Defence – A third transition underway, after the green and the digital?

As repeatedly demanded at CESI’s European Defence Round-Tables (EDRT) during the last years, the White Paper finally presents a clear vision and action plan to put an end to the era of “over-complacency” and “underinvestment” in European defence and could mark the beginning of “a new international order”, as European Commission President von der Leyen put it in a recent address in Copenhagen on the future of the European Defence Union.

CESI Secretary General Klaus Heeger said: “The EU appears to take a decisive stance on defence. We have long advocated this, since our first European Defence Round-Table (EDRT) several years ago. With the current geopolitical landscape no longer conducive to peace and limited funding options straining national budgets, strategic and prudent public military spending is crucial.”

Sebastian Käding, member of the German Armed Forces Association (DBwV) and President of CESI’s Expert Commission on Defence, noted: “This is a significant step to strengthen European defence and respond to current threats. The goal of improving European defence readiness through massive investment is in line with our call for an intensified security and defence policy. Emphasising cooperation with partners and further support for Ukraine are positive approaches that promote a holistic approach to security. The proposed financial instruments such as the ‘Security Actions for Europe (SAFE)’ can be a solid basis to provide resources that could also improve the framework conditions for military personnel.

CESI stresses however that some limitations remain in the White Paper, from a trade union perspective: Neither does it sufficiently lays out necessary accountability and oversight structures, nor does it include possible measures for consultation and citizen engagement as part of decision making in the defence architecture and governance. In particular, it does not explicitly address social framework conditions for military and civilian personnel acting within the European Defence Union. At the same time, it is a necessary element to attract and retain qualified personnel through adequate working conditions in the sector.

To make the white paper more effective, and for it to unfold as a real third transition underway, after the green and the digital, CESI proposes that:

1. The White Paper should contain explicit measures to improve the social framework conditions for personnel, including related to better working conditions, career opportunities and work-life balance. This could be implemented as part of targeted support programmes such as SAFE.
2. Civil defence should be considered an integral part of a European defence strategy. This requires investment in infrastructure, training and coordination mechanisms, for example through a separate chapter in the White Paper.
3. Stakeholders such as CESI and its Expert Commission ‘Defence’ should be actively involved in the further development of the White Paper to ensure that the interests of all status groups, both civilian and military personnel, are taken into account.’

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• Background information

Recent geopolitical developments underline the urgency of bolstering European defence. At the 2025 Munich Security Conference, experts reiterated that for the EU to prevent war, it must be prepared for war. As part of ongoing international negotiations, Ukraine recently agreed to a 30-day ceasefire without firm security guarantees, highlighting the need for Europe to play a more active role in shaping security discussions.

Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, established in January 2025, has collapsed, leading to renewed hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has stressed that some EU member states may struggle to pool resources effectively for enhanced defence capabilities, citizen engagement, and oversight. Reflecting these concerns, the European Parliament recently adopted a resolution calling for a €500 billion investment in European defence over the next decade, institutional reforms, and a shift from unanimity to qualified majority voting to accelerate crisis responses.

The European Commission's new White Paper and the accompanying ReARM Europe Plan seek to address some of these challenges, with SAFE proposing €150 billion in loans to support defence investments. However, these initiatives do not fully align with all of the European Parliament's recommendations, particularly regarding common procurement, planning, and deployment of military capabilities.

As the EU Summit on March 20-21 approaches, leaders will deliberate on the next steps. The shift towards a more security-oriented EU strategy underscores the importance of maintaining democratic accountability and ensuring that defence investments support both security objectives and social cohesion.

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