On 16 June 2026, the VCDNP, on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium (EUNPDC), convened the 2026 UN Disarmament Fellows for a half-day of briefings on key international security issues at the T.M.C. Asser Institute for International and European Law in The Hague. Moderated by Mara Zarka, Research Associate and Project Manager at the VCDNP, the programme featured presentations from the European External Action Service and experts of the European network of independent non-proliferation and disarmament think tanks on current and emerging threats in non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament.
During the welcome remarks, Sybille Bauer, Chair of the EUNPDC and Director of Studies for Armament and Disarmament at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), introduced the Fellows to the Europe-wide network of 123 think tanks assembled through the EUNPDC and the activities of the Consortium.
The programme commenced with an overview of the European Union’s policies and activities on a diverse range of security issues provided by Michal Karczmarz, Chair of the Council Working Party on Arms Export Control (COARM). The session highlighted the EU’s concrete and tangible contributions, including capacity-building for export control implementation in partner countries worldwide, diplomatic outreach for treaty universalisation, and support for international organisations, including the Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Afterwards, Fellows heard thematic presentations from Sibylle Bauer, Louis Reitmann, and Machiko Kanetake, respectively researchers at SIPRI, VCDNP, and T.M.C. Asser Institute and members of the EUNPDC network. The presentations provided insights on challenges posed by emerging technologies to arms control, the evolving threat landscape in outer space and UN Member States’ efforts to ensure stability and security in space under the PAROS agenda (prevention of an arms race in outer space), and the EU’s dual-use regulations on items that have both civilian and military applications.
The programme was packed with informative and dynamic presentations, active Q&A sessions, and a networking event allowing Fellows to also engage informally with experts.
The VCDNP thanks the T.M.C. Asser Institute for providing its premises and the European Union for its generous support to the EUNPDC for making the event possible.
