On 24 June, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, hosted a discussion and networking lunch with Nicolás Pascual de la Parte, Member of the European Parliament and former Spanish Ambassador to NATO, who called for greater European autonomy in security matters at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

The meeting began with a welcome address by the Chamber’s president, Pablo López Álvarez, who noted that this was Pascual de la Parte’s third visit, whilst recalling what his first visit had been like. For his part, José Bayón, Director of Institutional Relations at GDELS, sponsor of the event, explained why the defence industry plays a crucial role today, as well as the cornerstones of his company.

Nicolás Pascual de la Parte then took the floor to analyse the current geopolitical situation: the conflicts currently underway, the European Union’s role in them, and the shift in dynamics that these entail. He emphasised that a “new era” is dawning in international relations and argued that Europe must decide what its next steps will be. In his view, the EU must move towards greater autonomy in defence, but also in technology, energy, medicine and healthcare.

He therefore argued that the European Union needs greater integration and standardisation, and must focus on practical measures relating to European defence in order to achieve the autonomy that will enable it to avoid dependence on other international actors in any of the areas mentioned.

The event concluded with a question-and-answer session that sparked discussions on European integration and regional strategy, as well as an address by the former Speaker of the Chamber, Juan Rodríguez-Villa Matons, who thanked the attendees and the speaker. Finally, participants enjoyed a light networking lunch to share perspectives and strengthen professional ties.

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