Securing supply and value chains and critical infrastructure for Europe

About the event

During the last mandate, open strategic autonomy in security, industry, and sustainability were core questions that were debated. This current mandate will now seek to make key decisions regarding our digital infrastructure, our access to critical infrastructure and raw materials, and the EU’s role in our security architecture, which can safeguard those critical infrastructures and supply chains. A deeper discussion regarding the geopolitics of resources is needed: from ensuring access to raw materials, energy and medicines to investing in our digital network and technological sector. What anticipatory policy measures are required on the EU level to secure Europe’s safety, global competitiveness and sustainable future?

The purpose of this session organised by the European Liberal Forum (ELF), in cooperation with the Renew Europe Group, is to bring together newly elected Renew MEPs, APAs, and ELF’s extensive network of members, civil society, academia and corporate sector partners to discuss the future of open strategic autonomy in the realm of resources. This is not a lobbying session, and MEPs will have the opportunity to engage in Chatham House discussions with technical experts to tease out where open strategic autonomy begins and where strategic dependencies end.

Programme

11:30 Opening and welcome – Jan-Christoph Oetjen, MEP, President ELF

11.35 Scene setting: ELF and the Geopolitics of Resources

Speakers: Alva Finn, Executive Director, Antonios Nestoras, ELF Senior Fellow, Gerard Pogorel, ELF Senior Fellow, Francesco Cappelletti, ELF Senior Fellow

12:10 Lunch break

12:40 Expert tables

Table 1: Industry and supply/value chain – Moderated by Francesco Cappelletti (ELF Fellow) and MEP Jeannette Baljeu (ELF Board Member) Possible experts on the table: Apple, AT&T, 3M, Environmental Defense Fund, Fuels Europe Industrial Minerals Association Europe, European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EurRIC), Hydrogen Europe, Air Products.
Table 2: Securing digital infrastructure – Moderated by Gerard Pogorel (ELF Senior Fellow) and MEP Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo (ITRE). Possible experts on the table: Ericsson, BEUC, Neos Lab, France Digitale, Google, Digital Europe, Meta, Sipearl, Vodafone, FiberCop, Vantage Towers
Table 3: Health security for our citizens – Moderated by Alva Finn (ELF) and MEP Vlad Voiculescu (SANTE Coordinator). Possible experts on the table: BMS, Janssen, Pfizer, CPME, BEUC.
Table 4: Energy infrastructure and security – Moderated by Antonios Nestoras (ELF Senior Fellow) and MEP Joao Cotrim de Figueiredo (ITRE). Possible experts on the table: Fuels Europe, Airbus, Enoda, Environmental Defense Fund, Hydrogen Europe, CSD, Air Products.

13:45 Wrap-up