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EU report on defense advises sharing sensitive information among each other

by AI | 30.Oct 2024 | Europe in brief AI

European countries and citizens must have more trust in each other to be more resilient to disasters and dangers together, according to a new EU report.

Former President of Finland Sauli Niinistö presents his report on European defense to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. PHOTO: JEAN THYS / AFP

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BRUSSELS (ANP) – To address the major threats to the European Union such as war and climate change, EU countries must cooperate better and share sensitive information with each other. Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö stated this at the presentation of a report on European defense. Niinistö wrote the report at the request of the European Commission.

“We must learn to have trust in each other,” said Niinistö. This trust must exist not only within countries but also across borders. “If a member state loses its security, we all have a problem.”

The report on European civilian and military readiness not only discusses the threat posed by foreign powers or climate change but also mentions, for example, pandemics. The presence of all these threats together “points towards a longer period of increased risk and great uncertainty for the union.” This is especially the case when threats occur simultaneously, such as floods in combination with a cyber attack.

The report emphasizes that dealing with these problems is not only a matter for governments but also for businesses and the entire population “so that the European Union and its member states can continue to function under all circumstances.”

One of the many other recommendations is the creation of an anti-sabotage network, which EU member states can call upon if they suddenly face damage to important infrastructure.

Von der Leyen asked Niinistö to write the report in March in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The choice fell on the Finnish politician Niinistö because Finland not only has a long tradition of a strong military but also in continuously educating its population about other potential dangers such as disinformation.

The recommendations from the report will serve as a guideline for the next European Commission, which may begin on December 1. Niinistö’s ideas on addressing European threats have already been included in the job descriptions of the upcoming Commissioners, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the presentation of the report.

(October 30, 2024)

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