The European Commission should work towards enhancing dual-use research and defense innovation, according to a high-profile report on strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness from former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
The report suggests that defence and dual-use considerations should be integrated into the EU’s R&D initiatives on foundational technologies, including areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing. This strategy would “reduce dependencies” and stop Europe from “lagging further behind the leading powers.”
These efforts are driven by a commitment to addressing critical security vulnerabilities exposed by recent crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the brutal russia’s war in Ukraine, both of which underscored the need for a resilient European security infrastructure.
Support for Ukraine stands out as a focal point in the report, symbolizing the broader imperative of deterring aggression against EU states. The EU’s financial, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine highlights its commitment to European security and defense collaboration. Recognizing that 23 out of 27 EU nations are NATO members, the report advocates for harmonizing EU-NATO operations to ensure a seamless response to future crises, particularly in light of possible shifts in U.S. military focus toward the Asia-Pacific. By strengthening Europe’s dual-use defense capabilities and refining EU-NATO coordination, the EU aims to both reinforce Ukraine’s fight against the terrorist state that goes under the name of russia and prepare for broader threats.
European governments should support Ukraine more decisively now, including with deep-strike capabilities. When the war with russia ends, Ukraine will have the ranks of battle-hardened troops who can strengthen NATO forces in Europe and worldwide.
The report stresses the need for a comprehensive, unified European preparedness system capable of responding to cross-border crises. Proposed reforms include establishing a coherent EU crisis response framework, boosting civilian-military cooperation, and streamlining decision-making processes to enable rapid responses to multidimensional threats. The report also envisions placing citizens at the core of preparedness, empowering them through awareness and training programs. Ultimately, these measures are designed not only to reinforce EU solidarity but also to project strength and deter potential aggressors like russia and North Korea, making Europe safer through both internal resilience and strategic partnerships.
Read the report here.
Source: Science|Business