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'Taming the Storm': Prague hosts GlobSec conference amid global security challenges

02.09.2024 23:45
More than 2,300 participants from up to 80 countries attended this year’s GlobSec conference held in the Czech capital Prague.
Audio
Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der LeyenFoto: PAP/EPA/FILIP SINGER

The three-day event brought together political leaders, experts and policymakers.

Discussions focused on critical global security issues as well as EU and NATO enlargement.

Much attention was devoted to the war in Ukraine and the country's aspirations to join western alliances.

The premier Central European security conference opened in Prague on Friday with keynote speeches by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Czech President Petr Pavel.

The EU chief called for continued support for Ukraine and a stronger European defense pillar.

She said that Western Europe has a lot to learn from the experiences of Central and Eastern Europe, predicting that these countries will be central for the political and strategic future of the EU.

Von der Leyen also underlined the role of Central and East European states following Russia's attack on Ukraine.

"Peace cannot be taken for granted," she said. "You warned already years ago about Putin's intentions. Well, we should have listened better to Central and Eastern Europe."

Agnieszka Bielawska has the story.

Click on the audio player above to listen.