Defence Expert Commission
The Defence Expert Commission gathers organisations from the defence sector, military and civilians, in Europe to discuss the working and living conditions of soldiers and civilians in Europe and in third countries.
Global challenges and modern warfare demand concerted action through a European Defence Strategy. The working and living conditions of European soldiers has undergone significant changes. The move towards an army of professionals means special attention needs to be paid to the social problems facing defence staff in all EU countries. Working conditions of the sector have to be improved targeting especially psychological restraints imposed, such as post-traumatic-stress-syndrome.
CESI strives to establish full trade union rights for workers in the defence sector with the improvement of working conditions remaining a constant goal for the expert commission.
In 2025, the Expert Commission will focus on topics including:
- Building a true European Defence Union; advocacy on a White Paper on the Future of European Defence and a new EU Preparedness Union Strategy and EU Preparedness Law
- Working towards a European Civil Defence Mechanism inspired by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism – including civil-military coordination frameworks
- Strengthening military mobility including through dual-use transport infrastructure corridors
General Secretariat staff in charge of the expert commission
Raluca Radescu
Policy Adviser, CESI General Secretariat
