Integrating Business into Civilian & Military Preparedness and Resilience: Key to Europe’s Security

The report provides clear and concise recommendations for enhancing the resilience of our societies in the face of emerging threats by anticipating, preventing, withstanding and responding to them. While much of the report presents strong and valuable insights, certain areas would benefit from additional analysis and refinement to enhance its overall impact, and to guide governments, businesses and citizens in creating stronger and more resilient communities.

It is crucial to emphasize the role of the wider business community in achieving both comprehensive civil and military preparedness, as also acknowledged by the report. By involving companies of all sizes and across sectors, we can ensure a holistic approach that leverages innovation, flexibility, and the unique capacities of the private sector. Our societal resilience at the time of crisis must not be confined to government action alone; the integration of businesses into preparedness efforts is essential for building robust systems that can adapt to future challenges.

“We echo the report’s recognition that security is the foundation that everything is built upon. In conjunction with this principle, we want to emphasize another key concept that the report brings forward which is that our security is built on economic strength. At the core of this is the Single Market, which has been a driver of innovation, growth, and resilience. Further developing and deepening the Single Market by removing existing barriers will enhance both our economic stability and our ability to respond to crises” says Charlotte Andersdotter International Director and Head of EU-Office in Brussels.

“The proposal of creating a Single Market also for defence products and services to enhance cross-border cooperation and defence industrial competitiveness is interesting, but not without potential problems that would require further discussions. For example, defence products are subject to national legislation, including export controls, and an internal market would require harmonisation between all Member States and perhaps even a transfer of national competences to the EU level” noted Johan Sjöberg, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise Director defense and security policy.

While we support the report in calling for EU Member States to increase their capabilities, robustness and preparedness, we urge caution when considering any possible sector-specific exceptions to competition and Single Market rules. Such measures, while well-intentioned, could result in unintended cascade impacts across industries, hindering economic efficiency and competitiveness. A delicate balance must be struck between enhancing security and maintaining the principles of open competition that underpin the success of the Single Market.

We look forward to engaging in a dialogue with policymakers, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the report and its recommendations further.