European Economic Security Taskforce
The Taskforce aims to support the European Commission, EU member states, and key allies by bringing clarity to the policy dialogue on economic security.
Since the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May 2023, the concept of economic security has rapidly come to prominence in national and international security discourse. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recently published 'Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2024-2029' designates economic security as one of the 'three central planks' of the Commission’s new economic foreign policy, alongside trade and investment in partnerships.
Despite this increased prevalence, understanding and definitions of economic security vary between countries, and the objectives and desired outcomes can range from adapting to global shocks, like the Covid-19 pandemic, to supply chain resilience, safeguarding democracy and the international rule of law, and harder security policy issues such as greater use of economic deterrence tools and sanctions.
Overview
Building on RUSI’s unique international security expertise, the European Economic Security Taskforce has been established to bring clarity to this critical finance and security issue.Â
The membership of the Taskforce will be drawn from international policymakers, the private sector, and academia. Through a series of virtual and in-person events over the next 12 months, the Taskforce will debate key issues relating to the intersection of economic strategy and security policy, including how EU member states and key allies can work together in accordance with coordinated and constructive economic security objectives to respond to escalating geoeconomic threats.
Aims and objectives
The Taskforce aims to:
- Bring clarity to the currently diverse policy dialogue on economic security.
- Identify the key issues relating to the intersection of economic strategy and security policy.
- Consider what toolkits, systems and capabilities should countries prepare to proactively protect and promote economic security objectives.
- Advance how can EU Member States respond individually, collectively, and in partnership with key allies, to achieve a more resilient and secure economy.