At its July plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) backed new EU proposals to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness, while stressing the importance of preserving democratic values and building a long-term strategy for peace.

In a recently adopted opinion, the EESC expresses strong support for the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) Instrument, designed to finance joint defence procurement and reinforce the European defence industry. It urges Member States to make full use of SAFE, underlining its potential to boost investment in European-made technologies, improve security of supply and enhance strategic autonomy.

‘EU initiatives on defence industry must urgently strengthen the capacity of the EU and its Member States to safeguard peace and security,’ said EESC rapporteur Maurizio Mensi.

The SAFE instrument responds to growing geopolitical instability and the urgent need to scale up Europe’s defence capabilities in a coordinated and cost-effective way. The EESC stresses that funding should address the most urgent capability gaps while also strengthening the EU’s industrial base. High-value, complex systems should be sourced from within Europe to ensure control over product design and long-term adaptability.

The Committee also supports limited third-country participation in joint procurement, restricted to partners with formal defence agreements with the EU. Currently Ukraine, Norway and the UK are explicitly welcome, while wider participation is seen as a risk to Europe’s technological independence.

In a second opinion on the Joint White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2023, the EESC calls for broader action beyond SAFE. It highlights the need for a comprehensive EU defence strategy, warning that limited flexibility in national spending rules could create trade-offs between defence investments and essential social policies. Security, it argues, must go hand in hand with democratic resilience.

The Committee therefore urges the EU to accelerate work on a common defence policy with stronger legislation, more funding and closer cooperation with global partners. It also calls for greater involvement of research institutions and more support for SMEs working in the defence sector. Defence readiness must be part of a wider strategic agenda that includes civil infrastructure, digital resilience and social cohesion.

Together, these opinions present a vision of EU defence policy that is pragmatic and forward-looking, focusing on readiness and anchored in peace, democracy and collective responsibility.

Marcin Nowacki, rapporteur for the opinion, concluded: ‘With rising threats and war on Europe’s doorstep, the EU must act now. Defence is more than weapons – it is innovation, industry and resilience. We must build our own defence technology – supporting industry and research, and cutting red tape.’ (gb)