Two EA Group rapporteurs present their opinions at the Working Group on Defence

On 23 March 2026, the Working Group on Defence welcomed two EA Group members to present their work. Mr Tadeusz Truskolaski presented his opinion on the EU Defence Industry Roadmap, followed by Mr Adam Banaszak, who outlined his opinion on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

EU Defence Industry Roadmap

As the EA Group’s representative in the Working Group on Defence, Truskolaski was very much in his element when presenting his opinion on the EU Defence Industry Roadmap. The roadmap, published in November 2025, sets out how the EU intends to accelerate the transformation and readiness of its defence industrial base in response to a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment.

Appointed rapporteur for this key file, Truskolaski highlighted the extensive stakeholder consultations he has undertaken. He stressed the need for an inclusive and geographically balanced approach to strengthening Europe’s defence industry: “For it to be successful, the EU defence industry must build on the know‑how and strengths of all SMEs and all regions. Europe’s true strength lies in its regional diversity and expertise.”

During the discussion, Truskolaski also stressed the importance of investing in skills, training and regional innovation ecosystems. He highlighted the work carried out in his hometown Białystok, where vocational training programmes and space‑technology courses at the local university are complemented by the Białystok Science and Technology Park, which supports start‑ups and scale‑ups active in emerging defence technologies. He emphasised that many regional entrepreneurs are eager to contribute. “They have the expertise, the energy and the knowhow”, he said. “It is now up to us to create the right circumstances for them to deliver.”

Union Civil Protection Mechanism

Adam Banaszak then presented his opinion on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, emphasising the close link between civil protection and defence. He argued that Europe’s preparedness must be strengthened across the board: “For me, it is very clear: the EU needs to increase its preparedness—militarily, but also for civil and dual‑use infrastructure. Resilience requires a whole‑of‑society approach.” He pointed to water reservoirs and energy infrastructure as examples of assets that can quickly become military targets.

In his opinion, Banaszak calls for strong local and regional involvement, noting that they are the first line of defence when it comes to protecting citizens. He also highlighted the crucial role of local actors in countering disinformation: “Take the example of misinformation. Countering fake news is a task that must start at the local and regional level—through local media, community networks, and a strong sense of local identity.”