News
On November 9th, we organised our annual State of the Union Conference, a full day of keynotes and panels discussing how Europe should chart a new course to promote its security, prosperity, and stability. We were delighted to have the Dutch outgoing Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren, Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson and Robert Serry, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process as keynote speakers.
More than 120 people attended at Clingendael, 1000 people watched online and 35 excellent speakers shared their insights.
The topics covered were: Europe's defence investments and cooporations, EU enlargement and reform, the role for Europe in the Indo-Pacific, de-risking EU-China relations, sovereignty in defence, the Eurozone, the transatlantic relationship, organising reconstruction in Ukraine, migration, the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war.
Watch highlights, keynotes and panels on YouTube
- Opening by Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director, Clingendael Institute
- Keynote by Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren
- Keynote by Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson
- Panel with Dutch and Swedish Ministers of Defence
- Panel: What is the best route to de-risking EU-China relations?
- Panel: One year before the US elections: peril or promise for the transatlantic relationship?
- Closing keynote by Robert Serry, former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process
In the media
Read and listen to the insights shared by the speakers during the conference published by several Dutch and international news outlets and organisations:
- Trump alarm blares in Europe / POLITICO Europe
- Zweedse minister van defensie Jonson: 'Een NAVO-lidmaatschap zou een mooi kerstcadeau zijn' / BNR Europa
- Minister Ollongren: 'In de volgende Europese Commissie moet een Eurocommissaris voor Defensie-industrie zitten' / BNR Europa
- Mark Ruttes pendeldiplomatie: zijn netwerk, zijn ervaring en zijn neutraliteit komen in Israël van pas / de Volkskrant
- Pål Jonson besöker Haag och Brunssum / Regeringskansliet
Impression of the State of the Union Conference
Revisit a few moments through the photos.
Left to right: Senior Research Fellow at Clingendael Rem Korteweg, Clingendael General Director Monika Sie Dhian Ho, and Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren.
Swedish Minister for Defence Pål Jonson during his keynote speech.
Former UN Middle East Special Coordinator Robert Serry, and Monika Sie Dhian Ho in conversation.
Happening on X
Take a look at X to see what's been shared.
Clingendael publications
Check out some of our experts' publications related to the topics discussed during the conference:
- Experts insights: Russia and Ukraine
- Experts insights: Israel-Hamas war
- Strict ban on China will cost us dearly in science
- Ukraine's state-civil partnership to reform the security sector
- Strengthening digital economic security in Europe
Dutch
- Dealen met Rwanda: Dilemma's bij bescherming van vluchtelingen in derde landen
- Geo-economische monitor hoofdstuk Economische beïnvloeding tussen landen
- Belangrijk, maar geen hoogste prioriteit – veiligheid en defensie in de verkiezingsprogramma’s
- Verkiezingsserie ‘Een geopolitiek kompas voor Nederland’
