European defence and security leaders are gathering in Brussels on Wednesday, 30 September, as governments seek stronger military readiness, closer cooperation and greater protection against hybrid threats. The one-day Euronews Defence & Space Summit will bring together senior NATO and European Union officials, ministers, military commanders and representatives of the defence and aerospace industries.
The meeting is taking place as European countries examine how to turn increased defence spending into practical capabilities, improve military mobility and expand industrial production. Cybersecurity, critical infrastructure and cooperation between the EU and NATO are also expected to feature prominently.
Who is attending the Brussels summit?
The event at the Albert Hall is due to include senior political, military and institutional figures. Those listed among the participants are NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev.
Military participation includes General Seán Clancy, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, and General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Armed Forces. Their presence reflects the summit’s focus on both political decision-making and operational challenges facing European security.
- NATO and EU officials
- European defence ministers and military commanders
- Representatives of defence and aerospace companies
- Industry organisations and policy specialists
The summit is an expert and political gathering rather than a formal EU or NATO decision-making meeting. Any future policy or funding decisions would need to follow the appropriate procedures within the relevant institutions and national governments.
Defence spending and joint procurement
A central theme will be how European countries can increase defence investment while reducing fragmentation between national armed forces and industries. Although governments are spending more on defence, separate procurement systems can make it harder to develop compatible equipment, expand production efficiently and coordinate long-term planning.
EU defence policy discussions increasingly focus on joint procurement, financing and industrial capacity. Cooperation can help countries address shared capability gaps while supporting a more resilient European defence industry. It may also improve interoperability between national forces and strengthen coordination with NATO.
Military mobility is another important issue. Moving troops and equipment across Europe can involve different national rules, infrastructure standards and administrative procedures. Improving the movement of military assets is therefore closely connected to readiness, logistics and the ability to respond quickly to a crisis.
Hybrid threats and cybersecurity
European security discussions are no longer limited to conventional military threats. Governments are also concerned about cyberattacks, interference with critical infrastructure, disinformation and other activities that can target societies without crossing the threshold of open armed conflict.
Recent incidents involving drones and suspected hybrid activity have increased attention on the protection of civilian and military networks. The summit is expected to consider how governments can secure essential infrastructure and improve their ability to detect and respond to hostile activity.
Secure cloud infrastructure and emerging technologies are also part of the wider debate. Virkkunen’s European Commission responsibilities include technology sovereignty, secure digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and cloud policy. These areas have growing relevance for defence because military and civilian systems increasingly depend on digital networks and data services.
Europe’s defence industrial base
The summit will examine how Europe can increase defence production while addressing supply-chain vulnerabilities and differences between national procurement systems. European governments are seeking greater manufacturing capacity, but expanding production requires investment, reliable suppliers and clearer cooperation between public authorities and industry.
Representatives from defence companies, European institutions and industry organisations will discuss procurement and financing. The objective is not simply to raise budgets, but to ensure that spending produces usable capabilities, sustainable supply chains and equipment that can work across national and allied forces.
NATO’s eastern flank and EU cooperation
The discussions take place amid continuing concern about security along NATO’s eastern flank. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has emphasised the need for the alliance to maintain the capabilities required to respond to security threats, while European officials have highlighted the importance of closer EU-NATO coordination.
The EU and NATO have different responsibilities and decision-making structures. NATO is a military alliance, while the European Union combines political, economic, regulatory and security tools. Cooperation between them can nevertheless support areas such as military mobility, resilience, cybersecurity and industrial planning.
What happens next?
The summit itself is not expected to create a new EU law or binding defence commitment. Its significance lies in bringing policymakers, military leaders and industry representatives together to discuss the practical challenges behind Europe’s defence-readiness agenda.
The event is scheduled to be broadcast live by Euronews on Wednesday 30 September, with the programme beginning at 09:00 CEST. Further decisions on defence spending, procurement, funding or institutional cooperation would depend on subsequent action by EU member states, EU institutions, NATO members and national authorities.
Why the summit matters
The Brussels meeting highlights the pressure on European governments to connect higher defence spending with concrete results. That includes stronger capabilities, faster military mobility, more secure digital infrastructure and a defence industry able to respond to demand.
For Ireland, the summit is relevant to the wider European debate on cybersecurity, critical infrastructure and industrial resilience, even though Ireland is not a member of NATO. Any future EU initiatives in areas such as cybersecurity, defence research, procurement or infrastructure protection could have implications for Irish public bodies and businesses, subject to the final scope of each measure.
The immediate outcome is a high-level discussion rather than a formal policy decision. The key test will be whether future national and EU actions translate the summit’s focus on cooperation and readiness into measurable capabilities.
