"Preparedness, defence and security go hand in hand. Regions and cities have a lot to say in shaping the future given their proximity to citizens, industry, academia and civil protection. Investment in defence means better enabling of clusters towards greater interoperability and more regional stability. Ricardo Rio (PT/EPP), Mayor of Braga and rapporteur on the opinion of defence readiness made these remarks during a European Committee of the Regions (CoR) Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) which met in Klagenfurt, Austria.
Rio added, "With this opinion, the CoR puts key recommendations on the table. Industry spill-over effects, including dual-use applications, and the integration of smaller players into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base are fundamental. We call for common procurement to become the engine of defence cooperation — involving at least two EU Member States."
The draft opinion on “European Defence Readiness 2030”, adopted by the ECON Commission, underscores the need to empower regions to contribute directly to Europe’s security, industrial strength, and economic resilience. Regarding the EU's proposed Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, the rapporteur advocated for increased EU support prioritising Member States and Ukraine. He stressed the need to reduce market fragmentation through joint procurements involving a minimum of two Member States, and called for clear EU content requirements, proposing that at least 65% of components be of EU origin.
The opinion highlights that cohesion policy can back the defence industry where it supports regional job creation and economic growth, in alignment with its mission. It stresses the importance of preserving regional cohesion and territorial stability when developing a robust EU defence market—particularly in areas home to national defence champions and emerging clusters.
Additionally, the opinion acknowledges the vital role of local and regional authorities in strengthening civil preparedness and enhancing the EU’s resilience against hybrid threats, including foreign information manipulation and interference. It emphasises the capacity of regions to establish defence and defence-related clusters, serving as a bridge between local actors and national and EU institutions—especially in shaping priorities and addressing future challenges.
