Venue: European Parliament, Brussels and online

Amid unprecedented security challenges, Europe is at a turning point in strengthening defence capabilities, alliance and unity between Member States and deepening cooperation with Ukraine. With the EU’s recent decisions to bolster the defence industry, the launch of the ReArm Europe Plan, mobilizing over €800 billion, it is crucial to consolidate perspectives on the possibilities to effectively use new instruments.

The We Build Ukraine think tank, European Parliament, International Center for Ukrainian Victory, United for Ukraine Network, ANTS think tank will unite a cross-party policymakers and experts from Ukraine and Europe, alongside with industry leaders, to chart the next steps for enhancing defence cooperation and investment. The discussion will focus on identifying practical solutions and leveraging lessons learned from Ukraine’s defence against Russian aggression to strengthen Europe’s security and resilience.

AGENDA:

10:00-10:30 Registration and coffee

10:30-12:00 І PANEL

LESSONS FROM THE FRONTLINE: UKRAINIAN EXPERIENCE FOR BUILDING THE EUROPEAN DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE

The discussion will focus on how Ukraine’s battlefield experience and technological achievements will boost European defence capabilities, giving insights about areas where Russia holds tech advantages and identifying opportunities for mutual progress with European support. From ammunition to innovations such as FPV drones, deep-strike systems, electronic warfare, and AI integration, panellists will explore how to drive forward joint ventures, remove regulatory bottlenecks, and ensure interoperability between Ukrainian and EU systems.

  • Rasa Juknevičienė, Member of the European Parliament and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania (2008–2012)
  • Vsevolod Chentsov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community
  • Dmytro Natalukha, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Economic Development
  • Serhii Honcharov, CEO of the National Association of Defense Industry Enterprises of Ukraine (NAUDI) (online)
  • Johannes Koskinen, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Commitee, Finland
  • Bartosz Cichocki, NATO Eastern Flank Institute, former Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine
  • Frederic Petit, Deputy Chairman of the European Affaits Commitee, France
  • Carsten Bach, Spokesman on defence of Liberal Alliance, Member of Foreign and Defence Committees, Danish Parliament (online)
  • Ina Coșeru, Chair of Foreign and European Affairs Committee, Republic of Moldova
  • Moderator: Oleksandra Azarkhina, We Build Ukraine Co-Founder, Deputy Minister, Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (2022 2023).

12:00-13:00 Break

13:00-14:30 REFORMING THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY: ENABLING STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN DEFENSE AND INNOVATION

This panel will tackle the critical question of how to mobilize investment at scale for joint EU-UA defence priorities. Speakers will explore how international institutions can frontload investments, and further industry reforms progress with a focus on Ukraine and the EU, emphasizing the integration of best corporate management practices to enhance operational effectiveness. The discussion will also highlight best practices in joint procurement, with a focus on how Ukraine’s wartime experience can contribute to making Europe s defence industry more agile and resilient.

  • Michael Gahler, European Parliament Rapporteur on Ukraine, Member of the European Parliament, EPP
  • Sarra Nanni, Spokesperson on Defence, Alliance 90/The Greens (online)
  • Sergey Lagodinsky, Vice-Chair Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, Chair Euronest
  • Pavel Fischer, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Security Committee, Czech Senate (online)
  • Oleksandr Kubrakov, Advisor to the Minister of Defence, We Build Ukraine Co-Founder, Chairman of the Supervisory Board
  • Marcin Bosacki, Chairman of Subcommittee of Defence for NATO and International Relations, Chairman of Polish – Ukrainian Parliamentary Group, Sejm
  • Gustaf Götberg, Member of the Committee of Defence, Swedish Parliament (online)
  • Hristo Gadzhev, Chair of the Defence Committee, Bulgarian Parliament
  • Halyna Yanchenko, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Committee on Economic Development
  • Dimitris Kairidis, Deputy Chairman of Foreign and Defence Committee, Greece
  • Ferenc Gelencser, Member of the Parliament, Hungary
  • Peeter Tali, Chairman, European Union Affairs Committee, Estonia
  • Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Integration of Ukraine to the EU (online)
  • Beata Jurik, Deputy Chair, European Affairs Committee, Slovak Republic
  • Julia Vysotska, PJSC Scientific-Production Association PRACTICE , Head of the League of Defense Companies of Ukraine
  • Tomas Martinaitis, Member of National Security and Defence Committee, Lithuania
  • Hennadiy Maksak, Executive Director, Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism (online)

Moderator: Žygimantas Pavilionis, Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, Member of
Seimas, Parliament of Lithuania.

14:30-16:00 STRENGTHENING EU-UKRAINE DEFENCE TIES: THE POWER OF NEW INSTRUMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Keynote speech:

  • Andrius Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space
  • Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine (online)

This panel will focus on scaling up defence production and collaboration, aiming to enhance capacity and integration between the Ukrainian and European defence industries. It will cover critical aspects of improving and protecting defence supply chains while addressing the EU and Ukrainian vision for bolstering sanctions policy to disrupt Russian supply chains and degrade its economy. Panel will discuss EU-Ukraine task force on defence industry and how to create an integrated framework for capability gap mapping, and production planning across borders.

  • Paweł Kowal, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Sejm of the Republic of Poland and Chair of the Council for Cooperation with Ukraine in the Chancellery of Prime Minister
  • Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Secretary General of the Centrist Democrat International
  • Olena Halushka, Co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory and Board Member of the Anti-Corruption Action Center
  • Dainius Žalimas, Member of the European Parliament, Lithuania
  • Rihards Kols, Member of the European Parliament, Latvia
  • Thomas Erndl, CSU Spokesperson on Defence, Germany (online)
  • Hanna Hopko, Chairwoman ANTS NGO, Co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory, Former Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ukraine
  • Sir John Whittingdale, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, UK Parliament and Vice Chair of Ukraine APPG
  • Sebastião Bugalho, Member of the European Parliament, Portugal

Moderator: Lia Quatrapelle, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Italian Chamber of Deputies

CONCLUDING REMARKS

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