HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau attended the second high-level joint defence and energy conference in Stockholm on 8 and 9 June 2023. The meeting, organized by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Energy (DG ENER), brought together more than 80 participants from European defence and energy sectors to discuss opportunities to collaborate and support the decarbonization of the defence and security sector.
Irina’s contribution to the conference focused on the geopolitics of critical raw materials in energy technologies and defence applications in the context of growing strategic competition. At HCSS, her work focusses on pressing geo-economic and geopolitical issues induced by the energy transition and she authored or co-authored many reports on the topic, such as Strategic Raw Materials for Defence (2023), Resilient and Robust: Climate-Proofing the Military for Increased Military Effectiveness (2023), Cobalt mining in the EU (2022) and Graphite: Supply chain challenges & recommendations for a critical mineral (2022).
At the conference, more than 80 participants were greeted by opening remarks from Adrienne Coyet Folke, Deputy Head of Department for Military Capability and Operations and Jiří Šedivý, Chief Executive, European Defence Agency, through a recorded message. Annika Wäppling Korzinek, Head of European Commission Representation in Sweden, gave a keynote speech, in which she underlined that “The defence and energy sector have the possibility to act, to avoid turning their heads away. They need to endeavour a common effort and establish solid links for allowing the European Union meeting these fundamental objectives of addressing climate change and security of supply.”
The agenda featured topics of mutual interest, including how to support the ministries of defence (MoDs) in their efforts to advance sustainable energy. Parallel sessions focused on three key topics: energy efficiency and secure infrastructure, transition to renewable energy, and energy and climate adaptation. The conference also encouraged the exchange of best practices, and promoted the adoption of sustainable, safe, and resilient energy models within the defence and security sector.
Source: European Defence Agenda (EDA), June 8, 2023
Experts
Related Content
