Thank you for your interest in the BSC 2021 / 20th Congress on European Security and Defence. The programme is exciting and promises lively discussions on the conference theme “Europe – Developing Capabilities for a credible Defence”.

The primary focus of the BSC will be on performing a deep-dive analysis of the development of European security and military capabilities and procurement, embedded in the EU and NATO security and defence policy context.

It is with this in mind that we have decided to contact key organizations in their capacity as partners of the conference to discuss in plenary sessions and so-called “capability lounges” the real progress being made through current and future European / NATO developments, e.g., forces’ collaborative procurements, R & D, and (disruptive) technologies.  Vice Admiral Matteo Bisceglia from OCCAR EA, Ambassador Jiří Šedivý from EDA, Gen (ret) Peter Dohmen from NSPA as well as Mr Kevin Scheid from NCIA have confirmed their full support to this new format.

We have approached the German Defence Minister, Ms Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, to open the conference together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell. We have invited NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and General Jörg Vollmer, Commander JFC Brunssum, to speak to the audience. Claudio Graziano, Chairman EUMC has confirmed his attendance. The Congress President, Wolfgang Hellmich MP, Chairman of the Defence Committee Deutscher Bundestag will discuss the way ahead with all Chiefs of Services of the German Armed Forces in the High-level Military Forum. State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer, FMOD, is invited to chair the High-Level Discussion with Armaments Directors from France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Norway and Poland.

The programme will be supported by keynote speakers from the political and military scene as well as from our Congress Partners and High-level Represantives from the supporting defence industry and companies as well as the associations for security and defence.