Strategic culture: an elusive but necessary foundation for EU security and defence?

On 18 June 2021, the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) and the Direction générale des relations internationales et de la stratégie (DGRIS), French Ministry for the Armed Forces, organised a seminar on strategic culture and EU security and defence.

The seminar was an opportunity for senior representatives of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, and the subsequent Slovenian and French EU Presidencies, to outline what efforts they are undertaking to create a strategic culture in EU security and defence. Additionally, senior officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service, plus academics and think tank analysts, exchanged views on the Strategic Compass and there was insight into the different national approaches to security and defence.

The seminar brought together approximately 40 expert participants to discuss the evolution of EU security and defence and the ingredients needed to create a strategic culture.