Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent
Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent

Executive Summary The discovery of an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport has exposed a security vulnerability that extends far beyond Germany. According to the information reported from the incident, the aircraft was able to reach one of Germany’s major airports and remain apparently unnoticed for hours. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the case as

August 14, 2026

Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent
Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?
Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?

The European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP) Executive Summary Europe’s security debate has entered a fundamentally new phase in 2026. The central question is no longer whether European governments should spend more on defence. That political argument has largely been overtaken by events. The more difficult question is whether increased expenditure can be

August 12, 2026

Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?
The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset
The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset

Executive Summary Europe’s electricity grid has become one of the continent’s most strategically important—and increasingly vulnerable—assets. Over the past decade, energy infrastructure has evolved beyond its traditional economic role to become a critical component of national security, military resilience and geopolitical stability. The combination of Russia’s war against Ukraine, repeated cyberattacks, sabotage against critical infrastructure,

August 10, 2026

The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset
Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent
Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent

Executive Summary The discovery of an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport has exposed a security vulnerability that extends far beyond Germany. According to the information reported from the incident, the aircraft was able to reach one of Germany’s major airports and remain apparently unnoticed for hours. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the case as

August 14, 2026

Europe’s Drone Defence Gap: Why Germany’s Airport Incident Is a Warning for the Continent
Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?
Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?

The European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP) Executive Summary Europe’s security debate has entered a fundamentally new phase in 2026. The central question is no longer whether European governments should spend more on defence. That political argument has largely been overtaken by events. The more difficult question is whether increased expenditure can be

August 12, 2026

Europe’s War Readiness Test: Can the Continent Defend Itself by 2030?
The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset
The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset

Executive Summary Europe’s electricity grid has become one of the continent’s most strategically important—and increasingly vulnerable—assets. Over the past decade, energy infrastructure has evolved beyond its traditional economic role to become a critical component of national security, military resilience and geopolitical stability. The combination of Russia’s war against Ukraine, repeated cyberattacks, sabotage against critical infrastructure,

August 10, 2026

The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset

Latest Publication

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The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset

Executive Summary Europe’s electricity grid has become one of the continent’s most strategically important—and increasingly vulnerable—assets. Over the past decade, energy infrastructure has evolved beyond its traditional economic role to

More

The Security of Europe’s Power Grid: Why Energy Infrastructure Has Become the Continent’s Most Vulnerable Strategic Asset

Executive Summary Europe’s electricity grid has become one of the continent’s most strategically important—and increasingly vulnerable—assets. Over the past decade, energy infrastructure has evolved beyond its traditional economic role to

More

Europe’s Rare Earth Challenge: Why Critical Minerals Have Become the European Union’s New Strategic Frontier

After the Strike: How the U.S.–Iran War Is Reshaping Europe’s Security Strategy

Europe’s Rearmament Revolution: Why Defence Industrial Capacity Has Become the European Union’s Greatest Strategic Challenge

The Houthis and the Iran War: Why the Red Sea Has Become Europe’s New Strategic Frontline

Economic Security Is the New National Security: Why Europe Is Protecting Its Strategic Industries

Issues in focus

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After the Strike: How the U.S.–Iran War Is Reshaping Europe’s Security Strategy

How the Shadow Fleet Operates: The Hidden Logistics Behind Russia’s Energy Exports

The Digital Euro Revolution: Why Europe Is Fighting for Monetary Sovereignty in a Fragmented World

The AI Arms Race: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Global Power and International Security

After the Strike: How the U.S.–Iran War Is Reshaping Europe’s Security Strategy

How the Shadow Fleet Operates: The Hidden Logistics Behind Russia’s Energy Exports

The Digital Euro Revolution: Why Europe Is Fighting for Monetary Sovereignty in a Fragmented World

The AI Arms Race: How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Global Power and International Security

Could Migrants From India and Africa Solve Russia’s Labor Shortage?

Meet the team

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Dr Bojana Zorić

Dr Bojana Zori is a Policy Analyst at the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), specialising in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood. Her work focuses on political and security dynamics in these regions, with particular attention to emerging threats, the influence of external actors, and their implications for EU foreign policy and the enlargement process.

Len Moma

Len Moma is the editor in chief of European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She specializes in Europe and the Middle East and the interplay between those two spaces. She has particular expertise on foreign and defense policy, European geopolitics, and the transatlantic relationship.

Alix Rondbary

Alix Rondbary. Prior to joining the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP)., Dr Alix was a Senior Advisor in the Asia-Pacific Department of the EEAS, acting as the Alternate EU SOM for the ASEM process. He was also a Member of the Cabinet of HR/VP Catherine Ashton with responsibility for Asia and the Pacific, Turkey, and the general issue of how to frame and strengthen the EU’s relations with its strategic partners. Between 2005 and 2009.

