Weaknesses in Civil Defence: How Prepared is the European Union?

This paper explores shortcomings of European civil defence by examining both infrastructure vulnerabilities and the widespread unpreparedness of civilians in the face of modern threats. While military spending across the European Union has increased in recent years, civil defence has lagged, with critical needs outdated or insufficient. The increasing complexity of global threats highlights the urgency of updating these systems. The civilian population remains largely unaware and unprepared to handle prolonged disruptions. This paper outlines these gaps, their risks, and the need for a culture of preparedness. It also presents Finland as a model of integrated civil and military defence, offering lessons for the broader European context. A transformation of mindset and investment in smarter civil defence are essential for the EU to confront future crises with confidence.

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Bridging the Gap: The Role of EU Cybersecurity Regulations in Supporting Cyber Defence Strategy

Hybrid threats exploit the increasingly blurred line between civilian and military domains. By targeting critical civilian infrastructures (CCIs), whose cybersecurity remains the sole responsibility of civilian actors, adversaries weaken the defence sector, which heavily relies on these infrastructures. This strategy creates a blind spot in the defence community that only the EU Cyber Security Policy can address. The paper investigates the contribution of the EU Cyber Security Policy regulations to the EU Cyber Defence Policy, highlighting their synergistic relation. It bases its analysis on the NIS2 Directive as an illustrative case. By adopting a more defensive posture that integrates hybrid threats, NIS2 contributes to enhanced cyber defence that aligns with the objectives of the EU Cyber Defence Policy.

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Bringing Back Military Mobility

This Info Flash outlines how the conflict in Ukraine has reignited concerns within Europe regarding military mobility because of several factors like bureaucratic delays in border crossings and much of Europe’s infrastructure not prepared for military use. As a result, significant work needs to be done to ensure seamless military movement across Europe’s many borders. Fortunately, the European Union already has large infrastructure projects which can be updated to incorporate military requirements. In addition, NATO's involvement has been and continues to be an important factor in hosting training exercises and setting goals. Finally, it can be presumed that the EU will allocate more funding for this continental project, while also focusing on cyber defence threats

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