The EDA Annual Conference 2026, titled “To be ready. Together. Now and tomorrow – Delivering on Europe,” took place on 28 January in Brussels, bringing together Ministers for Defence, EU institutions, Member States, industry and partners.

The conference focused on strengthening European defence readiness through enhanced cooperation, faster capability development and a stronger industrial base. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, and Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, attended the event and delivered keynote speeches, underlining the urgency of collective action. Discussions highlighted the need to act now to address current security challenges while building long-term resilience for Europe’s defence.