Roadmap for European Defence Readiness

Key Points

The EESC:

• supports the development of a comprehensive European defence strategy in response to the return of war to Europe and shifting geopolitical rivalries; 
• emphasises that credible European defence must be grounded in democratic accountability, transparency and civilian oversight;
• calls for a whole-of-society approach to defence readiness, including the establishment of a European defence skills pact and strong labour standards;
• welcomes the structured approach of the Defence Readiness Roadmap but regrets the absence of naval defence as a key component of the EU’s defence readiness architecture; 
• calls for defence readiness to prioritise critical capability areas, as well as the protection of critical infrastructure such as ports and railways; 
• urges the EU to overcome fragmentation by strengthening and optimising the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), enhancing cooperation, promoting joint procurement, reducing foreign dependencies and improving supply chain resilience; 
• warns against national protectionism in defence procurement and advocates the creation of a permanent European joint procurement platform to improve interoperability, efficiency and economies of scale across Member States; 
• calls for the establishment of a genuine single market for defence equipment based on common standards, transparency and a level playing field between public and private enterprises, while providing targeted support for SMEs and innovative companies; 
• recommends creating a fully integrated EU military mobility area by 2027 through harmonised transport, customs and infrastructure rules, measurable performance indicators and a one-stop clearance system for cross-border military movements; 
• stresses the need to strengthen defence industrial capacity through coordinated EU financing instruments.