Five insights on Europe’s evolving security landscape

How can research better support practitioners working in an increasingly complex security environment? That question was at the centre of FBA’s Research–Practitioner Dialogue, which brought together participants from academia and government agencies to discuss the future role of the EU and NATO, hybrid threats, partner-state support and the protection of democratic processes.

Europe’s security order is under growing strain

Participants described an international environment marked by fragmentation, declining trust and pressure on multilateral institutions. Concerns ranged from weakening confidence in long-standing security guarantees to a more transactional and less rules-based political climate. At the same time, several discussions pointed to continued resilience within both the EU and NATO. International organisations can adapt, and important forms of institutional and operational continuity remain in place – even in a period of disruption.

Hybrid threats cannot be met with narrow toolboxes

A central takeaway was that hybrid threats require broader, more strategic responses. Participants stressed the limits of isolated tools focused only on cyber, disinformation or fact-checking. Effective responses need to account for how narratives, trust, political dynamics and institutional vulnerabilities interact. Several contributions also underlined that resilience depends on context: what works in one setting may not work in another, and piecemeal responses can create a false sense of preparedness.

Research matters most when it informs decisions

Throughout the dialogue, participants returned to the question of operational relevance. Research was seen as most useful when it helps practitioners understand vulnerabilities, assess risks and make better choices in real-world settings. Examples from Ukraine and other contexts showed that resilience is not only about systems and structures, but also about trust, identity and the capacity to adapt under pressure. The wider point was clear: research becomes most valuable when it supports decision-making rather than remaining a background paper.

Support to partner countries must remain strategic and balanced

The discussions also highlighted tensions in the current international focus on Ukraine. Participants recognised the case for sustained support, while also warning against losing sight of other fragile contexts. Several pointed to the need for a more strategic approach to partnerships across countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and the Western Balkans. Another recurring theme was that international engagement must go beyond technical support: lasting impact depends on relationships, humility and a deeper understanding of local dynamics and unintended effects.

Protecting elections means tackling deeper vulnerabilities

In the session on elections, participants highlighted how interference often builds long before election day. Disinformation, opaque funding, weak enforcement and digitally amplified narratives can gradually erode trust in democratic institutions. The discussions pointed not only to the need for legal and technical tools, but also to a broader understanding of the online environment around political content – including algorithms, platform dynamics and emotionally charged messaging. Protecting elections, participants stressed, is ultimately about long-term democratic resilience, not only short-term crisis response.

A stronger case for dialogue between research and practice

Across all themes, one message stood out: today’s security challenges are deeply interconnected. Hybrid threats, geopolitical fragmentation, democratic vulnerabilities and support to partner countries cannot be treated as separate policy fields. The concluding reflections also emphasised that, in a more turbulent and “post-truth” environment, building responses on evidence and dialogue is more important than ever. For FBA, that reinforces the value of creating spaces where research and practice can meet – not only to exchange perspectives, but to strengthen more informed and effective responses to complex peace and security challenges

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