The morning session will present the different challenges facing Europe today from the perspectives of foreign affairs, political science research, think tank advocacy and the business world – all seen in the context of the geopolitical shifts that are reshaping Europe’s future.
This session will help us understand the challenges Europe is facing in the light of a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. Join former diplomat Friis Arne Petersen as he shares his insights from different regions of the world with geopolitical significance. How is Europe’s current development and future trajectory seen from within and outside Europe? And what is Europe’s place in the world in 2026?
Building on the opening session with Friis Arne Petersen, this fireside chat will shift the focus inward and explore how the EU understands its own challenges and resilience while still taking into account external circumstances and the broader geopolitical situation. The discussion will explore Europe’s capacity to respond to geopolitical pressure, technological disruption and global competition – drawing on Mario Draghi’s call to close the innovation gap and strengthen Europe’s industrial and technological base. Key questions will include:
What is the EU’s assessment of its strategic position, and what does European resilience mean in practice?
What are the implications for member states as Europe moves toward greater strategic autonomy?
How can businesses— particularly Danish ones – navigate this evolving landscape?
This session will connect Europe’s external pressures with its internal choices – and investigate Europe’s ability to shape its own future.
Panelists: