Havel stage | Europe’s High Stakes Moment

The European Union entered 2026 navigating simultaneous crises that together amount to a stress test of its institutional coherence: war in the Middle East with direct consequences for European energy security, Russia’s relentless war of aggression against Ukraine, a competitive challenge that the Draghi report laid bare and deepening questions about the future shape of transatlantic relations. This is no longer only a question of crisis management. It is a test of whether Europe can act decisively, strengthen its democratic foundations, and position itself as a credible geopolitical power in an increasingly fragmented world. - With defence investment accelerating and integration deepening, how does Europe ensure democratic accountability keeps pace with strategic ambition? - What will it take to turn the Draghi competitiveness agenda into reality — and is the current institutional architecture ready to move at the speed the moment requires? - What is the state of European democracy and how does the Parliament protect the integrity of its institutions at a time of rising populism, foreign information manipulation and interference, and geopolitical pressure? - Energy security is back at the top of the European agenda — what does a credible, sovereign energy policy look like, and what progress is already being made? - As the transatlantic relationship evolves, what does European strategic autonomy mean in practice — and what political choices will it require? Speakers: Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament Led by: Latika Bourke, Writer-at-Large, The Nightly