As Central Europe grapples with low civic trust, pacifism and resource shortages, the need for non-polarising, practical solutions to bolster resilience is mounting. Our recent roundtable tour across the region highlighted actionable ways to foster solidarity, enhance preparedness and counter malign influence.
In response to chronic underinvestment and growing threats from Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared defence a top priority, with ambitious plans for a ‘European Defence Union’ to create a true single market for defence.
Von der Leyen also appointed the EU’s first-ever Commissioner for Defence and Space – Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius, who took office on 1 December. Kubilius is already making waves with his proposal to allocate around €100 billion for defence in the next seven-year EU budget.
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