On 11 September 2025, the Dublin European Law Institute (DELI) and the DCU Brexit Institute welcomed former European Commissioner for Trade (2019–2020) and for Agriculture and Rural Development (2014–2019), Phil Hogan, for a keynote lecture on “Economic Security and EU Trade Policy.” The event formed part of the Jean Monnet Module EU-LPF-Law.
In his address, Mr. Hogan reflected on the pressures currently facing the European project — from war and geopolitical instability to economic uncertainty — and underlined the need for the EU to deepen the Single Market, pursue new trade agreements, and strengthen its capacity in areas such as defence and energy security.
Phil Hogan on the US tariffs:
“The overall economic impact of new tariffs may be limited, but the damage to investment and confidence in Europe is real.”
On trade relations with the US:
“The United States has broken something fundamental — trust and goodwill. The question is how far this erosion goes.”
On the EU’s role in global trade:
“The EU economy remains larger than China’s. We must double down on diversification, deepen the Single Market, and lead on new partnerships.”
His intervention was followed by a panel discussion with experts from academia and industry, and a wide-ranging Q&A with the audience, exploring the EU’s future direction in global trade and economic policy. Catch up with the event report or watch the recording on our YouTube.
