For a credible and efficient defence of Europe

by Patrice Mompeyssin, Brigadier General (ret), Secretary General of the EURODEFENSE network, Paris
The 2022 annual meeting of the EURODEFENSE network, with representatives from 15 countries, took place in Paris from 19th-21st May. It was held in the shadow of Russia’s criminal invasion of Ukraine and was a very insightful event in these changing times. The annual meetings are the culmination of a year’s work where results are presented, but they are also a social event. Participants speak of “our club”.
The 2022 meeting started in the afternoon of 19th May with a visit to the “Musée Carnavalet”, presenting the history of Paris, followed by a reception of the presidents of the network associations at the Quai d’Orsay by Alexandre Vulic, Deputy Director, Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament at the French Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs.
The morning of the next day was dedicated to a visit of the AIRBUS facility at Elancourt near Paris with a focus on cyber security, secure communications and preparation of combat cloud, massive intelligence and spacecraft electronics.
In the afternoon, the meeting of the Council of presidents was held at the Ecole Militaire, followed by an official dinner for all participants at the Cercle National des Armées, Place Saint Augustin, in Paris.
On the Saturday morning, EuroDéfense-France organised a successful public conference on the topic, “Solidarity and Efficiency” at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. Speakers were: Sylvie Bermann, Ambassadrice de France; Hanna Ojanen, President of EuroDéfense-Finland and Research Director at Tampere University; Robert Walter, President of EuroDéfense-United Kingdom and of the European Security and Defence Association (ESDA); Alain Richard, Senator for the Val d’Oise department and former French Minister of Defence; Philippe Coq, Director of Public Affairs, Airbus, France. The annual meeting was a success, bringing forward new ideas for the EURODEFENSE network. Work will continue in the established working groups and observatories and results will be presented at the 2023 annual meeting in one of the 15 capitals.