Neutrality in a changing Europe: Ireland and Austria - European Parliament Spring Talks 2026

European Parliament Liaison Office, Europe House, 5 Balfe Street, Dublin 2.

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Ongoing war in Europe, and tensions within the wider Western alliance, have caused EU Member States - including neutrals - to rethink their security and defence policies. Ireland and Austria are among the four remaining EU states not part of a military alliance. Are there lessons to be learnt from each other? How can neutral countries meaningfully defend their territory, people and strategic interests in this changed world order? How can they contribute to common European security and defence of shared interests and assets?

Professor Martin Senn, University of Innsbruck, Austria, joint editor of Austria's Neutrality: Law, Politics and Society – A Debate.

Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent at the Irish Times and author of Is Ireland Neutral?: The Many Myths of Irish Neutrality.

Moderator: Dearbhail McDonald, journalist and broadcaster

 

RVSP at events@gdsi.ie