EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, published a statement on ‘Strengthening Europe’s Security: A Dual Approach for Civil & Defence Resilience’ on 12 March 2025. In this paper, the association calls for a “well-funded civil security research programme” which “must exist alongside a robust defence research initiative”. The two must be aligned strategically, reinforcing each other to enhance societal resilience, EARTO claims.
The statement was prepared by the EARTO Working Group Security & Defence Research. It welcomes the “whole-of-society” approach outlined in the Niinistö report “Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness” which emphasises preparedness, cooperation, and dual-use potential within a comprehensive security framework that actively involves civil actors, businesses, local communities, and citizens. EARTO sees the Niinistö report as complementary to the Draghi report on EU Competitiveness in this context.