EU Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 must be rolled out with the military & civilian personnel of the armed forces

In its Defence Readiness Roadmap, the European Commission proposes large-scale increases in investments to close capability gaps and strengthened joint procurement by Member States in four flagship projects: A European Drone Defence Initiative, an Eastern Flank Watch, a European Air Shield and a European Space Shield.

For CESI, it has always been obvious that defence readiness needs to be built with those that execute operations: the civilian and military personnel of the armed forces. A Roadmap with a clear and enforceable protection for social budgets, training, working conditions and social partner participation for the personnel of the armed forces stands a far better chance of being both effective, practical and politically sustainable that a roadmap that is implemented top-down by policy makers.

Klaus Heeger, Secretary General of CESI, said: “It is long overdue for the EU to take decisive steps to strengthen its defence capabilities. But the social rights of both military and civilian personnel in the armed forces must not be overlooked. If we want competitiveness to drive innovation and strengthen defence, we must fully harness our greatest asset: the civil and military personnel of the armed forces.”

Sebastian Käding, member of the German Armed Forces Association (DBwV) and President of CESI’s statutory Expert Commission on Defence, added: “The proposed initiatives are an important step in the right direction. Yet their success in enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy will depend on placing people at the centre of these efforts. The interests of the  military and civilian personnel of the armed forces must be taken into account. The future effectiveness of a European Defence Union will rely on this human-centred approach.”

As emphasised repeatedly at CESI’s European Defence Round Tables (EDRT), the future of the EU defence requires a consultative, collaborative approach to defence policies and measures.

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