From 17 to 18 March 2025 took place a seminar about “Strengthening Security and Defence in Europe”, organised by EUROFEDOP (Europese Federatie van het Overheidspersoneel), in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union.
EUROFEDOP members and speakers from Austria, Ireland, Romania and the Netherlands gathered at the EUROFEDOP Liaison Office in Vienna (Austria) to present their view on the current situation as well as their vision on Security and Defence in Europe.
The following key points must be taken in account:
- Investing in new military technologies, maybe for drones (as military weapons) and cyber security.
- Production of necessary equipment and proper food for military staff. It is very important that police workers need good equipment. The problem of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for workers. Impact on civil society of the current situation.
- Closing of leaks at the security system and the conclusion is to invest more in cyber security in order to avoid cyber-attacks.
- Changes to triple lock mechanism: Government approval, Daily approval, United Nations mandate.
- Status of the people working overseas.
- Realise today what should be produced tomorrow as military equipment.
- Development of planning horizon 2032+ as strategy.
- Protecting of the population, providing different services for other countries.
- Transform our European mindsets and EU defence, go towards a stronger and more decisive Europe. One of the biggest current problems is the lack of leadership and the need for more significant `solidarity`.
- Building more prisons, infrastructure.
- PTSD syndrome and investigation of impact on workers.
- Coordinated strategy to enhance internal security alongside external defence.
- Investing in equipment and modern materials to work with to protect the Schengen border.
The main practical and organizational aspects were agreed on, as follows:
- The production of necessary equipment.
- The problem of PTSD for workers.
- Impact of the current situation on civil society.
- The status of the people working overseas.
- Building more prisons, infrastructure and investigation of impact on workers.
- Investing in equipment and modern materials to work with to protect the Schengen border.
- Attract young people to the public sector services.
To increase the security and defence level on EU level, participants concluded that it is necessary to update the existing coordination mechanisms, invest in equipment and modern materials, make the public sector services more attractive for young people. Given the current situation, rapid progress must be made in achieving these goals.
Regarding the topic and content of the working group, several topical issues are in the background of a future seminar:
- Uniting Europe against actor’s hostile to the EU – strengthening common security and defence on a European level.
- The Digital Services Act (DSA) and tackling illegal content online.
- The role of organized crime in illegal migration / Tackling criminal organization in migration.
- Psychological impact and reintegration challenges military personnel.