The Brussels Economic Security Forum (BESF) is Europe’s leading research initiative and platform on economic security. Through year-long research, policy dialogue, and multi-stakeholder engagement, BESF brings together industry leaders, EU institutions, Member States, third-country governments, and a global network of think-tank partners to shape Europe’s economic security agenda.

Our Mission

The BESF aims to serve as a high-level research platform for conceptualising ways to salvage international economic collaboration and open trade while ensuring countries can properly safeguard their economic security and address new security challenges. 

At its core, this initiative builds on the European Policy Centre’s (EPC) Economic Security Project, which has played a pivotal role in defining economic security as a central tenet of EU policy. Over the past years, the EPC has shaped the debate on this topic through speeches and publications, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s seminal speech on EU-China relations in March 2023 and the project's launch report.

Brussels Economic Security Forum – Annual Summit

Each spring, the Brussels Economic Security Forum summit convenes ministers, senior policymakers, CEOs, and leading experts from across Europe and key international partners to discuss today’s most pressing geo-economic challenges, engage in high-level bilateral exchanges, and develop forward-looking approaches.

Structured to facilitate both public and private exchange, the BESF summit combines open sessions that promote broad, high-level debate with a dedicated closed-door programme designed for more candid, solutions-oriented discussions. This includes opportunities for bilateral meetings among diplomatic delegations and targeted, invitation-only exchanges.