Security and defence have to be an integral part of Europe’s competitiveness agenda

This topic brought policymakers and business leaders together at our high-level conference “Security, resilience and competitiveness: Europe’s industrial agenda for a new geopolitical era", European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and General Seán Clancy, Chair of the EU Military Committee, were among the speakers.

Security and defence must be treated as an integral part of Europe’s long-term competitiveness and growth strategy – this was a key message from the European business community. “Security risks today are strategic in nature: they affect our prosperity, our competitiveness and our way of life directly, not just our armed forces”, said BusinessEurope Vice-President in charge of Security and Defence Klaus Holse, who presented our new paper on this topic. “The reverse is equally true, and this is the point we most want policymakers to hear today: a strong, secure Europe depends on a competitive, innovative and resilient economic base. You cannot build defence capability on top of a weak industrial foundation, just as you cannot sustain competitiveness in a Europe that is not secure.”

Europe also needs to prepare for crises before they happen, build an operational Defence Single Market and give its defence industry the conditions to grow and innovate. A stronger European industrial base would help protect Europe and create economic opportunities, while cooperation with trusted partners remains essential.

Read our paper - browse the event photo gallery