Safer Together. Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness

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Publication Date 2024
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Summary:

Report prepared by Sauli Niinistö and published by the European Commission on 30 October 2024, addressing civilian and military preparedness in the European Union (EU).

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The geopolitical and security landscape has changed considerably over the last years, and it is marked by increased risk and uncertainty. The EU and its Member States face multi-dimensional, complex and cross-border threats and crises. Strengthening preparedness aims at having a dissuasive effect on threat actors, lowering residual risks, addressing the sense of uncertainty among citizens and contributing to the fundamental preconditions for economic prosperity and competitiveness.

In this context, the President of the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy tasked the former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to prepare a report assessing the complex challenges that the EU and its Member States face and to develop recommendations on how to enhance the EU’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness for future crises. Mr Niinistö delivered the report in his capacity as special adviser to the President of the European Commission.

The report underlines the need for an ambitious new approach to our preparedness and readiness. To this end, it presents around 80 recommendations for both short-term and medium to long-term actions.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://commission.europa.eu/document/5bb2881f-9e29-42f2-8b77-8739b19d047c_en
Alternative sources
  • https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/5bb2881f-9e29-42f2-8b77-8739b19d047c_en?filename=2024_Niinisto-report_Book_VF.pdf
Related Links
Official
European Commission: DG Communication: Defence: Safer together: A path towards a fully prepared Union https://commission.europa.eu/topics/defence/safer-together-path-towards-fully-prepared-union_en
European Commission: Statement by President von der Leyen on the presentation of the Niinistö report on strengthening Europe's civilian and military preparedness and readiness (30 October 2024) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_24_5601

News
Bloomberg, 23/10/2024: EU Urged to Create Intelligence Body to Counter External Threats https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-23/eu-urged-to-create-intelligence-body-to-counter-external-threats
EurActiv, 30/10/2024: Finland’s ex-president Niinistö to outline EU security plan https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/finlands-ex-president-niinisto-to-outline-eu-security-plan/
Euronews, 30/10/2024: EU urgently needs to act on defence, says landmark report https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/30/eu-urgently-needs-to-act-on-defence-says-landmark-report
Politico, 30/10/2024: Create a CIA-style European spy service, von der Leyen is told https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-spy-service-cia-ursula-von-der-leyen/
The Brussels Times, 30/10/2024: Former Finnish President calls for better coordination between Europe's intelligence services https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/1292677/former-finnish-president-calls-for-better-coordination-between-europes-intelligence-services
EUObserver, 30/10/2024: EU urged to step up counter-espionage cooperation, in landmark report https://euobserver.com/eu-and-the-world/arb5c095da
YLE News, 30/10/2024: Niinistö unveils report on enhancing EU civilian and defence preparedness https://yle.fi/a/74-20121215

Commentary and Analysis
EurActiv: Podcasts: Today in the EU, 31/10/2024: Niinistö report: How the EU must gear up for future crises https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/podcast/niinisto-report-how-the-eu-must-gear-up-for-future-crises/

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