Natural Allies: Environmental Protection for European Security (Vilnius)

What if nature is not only something to protect, but also part of what protects us? As Europe confronts geopolitical instability, climate breakdown, and growing societal pressures, this one–day conference explores how healthy ecosystems and resilient communities can strengthen Europe’s security infrastructure. 

About the event

Europe’s security challenges are ever more interconnected. Russia’s war against Ukraine has underlined the urgent need to strengthen defence and civil preparedness, while climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation pose growing risks to critical infrastructure, public health, food and water security, and local communities. At a moment when Europe’s political focus is increasingly centred on military readiness, this conference asks how we can avoid creating a false choice between defence and resilience – and what it means to recognise environmental protection as part of a broader security agenda.  

On Tuesday 6 October 2026, the Green European Foundation, in collaboration with the Demokratijos Institutas, will host a one-day conference in Vilnius to explore what it means to bring nature, defence and societal preparedness together in response to a rapidly changing security landscape. 

Taking GEF’s publication New Idealism for a Disrupted Europe  as starting point, this event will explore how we can broaden our understanding of security beyond military capabilities alone. How can ecological resilience strengthen societal preparedness? What role can healthy ecosystems play in protecting people and infrastructure? And how can Europe address defence, climate and societal resilience as interconnected challenges, rather than as separate policy areas? 

Programme

Tuesday 6 October 2026 

09:00–09:30 | Registration 

09:30-09:40 | Opening & Welcome

• Benoit Monange – Co-President, Green European Foundation

09:40–11:00 | New Idealism: Rethinking Security for a Disrupted Europe  

• Sofiia Shevchuk – researcher and EU policy consultant, Valia: co-author of New Idealism for a Disrupted Europe 
• Sergey Lagodinsky (video-message)– Member of the European Parliament, Greens/EFA 

Comments by: 

• Tomas Tomilinas – Member of the Lithuanian Parliament, Democrats for Lithuania 
• Moderated by: Alice Hubbard, Head of Network Development, Green European Foundation

11:00–11:30 | Coffee break 

11:30–13:00 | Nature, Resilience and Defence: Examples from Europe’s Eastern Flank  

• Introduction by: Algis Čaplikas – Lithuanian Chambers of Housing Management and Maintenance, former Minister
• Nerijus Zableckis – Director, Foundation for Peatland Restoration and Conservation 
• Aira Paliukėnaitė – Vice-Minister of Environment, Government of Lithuania 
• Arina Bilai – Ukrainian political & climate activist; Board member, Rozviy
• Dr. Michał Żmihorski (video message) — Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of the Institute of Environmental Protection of the National Research Institute
• Moderator: Domantas Tracevičius — Environmentalist and consumer rights advocate

13:00–14:30 | Networking lunch 

14:30–16:00 | From Resilience to Action 

• Krista Mikkonen – Member of the Finnish Parliament, Former Minister of the Interior and Minister of the Environment 
• Dorita Visalgienė – Chancellor, Ministry of Agriculture
• Skirmantas Krunkaitis – Vice Minister of Health, Government of Lithuania
• Dr. Judita Liukaitytė-Kukienė – University Lecturer, Vilnius University
• Moderator: Richard Wouters – Research lead, Wetenschappelijk Instituut voor Solidariteit (WIS)

16:00–16:15 | Closing

• Alice Hubbard — Head of Network Development, Green European Foundation
• Arūnas Burinskas – Director, Democracy Institute

Practicalities

Date: Tuesday 6 October 2026, 09:00-16:30 
Location: Visitor Centre of the Seimas, Vilnius, Lithuania 
Language: English with simultaneous translation into Lithuanian
Catering: All food and refreshments provided during the event, including the coffee breaks and networking lunch, will be vegetarian and vegan.
Registration: The event is free and open to everyone who registers via this link. 

This event is organised by the Green European Foundation, in collaboration with Demokratijos institutas and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation.