Incipit Vita Nova - So Begins New Life - Lennart Meri Conference

Incipit Vita Nova – So Begins New Life

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has forced Europe to begin rethinking its approach to security. In an era of increasing strategic competition, Europe must adapt to geopolitical and geoeconomic confrontation and learn to thrive despite economic and political crises. Europe’s success will depend on its unity and solidarity, its ability to sustain its economic power and competitiveness, its enhanced ability to act, and its resilience, including in times of war. Russia’s war has exposed the hollowness of Europe’s defence industrial base and highlighted the need to bolster defence industrial capacity. It has also, like the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated the value of trusted connectivity and secure supply chains. Furthermore, the war has underlined, once again, the value of a strong and thriving transatlantic relationship.

Speakers

Timothy Garton Ash

Professor of European Studies at University of Oxford

Kaja Kallas

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

Krišjānis Kariņš

Prime Minister of Latvia

Ingrida Šimonytė

Prime Minister of Lithuania

Margrethe Vestager

Executive Vice-president of the European Commission and Commissioner

Moderator

Constanze Stelzenmüller

Director of the Center on the United States and Europe and Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations at Brookings Institution

How can Europe sustain unity in the long term? What steps should it take to continue the current revival of the transatlantic relationship? Does Europe need new approaches to key issues such as an aggressive Russia, trade, and China if it is to continue to benefit from positive relations across the Atlantic and beyond?

“Incipit vita nova.”

Dante Alighieri, La Vita Nouva (1294).