Policy Dialogue ‘Trade, geopolitics and the EU’s global role in an era of uncertainty’

8 May 2025 15:00-16:30
Aerial view of an industrial seaport in Naples, with several cargo cranes lined up and multicoloured shipping containers organised on the quay and aboard a docked cargo ship. Global
Technology and economics
Organization EPC and the Elcano Royal Institute
// Posted on 24 Apr 2025

Venue: European Policy Centre

Thursday, 8 May 2025, from 15:00 to 16:30 h. CEST (UTC+2). Venue: European Policy Centre, Rue du Trône 14/16, 3rd floor, 1000 Brussels.

As economic coercion, geopolitical volatility, and protectionism increasingly shape global trade dynamics, recalibrating the EU’s trade policy has become imperative. Despite an unfavourable environment for ambitious trade initiatives, the EU must amplify its bet on trade as a pillar of shared prosperity, while adapting its approach to meet today’s geoeconomic challenges. Prioritising long-overdue agreements by ratifying the Mercosur deal and advancing negotiations with India, alongside exploring new integration frameworks with Latin America and the Indo-Pacific, will be essential in this process.  

This Policy Dialogue will bring together leading experts and EU officials to examine how diversified trade partnerships can bolster Europe’s economic security and reduce critical dependencies. It will also reaffirm the EU’s role as a committed actor in reshaping multilateralism amid today’s global uncertainties. 

Hashtag: #EUTradeDialogue

Programme

Opening remarks:

  • José Juan Ruiz, Chairman, Elcano Royal Institute | @ElcanoJjRuiz
  • Georg Riekeles, Associate Director and Head of Europe’s Political Economy programme, European Policy Center (EPC) | @GRiekeles

Panelists:

  • Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow on Geopolitics of Trade at Institut Delors and member of Elcano’s Scientific Council | @elvirefabry
  • Garima Mohan, Senior Fellow on Indo-Pacific, German Marshall Fund (GMF) | @GarimaMo
  • Isabel Riaño, Director General for Competitiveness and Trade, General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union and member of the Elcano Royal Institute Scientific Council | @IsabelRiao2
  • Ernesto Talvi, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute | @ernesto_talvi
  • Moderator: Georg Riekeles, Associate Director and Head of Europe’s Political Economy programme, European Policy Center (EPC) | @GRiekeles

– The event will be held in English without simultaneous translation.
– If you would like to attend in-person, please register here.
– The event will also be live streamed. For online attendance, please register here.

Image: Overhead view of an industrial seaport in Naples (Italy). Photo: Kelly (@kelly-1179532).

View other events