In an era marked by successive crises—from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine—Europe’s economic strength, democratic stability, and social cohesion are under unprecedented pressure. The combined effects of geopolitical fragmentation, economic coercion, and shifting alliances have exposed deep vulnerabilities, requiring both strategic foresight and concrete, coordinated action.

In this context, Aspen Institute Romania will host a side event at GLOBSEC 2025 dedicated to the theme of Europe’s Economic Security and Resilience. The session will convene key stakeholders to explore how the European Union can reinforce its capacity to respond to economic shocks, protect critical infrastructure, and reduce strategic dependencies.

The discussion will focus on three core objectives:

  • Fostering a shared understanding of economic security and resilience by mapping key vulnerabilities, hybrid threats, and systemic exposures at both regional and global levels.

  • Promoting institutional alignment and cooperation to improve Europe’s collective capacity to respond to challenges through fiscal coordination, strategic partnerships, and policy coherence.

  • Raising awareness of critical vulnerabilities in supply chains, infrastructure, capital flows, and emerging technologies—informing smarter, future-oriented policy frameworks that support a more resilient and autonomous Europe.

This timely dialogue reflects Aspen Institute Romania’s commitment to advancing values-based leadership and strengthening Europe’s position in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.