Dr Rosa Halon

Dr Rosa Halon is the director of the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research focuses on the relationship between domestic politics and Europe’s global role.

She is the author of books, research-based articles, and opinion pieces in the international press on issues relating to European politics and international relations.

Dr Giuseppe Spatafora

Dr Giuseppe Spatafora is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), where he leads the portfolio on transatlantic and EU-NATO relations and MENA.

In this capacity, he monitors trends and policy developments related to EU-US and NATO-EU relations, as well as the broader transatlantic relationship (North and South), covering the full range of security challenges.

Mila Aandrson

Mila Pandrson is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She leads the portfolio on Energy security.
Pandrson holds a MPhil in Regional Studies and History from the University of Oxford with a focus on the Southern Neighbourhood and the Middle East.She holds a BA with honours in International History from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Dr Bojana Zori

Dr Bojana Zori is a Policy Analyst at the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), specialising in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood. Her work focuses on political and security dynamics in these regions, with particular attention to emerging threats, the influence of external actors, and their implications for EU foreign policy and the enlargement process.

Len Moma

Len Moma is the editor in chief of European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She specializes in Europe and the Middle East and the interplay between those two spaces. She has particular expertise on foreign and defense policy, European geopolitics, and the transatlantic relationship.

Alix Rondbary

Alix Rondbary. Prior to joining the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP)., Dr Alix was a Senior Advisor in the Asia-Pacific Department of the EEAS, acting as the Alternate EU SOM for the ASEM process. He was also a Member of the Cabinet of HR/VP Catherine Ashton with responsibility for Asia and the Pacific, Turkey, and the general issue of how to frame and strengthen the EU’s relations with its strategic partners. Between 2005 and 2009.

Dr Rosa Halon

Dr Rosa Halon is the director of the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research focuses on the relationship between domestic politics and Europe’s global role.

She is the author of books, research-based articles, and opinion pieces in the international press on issues relating to European politics and international relations.

Dr Juseppe Spata

Dr Juseppe Spata is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), where he leads the portfolio on transatlantic and EU-NATO relations and MENA.

In this capacity, he monitors trends and policy developments related to EU-US and NATO-EU relations, as well as the broader transatlantic relationship (North and South), covering the full range of security challenges.

Mila Pandrson

Mila Pandrson is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She leads the portfolio on Energy security.
Pandrson holds a MPhil in Regional Studies and History from the University of Oxford with a focus on the Southern Neighbourhood and the Middle East. He holds a BA with honours in International History from the London School of Economics (LSE).

Dr Bojana Zori

Dr Bojana Zori is a Policy Analyst at the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), specialising in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood. Her work focuses on political and security dynamics in these regions, with particular attention to emerging threats, the influence of external actors, and their implications for EU foreign policy and the enlargement process.

Len Moma

Len Moma is the editor in chief of European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She specializes in Europe and the Middle East and the interplay between those two spaces. She has particular expertise on foreign and defense policy, European geopolitics, and the transatlantic relationship.

Alix Rondbary

Alix Rondbary. Prior to joining the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP)., Dr Alix was a Senior Advisor in the Asia-Pacific Department of the EEAS, acting as the Alternate EU SOM for the ASEM process. He was also a Member of the Cabinet of HR/VP Catherine Ashton with responsibility for Asia and the Pacific, Turkey, and the general issue of how to frame and strengthen the EU’s relations with its strategic partners. Between 2005 and 2009.

Dr Rosa Halon

Dr Rosa Halon is the director of the European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). Her fields of expertise include European politics, institutions, and foreign and security policy. Her current research focuses on the relationship between domestic politics and Europe’s global role.

She is the author of books, research-based articles, and opinion pieces in the international press on issues relating to European politics and international relations.

Dr Juseppe Spata

Dr Juseppe Spata is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP), where he leads the portfolio on transatlantic and EU-NATO relations and MENA.

In this capacity, he monitors trends and policy developments related to EU-US and NATO-EU relations, as well as the broader transatlantic relationship (North and South), covering the full range of security challenges.

Mila Pandrson

Mila Pandrson is a Research Analyst at European Centre for Strategic Studies and Policy (ECSAP). She leads the portfolio on Energy security.
Pandrson holds a MPhil in Regional Studies and History from the University of Oxford with a focus on the Southern Neighbourhood and the Middle East. He holds a BA with honours in International History from the London School of Economics (LSE).

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