Practical information
Themes and regions
Related centers and programs
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Scholz announced a “Zeitenwende” (turning point), whose main goal is to adapt the German foreign and security policy to the new geostrategic context.
In the field of defense, the declared objective is to make the Bundeswehr the most effective army in Europe. To this end, Chancellor Scholz announced the creation of a one-time special fund of 100 billion Euros for defense procurement as well as an increase in the defense budget to 2 % of GDP.
How to assess the impact of this financial surge for the German forces in the light of the political discussion in the German parliament? Beyond the financial resources, what are the most critical issues to be tackled in order to secure a stable and efficient modernization process?
Moderation
Éric-André Martin, Secretary General of the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri.
Speakers
Paul Maurice, Research Fellow, Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa), Ifri.
Torben Schütz, Associate Fellow, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)’s Security and Defense Program.
The day prior to the debate, registered participants will receive the link to join the session.
Replay
Speakers
Related Subjects
Other events
France-Ukraine Forum 2026
More than four and a half years after the start of the full-scale war launched by Russia against Ukraine, the 2026 France-Ukraine Forum will bring together policymakers, experts, academics, and civil society representatives from both countries to discuss three main topics: the formats and conditions for a lasting diplomatic settlement; Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration, encompassing both the EU accession process and closer ties with NATO; and the societal transformations of postwar Ukraine, as well as its prospects for reconstruction.
The EU in a World of Economic Warfare: Trade, Geopolitics, and the Battle for Economic Sovereignty
The international trading system has become a primary theatre of geopolitical competition. Tariffs, sanctions, and technology controls have replaced dialogue as the default instruments of economic relations.
The Road to 27 Electrification Action Plans: Planning and Investing in Europe’s Electric Future
The European Commission’s Electrification Action Plan places the continent on an electric path to structurally reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports and boost the energy transition in industry, transport and buildings.