By the EESC Workers' Group

Defence and social expenditure should go hand in hand—the welfare state must not be sacrificed to boost defence spending. A strong welfare state remains a key tool in stopping far-right parties in their aspirations to replicate Kremlin-style autocracies in the EU.

As the fourth year of war in Ukraine begins, many voices are calling for increased defence expenditure, particularly after the political changes in the US. The protection of European countries no longer seems guaranteed. This has already broken many taboos, not only regarding discussions on military matters at EU level but also on increased indebtedness.

However, some of these voices have also framed it as a zero-sum trade-off with the welfare state—as if the strength of the US military were due to the country's lack of proper social protection, or as if our weakened armies were a result of pensions and social security.

From the Workers’ Group, we want to highlight two issues:

• The EU as a whole is the second-largest military spender in the world. While in some cases common or additional expenditure may be needed, what is truly necessary is coordination and joint projects to ensure strategic autonomy. We need to defend ourselves, not compete globally with the US.
• A well-functioning welfare state, along with efforts to combat poverty and inequality, is a key tool in preventing a far-right takeover in many Member States. These far-right parties, which are on the rise, have little appetite for democracy, are openly hostile to most of our values, aspire to replicate the Kremlin’s autocracy in our Member States and, if in power, will ensure that no coordinated defense policy can emerge.

Therefore, Member States must view defence and social investment as mutually reinforcing, each making the other possible.