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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261006
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SUMMARY:Natural Allies: Environmental Protection for European Security (Vilnius)
DESCRIPTION: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. \nAbout the event\nEurope’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.   \nOn 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.  \nTaking 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?   \nProgramme\nTuesday 6 October 2026  \n09:00–09:30 | Registration  \n09:30-09:40 | Opening & Welcome \n\nBenoit Monange – Co-President\, Green European Foundation\n\n09:40–11:00 | New Idealism: Rethinking Security for a Disrupted Europe   \n\nSofiia Shevchuk – researcher and EU policy consultant\, Valia: co-author of New Idealism for a Disrupted Europe \nSergey Lagodinsky (video-message) – Member of the European Parliament\, Greens/EFA \n\nComments by:  \n\nTomas Tomilinas – Member of the Lithuanian Parliament\, Democrats for Lithuania \nModerated by: Alice Hubbard\, Head of Network Development\, Green European Foundation\n\n11:00–11:30 | Coffee break  \n11:30–13:00 | Nature\, Resilience and Defence: Examples from Europe’s Eastern Flank   \n\nIntroduction by: Algis Čaplikas – Lithuanian Chambers of Housing Management and Maintenance\, former Minister\nNerijus Zableckis – Director\, Foundation for Peatland Restoration and Conservation \nAira Paliukėnaitė – Vice-Minister of Environment\, Government of Lithuania \nArina Bilai – Ukrainian political & climate activist; Board member\, Rozviy\nDr. Michał Żmihorski (video message) — Deputy Director for Scientific Affairs of the Institute of Environmental Protection of the National Research Institute\nModeration: Domantas Tracevičius — Environmentalist and consumer rights advocate\n\n13:00–14:30 | Networking lunch  \n14:30–16:00 | From Resilience to Action  \n\nJustinas Mickus – Analyst\, Strata (Government Strategic Analysis Centre of Lithuania) \nKrista Mikkonen – Member of the Finnish Parliament\, Former Minister of the Interior and Minister of the Environment \nSkirmantas Krunkaitis – Vice Minister of Health\, Government of Lithuania\nModerated by: Richard Wouters – Research lead\, Wetenschappelijk Instituut voor Solidariteit (WIS)\n\n16:00–16:15 | Closing \n\nBenoit Monange — Co-President\, Green European Foundation\nArunas Burinskas – Director\, Democracy Institute\n\nPracticalities\nDate: Tuesday 6 October 2026\, 09:00-16:30 Location: Visitor Centre of the Seimas\, Vilnius\, Lithuania Language: English with simultaneous translation into Lithuanian\nCatering: All food and refreshments provided during the event\, including the coffee breaks and networking lunch\, will be vegetarian and vegan.\nRegistration: The event is free and open to everyone who registers via this link.  \n\nThis 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. 
URL:https://gef.eu/event/natural-allies-event-vilnius/
LOCATION:Private: Vilnius\, Lithuania
CATEGORIES:Conference
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