Strengthening Europe’s civil and military preparedness and readiness: Report by Special Adviser Niinistö
Strengthening Europe’s preparedness is a matter of urgency. Europe is facing a new reality, marked by increased risk and deep uncertainty. Since the start of this decade, the EU has experienced the most severe pandemic in a century, the bloodiest war on European soil since the Second World War, and the hottest year in recorded history.
Against this backdrop, Sauli Niinistö – former President of the Republic of Finland and Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission – was tasked by President von der Leyen, together with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR/VP), to prepare a report assessing the complex challenges that the EU and its Member States face and to develop recommendations on how to enhance the EU’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness for future crises.
The report underlines the need for an ambitious new approach to our preparedness and readiness. To this end, it presents around 80 recommendations for both short-term and medium to long-term actions.
Background
As the geopolitical and security landscape is changing dramatically, reinforcing the EU’s preparedness is urgent. The EU and its Member States are facing increasingly multi-dimensional, complex and cross-border threats and crises. Strengthening our preparedness will
- have a dissuasive effect on threat actors
- lower residual risks
- address the sense of profound uncertainty among citizens
- contribute to the fundamental pre-conditions of economic prosperity and competitiveness
True preparedness will require a more comprehensive and integrated approach. All relevant military and civilian crisis response actors need to be fully ready and capable to respond effectively and seamlessly, as part of a wider whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. A higher level of preparedness is needed across the board, linking internal and external security, and drawing on both civilian and/or military means.
Next steps
As reflected in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines and Mission Letters for the next mandate (2024-2029), the findings and recommendations of the report will contribute to the work of the incoming Commission by providing guidance for various upcoming initiatives, including the Preparedness Union Strategy and the White Paper on the Future of European Defence.