Lukasiewicz – ITECH Institute of Innovation and Technology has launched an intensive series of expert debates as part of the EU Security Initiative (EUSI) – based on cooperation with the EU Council Presidencies to stimulate European security dialogue among academics and decision-makers. EUSI is a project co-developed by Łukasiewicz – ITECH with the European University Institute.
Two EUSI-format meetings were held in December this year, in Brussels and Copenhagen, respectively. They brought together representatives of governmental institutions, analysts and academics from across Europe, enabling a multifaceted analysis of the direction of European security policy development.
1. Brussels: presentation of EUSI assumptions among ambassadors of member states, representatives in PSC
The first meeting was held at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the EU on December 2, 2025. Its participants were representatives of EU member states in the Political and Security Committee (PSC) of the EU Council at the rank of ambassadors.
The meeting confirmed the diagnosis of EUSI’s creators that growing geopolitical instability has moved security issues to the very top of the EU agenda, increasing the need for expertise, coordination and capacity for coordinated action. An introductory speech was given by Hennadiy Maksak of the Prism think-tank, presenting lessons from Ukraine – mainly about shortages and the crisis, which unleashes creative potential and innovative thinking. The discussion included themes of European cooperation in the defense industry, the complementarity of member states’ efforts and dialogue with arms companies.
Participants repeatedly stressed the need for this kind of cross-sectoral dialogue, which can stimulate and advance action at the policy level. It was pointed out that in the face of increasing geopolitical instability, it is crucial to integrate academic knowledge with the experience of practitioners responsible for security and public policies.
2 Copenhagen: Europe’s security in the face of a new geopolitical situation
The second meeting-organized in cooperation with the Royal Danish Defense College in conjunction with Denmark’s presidency of the Council of the EU-was held on December 8, 2025, and focused on the strategic challenges of European defense policy.
The focus was on the important topics of strategic culture, cognitive resilience to various types of hybrid threats, and lessons for Europe from the remarkable efficiency of Ukrainian industry, which is able to bring about a significant shortening of the innovation cycle under wartime conditions, especially in drone production.
The discussion was structured in three panels – the first of which dealt with the strategic priorities of the respective presidencies in the area of security within the ongoing Troika – Poland, Denmark and Cyprus. The achievements of the Polish presidency were presented by the head of the Polish post in Copenhagen, Ewa Debska.
The multifaceted discussion resounded with a message emphasizing that the development of European defense capabilities is not just a matter of increasing military spending or building a national defense industry, while no less important is the formation of a mindset among decision-makers that will prepare them for the challenges that the era of global competition imposes on Europe.
The importance and future of the EU Security Initiative
The EU Security Initiative creates a space for cyclical, interdisciplinary cooperation between science and public administration. In particular, it identifies the need for dialogue in three areas:
1. strategic issues concerning the direction of EU foreign policy and its global positioning, including nuclear deterrence;
2. defense industry capabilities, technology and innovation, including lessons learned from Ukraine;
3. the “democratization” of security by mobilizing public support for security and defense.
In the coming months, Lukasiewicz – ITECH will develop its cooperation with EUSI, preparing a framework partnership agreement.
The next meeting will take place in Cyprus, on the margins of the foreign ministers’ summit under the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the European Union.