Posts Tagged ‘EU’
Harnessing Nuclear Energy as an Alternative Source of Energy: Truth or myth?
Main takeaways: Nuclear energy has both positive and negative aspects pertaining to it. Whereas it is deemed to be a much cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels and it encompasses many positive attributes; at the same time, it tends to be deemed as rather unsafe and some say it is questionable whether it actually…
Read MoreEU defence – towards a stronger and more decisive Europe
Main takeaways:– Ignored and neglected for too long, defence has risen to the very top of the EU’s agenda, even animating summit debates among Heads of State and Government. This approach reflects not only the worsening threat environment we live in, but also Europe’s acknowledgement that it needs to take more responsibility for its own…
Read MoreEurope’s military drift: from a soft power union to ‘security provider’
On 24 May 2021, YPFP Brussels hosted an event in partnership with the Quaker Council for European Affairs titled “Europe’s military drift: from a soft power union to ‘security provider’”. YPFP Brussels Security and Defence Officer, Raquel Sequeira moderated the panel, with two speakers: Laëtitia Sédou, EU Programme Officer, European Network against the Arms Trade…
Read MoreCareer Opportunities within the EU Institutions in Brussels
Main takeaways: The invited guests have very different academic backgrounds, motivations to come to Brussels and career developments, how they got their current positions. The career path of every person is very diverse and the most important thing is to be passionate and motivated to work in a specific field. Career talks are very helpful,…
Read MoreCommunicating Defence the European Way
Main takeaways: The future of European defence lays in the hand of a young European thinking generation. Main problem in making EU security and defence policy easily understandable is the fact, that everything in this regard has always to be communicated on behalf of the 27 Member States which partly have rather different approaches to…
Read MoreBuilding a European Strategic Culture: The Pursuit for a New Security and Defence Identity of the EU
Main takeaways: The EU, and its members, share a basic ‘set of beliefs, values and norms towards the use of military force’ with foundations in the EU’s policies and adherence to international law. There is a difference in nature between the Union’s and member states’ strategic culture. Whereas states develop strategic cultures from historical experiences,…
Read MoreForeign Interference: the European Parliament’s Response
Main takeaways: Propaganda and disinformation are not new phenomena, but 30 years ago there was not yet technology which allows them to be spread at such speed and with so little transparency. Present-day disinformation and foreign interference present real threats to democratic societies. A strong rules-based EU response is needed to even the playing field…
Read MoreDisinformation Threat in Europe
Main takeaways: The COVID pandemic has sparked an infodemic – a whirlwind of mis- and dis-information, spanning traditional media platforms, social media, and countries across the world. A key component of the infodemic has been the mushrooming of conspiracy theories, which have aided extremist groups and foreign actors in their efforts to undermine democratic governments…
Read MoreHumanitarian Affairs and Coordination in International Organizations
Main takeaways: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headquartered in New York, and currently active in twenty countries, coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in crisis areas. OCHA cannot deliver its mandate without the support of its donors and therefore receives voluntary contributions from a diverse…
Read MoreHow A.I. will shape the future of defence?
Main takeaways: • Artificial Intelligence (A.I) is transforming several dimensions of warfare, including intelligence gathering and analysis, strategic and operational planning, procurement and logistics• There is increasing competition in the international arena regarding A.I., with countries aiming to develop technologies that give them military advantage• The security and defence sector should prepare to leverage the…
Read More