believes the EU must work towards a common defence policy within the broader framework of its foreign and security policy and establish a strong European Defence Pillar. To this end, the necessary legislative and financial measures must be taken urgently;
Calls for greater support for SMEs and closer collaboration with research institutions to meet defence needs and safeguard strategic autonomy;
stresses the importance of expanding international defence cooperation, particularly with key global partners, to enhance Europe’s security stance.
The EESC warns that a weak long-term EU budget would undermine competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture and democracy. The Committee calls for a stronger, fairer and future-proof multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034.
Public debate on Defence-related investments in the EU budget in the context of the new geopolitical order, to contribute to the final report of the EESC´s ad hoc group on the new geopolitical order, and in the framework of the opinion ECO/679 - Defence-related investments in the EU budget.
The EESC emphasises that peace must remain a core EU priority and cautions against focusing solely on military threats while overlooking other serious risks to human life. It stresses the importance of diplomacy for conflict resolution and crisis prevention wherever possible.The EESC supports a comprehensive, inclusive European defence strategy that supplements military readiness with civil preparedness. It endorses the European Commission’s Joint white Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 and calls for a coordinated EU approach that treats defence, peace and security as shared public goods, underpinned by strong legal, institutional and financial frameworks with democratic oversight.
On 8 June 2022 the Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (CCMI) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a conference focused on the challenges of today and the prospects for tomorrow. This publication is a record of the occasion and a commemoration of what CCMI has achieved since joining the EESC.
Senior European Defence Agency (EDA) officials briefed members of the defence industry community on 11 February 2025, ahead of a new European strategy to strengthen the European Union’s defence industrial base.
In view of Europe's current security challenges, in particular with the armed conflict caused by Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, defence funding places a significant burden on the budgets of many EU Member States, worsening their fiscal position.
At the same time, the resources that Member States are currently able to allocate to the development of defence capabilities still seem to be insufficient.
As Europe needs to develop defence capabilities in a more integrated way, there is a need to significantly increase investment in European defence infrastructure and technological innovation to improve preparedness to respond to threats.
EDIS is a joint communication of the Commission and the High Representative that sets a vision for the European defence industrial policy until 2035.
The EESC welcomes this Commission initiative and the CCMI study group members will examine how the European Defence Industrial Strategy can strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) and achieve defence industrial readiness. Furthermore, this opinion will assess the necessary steps for the successful implementation of this strategy.
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Download — Avizul CESE: European defence industrial strategy
