During the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions, EPP-CoR members held a debate on European defence with General Christophe Gomart (FR/EPP), Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur on the Draft Report on European Defence Readiness 2030.
Fernando López Miras, President of Murcia, Spain and EPP-CoR Vice-President, highlighted regional contributions to defence readiness through strategic capabilities, technological specialisation, talent development, and industrial ecosystem reinforcement. He referred to Murcia’s CAETRA project as a regional model for defence innovation.
Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź, Poland, warned that while many Europeans believe they are safe, local governments—especially border regions and major cities—face real threats. She called for adequate financial tools to help municipalities safeguard citizens and advocated for dual-use investments, merging the green transition with defence and civil protection efforts.
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Romania; 1st Vice-Chair of COTER, emphasised that Europe must be able to defend itself and cannot depend on others. He underlined the need to invest in defence and explain its value to citizens, as defence protects not only territory but also unity and the European way of life. Boc warned that without strong defence investment, the EU risks losing all it has built.
Marek Kuchciński, Councillor of Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Poland, stressed that local and regional authorities must ensure the continuity of public services and economic activity during crises. He strongly promoted dual-use investments—useful both in peacetime and crisis situations—as the core of Europe’s resilience.
Olgierd Geblewicz, President of West Pomerania, Poland, highlighted the key role of SMEs in contributing to the defence industry and encouraged cooperation with Ukrainian SMEs that have gained valuable wartime experience. He proposed establishing a multi-regional cooperation platform linking EU and Ukrainian defence-oriented SMEs.