EESC urges EU to “turn geopolitical challenges into new opportunities”

Brussels – Europe must commit to investing in defense and security while preserving its social model. That’s the warning of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which brings civil society organizations from member countries together. “We will continue to ensure that citizens’ concerns are translated into concrete policies that protect our social model and strengthen Europe’s role on the world stage,” said President Oliver Röpke at the ongoing plenary session in Brussels.

In the face of the new geopolitical climate and growing threats to Europe, the EESC stands to “facilitate a sincere dialogue on the new needs of the EU.” Inevitably, the bloc must “reassess its strategic priorities and strengthen its geopolitical position in light of Russia’s aggressiveness, the new US policies under the Trump administration, and China’s increased assertiveness.” According to Röpke, Europe must “take greater responsibility for its own security and defense in a rapidly changing world.” However, the German Social Democrat warns, “strategic autonomy means strengthening capabilities and speaking with one voice.”

The reflections of the 329 representatives of businesses, trade unions, and EU stakeholders focused on the costs of such strategic autonomy, which is “indispensable for strengthening the resilience of the EU.” Every cloud has a silver lining: the debate highlighted that new geopolitical challenges “could lead to new opportunities and beneficial cooperation between EU member states.” Liberal German MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, current chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Security and Defense (SEDE), emphasized the importance of collaboration between EU capitals on joint defense procurement and the need for the ‘buy European’ principle, a European preference in defense purchases supported by EU funds. “A Europe that cannot defend itself will not be socially and economically secure. Without our ability to act on security, our prosperity and social cohesion are at risk. Those who want to live in freedom must also be able to protect it,” she said.

The leader of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, Iratxe García Pérez, however, warned against negotiating on EU values. So, yes, there should be more investment in the defense industry, but not at the expense of research and traditional EU policies, such as cohesion and the common agricultural policy. Therefore, more resources are needed: “We need to invest in defense to defend peace. More EU funding is needed in the new financial framework multi-year (MFF), as we cannot do more with the same funds or even less than we do now,” the Spanish socialist pointed out.