Connact Defence & Security 2025. European Union between military defence, industry, and future investment

Rome – The European Union’s Rearm Europe plan, along with a complex geopolitical framework that moves between wars and tariffs, brings up the need to confront and discuss the issue of common defence. The event Connact Defence & Security 2025, entitled “Common European Defence: financing and industrial integration,” organized by Connact, the event platform that fosters discussion between private actors and institutions through moments of meeting and networking, represents just such a space for discussion. 

The event, scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15 (10 a.m.), at Spazio Europa in Rome, will be attended by institutions and companies in the sector. Among others, the  Undersecretary of Defense Matteo Perego of Cremnago.

What will be discussed

The political and military aspects of European programs and the transatlantic dimension will be discussed with Elena Donazzan, European Member of Parliament, ITRE Vice-President and SEDE member; Lorenzo Cesa, Member of Parliament, chairman of the Italian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; Marco Peronaci, permanent representative of Italy to NATO; Dario Giacomin, Italian military representative to NATO and EU Military Committees; Domenico Ciotti, director of the Armament Program Coordination of the General Secretariat of Defense/DNA; and Anne Fort, EU Commission, deputy chief of staff to Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

The second panel will then be an in-depth look at the role of European industry with Stefano Pontecorvo, president of Leonardo SpA; Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and general manager of Fincantieri, and Domitilla Benigni, CEO & COO of Elettronica S.p.A. and chairwoman of CY4GATE S.p.A. Finally, the focus will be on the more operational aspects: how to foster investments to strengthen industrial cooperation and increase European military capabilities through speeches by Paolo Borchia, Euro MP, member ITRE, ECON, TRAN; Massimiliano Salini, Euro MP, member ENVI and SEDE; Nicola Zingaretti, Euro MP, member AFET and ITRE; Francois Arbault, EU Commission, Director of Defence Industry DG DEFIS; Milena Messori, EIB Group, head of Rome Office and head of Infrastructure, Energy and Public Sector Division Italy-Malta; and Luca D’Agnese, CDP Equity, director of Investment Technology Strategy. 

The event will close with remarks by Matteo Perego of Cremnago, undersecretary of defence. The event will be opened by institutional greetings from Carlo Corazza, director of the European Parliament office in Italy.

Promoters. The event is in collaboration with the European Parliament, under the patronage of the European Commission, Ministry of Made in Italy Enterprises, Defence Industries Agency, CTNA – National Aerospace Technology Cluster, Basilicata Region, Lazio Region, Marche Regional Council, Tuscany Region. Promoted by Fincantieri, Leonardo and ELT Group. Thanks to Claren Tools srl, ACS Aeronautical Consulting And Solutions Srl, Astroflex Spa, and Northrop Grumman Italia; media partners  Ares Osservatorio Difesa, Difesa Online, Eunews, Gea Agency, L’infografica, Panorama difesa, Radio Radicale.

To confirm your participation, please fill out the appropriate form on the event’s website.