture. Details >>

The workshop in November 2009 featured papers and presentations by young academics on a range of themes relating to New Transnational Security Challenges and Responses. Details >>

Contact

For more information please contact the European and Defence Forum.
+44 (0)207 957 5742.

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