Countdown to the Brussels Economic Security Forum 2026: Europe’s must face its strategic moment
Brussels, 28 May 2026 – As the ongoing conflict with Iran threatens key trade routes and oil supplies, driving up living costs for ordinary Europeans, economic tensions between major powers are deepening and governments are increasingly weaponising trade, technology, and investment. Against this backdrop, senior political leaders, officials, and experts will gather in Brussels on 4-5 June for the 2026 edition of the Brussels Economic Security Forum, #BESF2026.
“Recognising the challenges we are facing, economic security has become one of the key priorities of our time. The degree to which we succeed will define our economies, businesses, and societies for the decades to come,” said Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič.
Pointing out the significance of BESF, Šefčovič added: “Forums such as the Brussels Economic Security Forum play an important role in bringing together policymakers, industry, and partners to shape Europe’s response in an increasingly complex global environment.”
Strategically placed between the OECD Ministerial Meeting and the G7 Leaders' Summit, the Forum brings together leading international policymakers, experts, and business at a time when economic security has moved from a specialist policy concern to the centre of political decision-making. From critical supply chains and strategic technologies to maritime security and economic coercion, governments are increasingly confronting challenges where economic policy, security and geopolitics are becoming inseparable.
A high-level international line-up
Confirmed speakers include Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Nadia Calviño, President, European Investment Bank; Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania; Peter Kyle, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology; Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia; Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the Economic Community; Andrew Puzder, US Ambassador to the EU; Tinne van der Straeten, Chief Executive Officer of WindEurope; Per Franzén, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner, EQT; Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; Joakim Reiter, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of the Vodafone Group; Cathy Raper, First Assistant Secretary, Foreign Affairs and Trade Department of Australia; Denis Redonnet, Deputy Director General of DG Trade; Sebastian Reyn, Head of Geopolitics and Global Advocacy, ASML; and James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber.
They will be joined by leading commentators and analysts, including Martin Sandbu, European Economics Commentator at the Financial Times, Maria Demertzis from the European University Institute and Julia Friedlander, CEO of Atlantik-Brücke.
Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive of the European Policy Centre (EPC), said:
"Economic security is no longer a specialised policy debate. It has become one of the defining political questions facing Europe. Decisions taken today on trade, technology and critical infrastructure will shape Europe's prosperity and resilience for years to come. BESF 2026 comes at a crucial moment for that discussion."
The programme will feature discussions on the future of global economic governance, the implications of US-China rivalry, technological competition, strategic dependencies, and Europe's role in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
Launch of the Brussels Economic Security Review
Ahead of the Forum, the European Policy Centre launched the inaugural Brussels Economic Security Review, a journal that examining the most pressing issues shaping the economic security agenda.
The first edition explores a question at the heart of policy debates across Europe and beyond: what should be considered truly "critical" in an age of economic security?
Georg Riekeles, EPC Associate Director and BESF Co-Director, said:
"Europe needs a fuller economic security debate for an age of strategic rivalry – and a doctrine that preserves openness while practising what we describe in the Review as ‘reactive assertiveness’: responding firmly where Europe’s critical interests and resilience are at stake."
To register: BESF Summit 2026
Media enquiries: Rajnish Singh r.singh@epc.eu and media@epc.eu
Follow #BESF2026: besf.epc.eu and the BESF LinkedIn page.
#BESF2026 is organised by the European Policy Centre (EPC) with the generous support of its flagship partners, Equinor and the Vodafone Institute for Society and Communications, and associate partners ACEA, ASML, EQT and Merck.
Euronews is the Forum’s media partner and TheMerode its venue partner.
