Joint white paper for European Defence Readiness 2030

OPINION Section for External Relations JOINT WHITE PAPER for European Defence Readiness 2030 (JOIN(2025) 120 final) Rapporteur: Marcin NOWACKI Co-rapporteur: Carlos Manuel TRINDADE Contact Marie-Laurence.Drillon@eesc.europa.eu Administrator Marie-Laurence DRILLON Document date 12/6/2025 REX/603 JOINT WHITE PAPER for European Defence Readiness 2030 Advisor Paulo José FERNANDES PEDROSO (to the Co-rapporteur) Referral 11/4/2025 Legal basis Article 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Section responsible External Relations Section Adopted in section 12/6/2025 Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) 76/3/6 Adopted at plenary session D/M/YYYY Plenary session No … Outcome of vote (for/against/abstentions) …/…/… Conclusions and recommendations 1.1 The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) supports a comprehensive, inclusive European defence strategy that integrates military readiness with civil preparedness, social resilience, diplomacy, international law and the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights. It endorses the European Commission’s White Paper and calls for a coordinated EU approach that treats defence, peace and security as shared public goods, underpinned by strong legal, institutional and financial frameworks with democratic oversight. 1.2 The EU must urgently address hybrid and conventional threats, reduce dependency on external players and strengthen...