Why Europe Is Spending Billions on Defence, and Is It Enough?
The Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia invites you to a panel discussion at SIDEC 2026 on Thursday, 12 November 2026, from 11:00 to 12:30 in Conference Hall L1 at Celje Fair, Slovenia.
For decades, many Europeans took their security for granted. Today, Russia’s war against Ukraine, hybrid threats and shifting US priorities are challenging Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.
Allies have committed to substantially increasing defence and related security expenditure by 2035. Yet spending more does not automatically mean being more secure. How can political commitments translate into the capabilities Europe needs? Which investments will be essential for credible deterrence and effective defence? And what do these changes mean for the future of NATO and transatlantic relations?
The discussion will feature:
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- Professor Dr Iztok Prezelj, President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia and Head of the Defence Research Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana;
- Associate Professor Dr Jelena Juvan, Vice-President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia and Head of the Chair of Defence Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana;
- Dr Brin Najžer, Vice-President of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Slovenia and Defence Industry Consultant.
The panel will be moderated by Matic Kosirnik, President of YATA Slovenia. The discussion will also include questions from the audience.
Advance registration is mandatory for entry to the fair.
Register as a SIDEC 2026 visitor
We look forward to welcoming you!
