On 11 September 2025, the Dublin European Law Institute (DELI) and the DCU Brexit Institute hosted the event titled “Economic Security and EU Trade Policy” within the framework of the Jean Monnet Module EU-LPF-Law, with the presence of the former EU Commissioner for Trade (2019-2020) and for Agriculture and Rural Development (2014-2019), Mr. Phil Hogan.

The event was opened by Professor Federico Fabbrini, Professor of EU Law and Founding Director of both the Brexit Institute and DELI, who set the stage. He stated that EU trade policy has been at the center of the political discussion during this summer for multiple reasons, not only the new agreement with the US which introduced unprecedent new tariffs, but also the MERCOSUR agreement. In addition, there is the necessity of economic and energy diversification, as highlighted by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, during her recent address on the the State of the Union.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Hogan began by noting how the European project is facing difficult times. The two main economies, France and Germany, have internal crises, and there is also the foreign context: the war in Ukraine, the instability in the Middle East, and a controversial president in the US, Donald Trump. He also stated that now we are starting to tackle issues from the past that have not been properly addressed before, as the issue of defence or the multi-faceted financial and energy crisis. 

In response to a question from the moderator, Ms. Iana Dreyer, about the direction of EU Trade Policy, the former Commissioner outlined different options that must be considered to enforce Economic Security during the next years. Some of these options are reaching new trade agreements with important countries, such as Mexico, Indonesia, India or Australia. He also explained how it is key to continue enlarging the Single Market (which is not complete in all the areas), and to fight to get real and efficient open trade.

This was followed by a panel discussion, which began with the intervention of Mr. Danny McCoy (CEO, Ibec), who emphasized the link between trade and investment, stating that the two concepts must go hand-in-hand. He explained that in a volatile and uncertain world, damage is inevitable, and that access to capital is a key challenge for investment and trade, especially for some kind of goods on which prices will be increased (i.e., farm products). In his view, the EU has partially failed in protecting its economic foundation and some economic sectors which are vulnerable to uncertainty.

Dr. Jianyuan Fu, Assistant Professor of Trade Law from Maynooth University, introduced another perspective to the equation: China. She explained that the relation between the EU and China has progressed and in terms of economic security, the two parties are interested in enforcing this area because they both have interests in new critical sectors. Delving deeper into the Chinese perspective, she stated that President Xi updated the country’s trade policy, from the export-oriented approach to a new one that also focuses also in critical sectors (semiconductors, energy and food security, etc.). 

Finally, the third panelist, Dr. Niall Moran, Assistant Professor of Economic Law in the DCU, began by acknowledging the challenging situation after the new agreement with the United States, especially if we compare this agreement with the ones of previous years. Nevertheless, he recognizes how we also must change our perspective on trade agreements, and the EU must be prepared for future situations of coercion and similar tactics. Dr. Moran also reminded the audience that the EU has other mechanisms, such as the European Economic Security Strategy adopted in 2023, to work in improving competitiveness and signing new partnerships. 

Following the panelists’ interventions, the floor was opened for a lively Q&A session with the audience, during which several interesting questions were posed. Some examples were about how to improve relations with trade partners, how to improve the EU’s credibility in this volatile context and how to adapt the new agreements to the current situation of supply and demand within the EU, and the growing importance of digital trade. The debate also touched upon new competitiveness instruments, legitimacy and democracy in the EU or the clash between the national and EU-level interests.