by
2025-10-26
EU Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 must be rolled out with the military & civilian personnel of the armed forces
-
Today, the European Commission published a new Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, in an effort to secure Europe’s defence preparedness by the end of the decade. CESI argues that all defence policy initiatives must be prepared and implemented together with those that execute operations: 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.
Image Gallery
EU Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 must be rolled out with the military & civilian personnel of the armed forces
No items found.
Related videos
No items found.
Similar Posts
Main news
2026-08-23
CESI renews partnership with EU-OSHA for Healthy Workplaces Campaign on mental health
CESI has again been selected as an Official Campaign Partner of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), joining its 2026–2028 Healthy Workplaces Campaign themed 'Together for Mental Health at Work'. The partnership will support CESI’s work to promote the prevention of psychosocial risks and mentally healthy workplaces through awareness-raising, exchange of good practices and cooperation between workers, their representatives and employers.
Main news
2026-07-27
CESI welcomes renewed commitment to implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights
CESI welcomes the European Commission’s renewed commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights and its emphasis on implementation and enforcement. As Europe addresses major economic and industrial challenges, strengthening competitiveness must go hand in hand with protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that existing EU social and labour rules work effectively in practice.
.png)
Main news
2026-07-27
Europe's biggest wildfires send a clear message for preparedness: we must invest in firefighting capacity
EU’s 2026 wildfire season intensified rapidly since late June, with significant incidents recorded in Portugal, France, Spain, Croatia, Germany and the United Kingdom. By 26 July, the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) had mapped approximately 344,580 hectares of burned land across the European Union in 2026, of which 147,026 hectares were recorded during the preceding week alone, highlighting the rapid escalation of the crisis.
Get in touch
with us
Confédération Européenne des Syndicats Indépendants (CESI)
Contact form
Stay up to date
Don’t miss a thing and subscribe to our newsletter
Subscribe now and receive newsletters and much more!