EPC Update / Post-summit Briefing: Copenhagen and beyond: accelerating progress on defence and Ukraine?
YouTube, 02.10.2025
Online Briefing
This EPC Update and Post-summit Briefing analysed the outcome of the informal European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 1 October 2025, where EU leaders discussed three critical priorities: strengthening common defence readiness, increasing support for Ukraine, and sustaining momentum on enlargement.
Leaders focused on accelerating joint capability development while ensuring credible support for member states on the eastern flank, as Russia escalated tensions. At the same time, they faced the challenge of increasing support for both the enlargement agenda and Ukraine – deepening cooperation with its defence industry, stepping up sanctions on Russia, and crafting security guarantees.
This online event assessed the outcomes of the Copenhagen meeting and explored their wider significance for Europe’s security. It considered whether EU leaders were ready to match ambition with delivery – balancing NATO and EU frameworks, financing requirements and political trade-offs – as they gear up for the routine EU summit in Brussels at the end of October.
Speakers: Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Studies, European Policy Centre; Fabian Zuleeg, Chief Executive & Chief Economist, European Policy Centre
Moderator: Jacki Davis, Senior Adviser, European Policy Centre
Link to video on YouTube here
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