European Defence Agency Annual Conference to Focus on Readiness 2030 in Brussels

The European Defence Agency (EDA) will convene its flagship Annual Conference on 28 January 2026 in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together senior defense officials, EU institutional representatives, NATO partners, industry leaders and allied delegations to shape the drive toward collective European defense readiness through 2030. 

Under the theme To be ready. Together. Now and tomorrow — Delivering on European Defence Readiness 2030, the one-day gathering will serve as a forum for high-level dialogue on operational preparedness across all domains of defense amid evolving security challenges. The format will combine plenary sessions, strategic discussions and expert exchanges with an emphasis on aligning national and EU-level efforts to address capability shortfalls and strengthen cooperation frameworks. 

Senior figures from EDA leadership are slated to anchor the proceedings. EDA Chief Executive André Denk, who took up the post in mid-2025, will co-host the event alongside the agency’s Head and senior representatives from the EU’s foreign and security policy structures. While the full speaker list is not publicly detailed, participating defense ministers and institutional delegates are expected to articulate national perspectives on readiness and capability development. Registration in person has closed, but virtual participation remains available for stakeholders unable to attend on site. 

The conference’s central focus aligns with the broader European Defence Readiness 2030 agenda, a policy framework aimed at accelerating joint capability development, industrial cooperation and interoperability by the end of the decade. This agenda—reflected in EU strategic planning documents—calls for coordinated action on critical technologies, joint procurement targets, and capability coalitions across priority areas such as air defense, unmanned systems and space-related services. 

Representatives from NATO and participating partners, including a delegation from Ukraine, will contribute to discussions on bridging operational requirements and industrial capacity, highlighting the need for cohesive multilateral support structures. Industry leaders are also expected to address supply chain resilience and integration of emerging technologies within joint capability frameworks. 

As European defense priorities evolve in response to geopolitical pressures, this Annual Conference in Brussels is positioned as a pivotal moment for reaffirming collaborative commitments and advancing practical steps toward enhanced preparedness.