The annual European Union Ambassadors Conference will take place between 6 and 10 November in Brussels. It takes place against the background of the current geopolitical challenges and will focus on the new crises-ridden global security environment. 

 The HR/VP said: “Our ambassadors’ conference comes this year at a critical juncture. The next months will be crucial for global peace and security and the future of the world.  The EU’s credibility will also be tested. As EU diplomats, we will work to preserve it and to stand up for the positive offer the EU has for our partners around the world.”

 The Participants will have an opportunity to discuss with the leaders of the EU institutions and other high-level speakers on the European Union’s response to developments and challenges outside EU’s borders and give their insights from the ground. The conference will allow to review the EU’s outreach in the world and to discuss the main priorities and tasks for the next months.

The conference brings together EU Ambassadors from the 145 EU Delegations and Offices of the EU around the world, in addition to the Heads of EU military and civilian missions and the Heads of the European Commission Representations in all 27 EU Member States.

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Josep Borrell will open the conference with a public address on Monday at 09:30. The address will be broadcast live on the European Commission’s audiovisual service, Europe by Satellite.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will address the gathering on the same day at 11.15. This will be followed by the keynote speech of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at 13:30. European Council President Charles Michel will address the Ambassadors at 16:00. All interventions will be broadcasted live.

The Ambassadors’ Conference will also include exchanges with the European Commission Executive Vice-Presidents Maroš Šefčovič and Valdis Dombrovskis as well as Commissioners Jutta Urpilainen, Olivér Várhelyi and Virginijus Sinkevičius.

The Vice Presidents of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will also be present as well as the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol.

During the Conference, Ambassadors will also have the opportunity to exchange views with high level representatives of EU Member States, namely Portugal`s Foreign Minister João Cravinho, as well as the Secretary-General of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Nikolaus Marschik. Other guest speakers include the Secretary-Generals of the European Parliament, European Commission, and the General Secretariat of the Council.

 [all times are CET]

Background

The EU Ambassadors’ Conference is a yearly event that allows for an open exchange between participants and high-level speakers on the European Union’s external representation, activities, global developments, and the EU’s strategic outlook.

This year’s topics focus around the new global security environment, charting the way forward to EU Diplomacy. Sessions include  discussing EU foreign policy in the new geopolitical era; The Future of EU Security & Defence; Enlargement and completing our Union; The EU Global Gateway; The EU Crisis Response; The Rise of China; The Urgent Challenges of Climate Change and the Green Transition; Gender Responsive Foreign Policy; The Digital Transition; The EU’s New Economic Security Agenda; International Cultural Relations and how to mobilise EU citizens around the world on the occasion of the European Parliament elections.

Press engagements, pictures and videos of the conference will be available on EbS, @eu_eeas for live updates.