Strengthening civil defence in the European Union

The European Union is facing a rapidly changing security landscape, marked not only by climate-related disasters and pandemics, but also by the return of large-scale conflict on the continent. The war in Ukraine has underscored the urgent need for robust and proactive civil preparedness and defence across all Member States. It is no longer just a matter of managing emergencies, but of reinforcing societal resilience against both conventional and hybrid threats. Strengthening civil preparedness is now a shared strategic imperative, one that demands faster, coordinated action to protect citizens, infrastructure, and democratic values across the EU.

Many reports and initiatives, including the EU’s White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030, the Niinistö Report Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness, the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence point to the urgent need for a more unified, proactive, and resilient approach to civil defence across the European Union. They all emphasize that the EU must shift from reactive crisis management to forward-looking readiness, ensuring that Member States are better equipped to act together under pressure. A recurring conclusion is that Europe must strengthen coordination between civilian and military actors, address critical capability gaps, and invest in infrastructure and societal resilience – as well as fostering a whole-of-society approach that includes citizens, local authorities, and the private sector. However, while political will is growing, implementation remains uneven, underscoring the need for faster, coordinated action across Member States. How can we align efforts and ensure a stronger “whole-of-EU”-approach to civil defence?

Sweden is undertaking a significant effort to strengthen its civil defence capabilities. The government has committed 37,5 billion SEK to civil defence from 2025 to 2030, focusing on critical sectors such as food supply, energy, healthcare, transport, and civil protection. How is Sweden working to align various stakeholders, from government agencies to civil society organizations in a coordinated effort to strengthening civil defence? Are we well-coordinated with other EU Member States?

This seminar aims to deepen the understanding of the work on strengthening civil defence that is being carried out by the European Commission. It will also focus on the current work being done in regard to Sweden’s civil defence and conclude with some perspectives on how Member States tackle these challenges together and alone, as well as highlight some challenges and opportunities across the EU in the ongoing work to strengthen civil defence.

The seminar is co-hosted with the Swedish organisation Folk och Försvar. Read more and register your attendance on their site.