Reality Check for Europe's Defence: Who, What, How, When?
Discussion with Robert Brieger and Ronald Vartok
Jun 09, 2026 / Vienna / European Security and Defence
On 9 June 2026, AIES and the Vienna School of International Studies (Diplomatische Akademie Wien) co-hosted a public evening event entitled "Reality Check for Europe's Defence: Who, What, How, When?"
The welcome address was delivered by Mag. Martina Schubert, Deputy Director of the Vienna School of International Studies, and AIES Director Michael Zinkanell-Süss. Speakers included General Mag. Robert Brieger, former Chairman of the EU Military Committee and former Chief of Staff of the Austrian Armed Forces, as well as Major General Mag. Ronald Vartok, Head of the Directorate for Defence Policy and International Relations at the Federal Ministry of Defence, who stood in for the originally announced Secretary General Dr. Arnold Kammel at short notice. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Werner Fasslabend, President of AIES.
The discussion centered on the question of where Europe actually stands in the development of its own defense capabilities. Against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, now in its fifth year, growing pressure from the Trump administration, and an increasingly multipolar world order, it became clear that the question of why Europe needs to strengthen its defence is no longer seriously contested. The debate today centres on how and when to implement this.
Structural challenges to European defence dominated the exchange: the fragmentation of defence markets, the unanimity rule as an obstacle to swift decision-making, and the need to establish an independent European command. The growing willingness of all EU member states to invest more in defense was viewed positively, as were the EU regulations on defense cooperation adopted by qualified majority vote. At the same time, it was emphasized that, despite heavy losses, Russia continues to expand its military capabilities and that an escalation of the conflict to other European countries cannot be ruled out.