The Time to Act is Now
As we speak, the President of the United-States is acceding to all demands formulated by Moscow over Ukraine and completely reshaping the European security architecture, without any European involvement. U.S. messaging at the Munich Security Conference and statements by President Trump since made it unmistakably clear: we, Europeans, can no longer count on America to guarantee our security and Vladimir Putin knows it.
This happens against a backdrop of unprecedented threats. In July 2024, General Breuer, Germany’s highest-ranking military officer, had delivered a sobering warning: “Taking all available information into account, an attack on NATO territory is possible within the next five to eight years.” His assessment was echoed by NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, who warned that while Europe is not currently at war, it is no longer at peace either. But today, while solidarity amongst NATO partner is put in question, the time for wishful declarations and wake-up calls is over.
Europe is now alone in facing the greatest military threat to its territorial integrity since World War II. This new geopolitical reality demands a fundamental reassessment of our political priorities. Outdated paradigms must be discarded. Half-measures will no longer suffice. As European Social Democrats, our foremost duty is to safeguard the physical, economic, and social security of our citizens. Security is not everything—but without security, everything else is nothing.
A New Social Democratic Security Policy for Europe
A strong and secure Europe is the foundation of a strong and just society. That is why we need a new social democratic security policy—one that understands defense as a crucial pillar of a proactive Europe that protects its citizens while investing in competitiveness, social cohesion, and ecological transformation. In an era of hybrid warfare, we recognize that tanks, air defense and conventional military capabilities are key, but will not be enough alone; social cohesion and resilience are just as vital to our security as military power. We are therefore unequivocally in favour of ramping up investments in our security and defence, ensuring Europe’s ability to face all types of threats, to establish strong deterrence, and to reduce dependences. However, trading off investments in security and defence against investments in social cohesion is like choosing between defeat to Putin on the frontlines or in elections. We therefore call for a comprehensive investment strategy that addresses both our vulnerabilities in military capabilities and also those in our democracies and social fabric.
Security is a public good that benefits all EU citizens and where collective EU action adds significant value. Strengthening our defense must not be seen as a retreat from social progress It is in fact a necessary condition to safeguard it. Approaching this transformation as a collective societal effort can empower Europeans, turn challenges into opportunities, and reinforce European unity and resilience.
Europe Must Step Up Its Defense Capabilities
To ensure its security, Europe must massively increase its defense spending and overcome the widening gap between needs and capabilities. The old NATO benchmark of spending 2% of GDP on defense is outdated and now a minimum rather than a goal. But spending alone is not enough—we must spend smarter. Our fragmented defense industry requires urgent reform to foster better integration, innovation, and efficiency. Governance structures must be streamlined, military mobility must be improved, and industrial capacity must be expanded to meet the demands of today’s security environment.
Moreover, support for Ukraine is not just an act of solidarity—it is essential for Europe’s own security. A Russian victory would embolden autocrats worldwide, endanger Europe’s security architecture, and increase the long-term costs of deterrence. Ukraine is our first line of defense. Investing in Ukraine’s resilience is investing in our own.
Resilience and Social Cohesion: The Foundations of Security
Europe’s security is not just about military strength. Peace and security must be understood holistically. Social security, economic fairness, and social cohesion form the foundation of a resilient society. Foreign adversaries seek to exploit societal divisions, spread disinformation, and manipulate elections. We must confront these threats head-on by increasing public awareness, countering disinformation, and strengthening civil preparedness.
Additionally, our transition to energy independence is a critical security priority. The EU’s past reliance on Russian fossil fuels indirectly financed Vladimir Putin’s war machine. But diversifying energy sources without reducing dependency on autocratic regimes is not a solution. Investing in renewables, energy efficiency, and energy infrastructures’ security must be at the core of Europe’s strategic defense policy.
The Green Deal is not just an environmental policy—it is a security policy. The climate crisis has the potential to trigger new geopolitical conflicts, resource wars, and mass displacement. Ensuring ecological sustainability is therefore inseparable from ensuring international security.
A Sovereign European Defense Industry That Delivers
Europe’s defense industry must transition from a low-quantity, high-margin model to a high-quantity, low-margin model that prioritizes speed, innovation, and efficiency. We need long-term planning and clear political commitments to provide industry with the certainty and investment needed to scale production.
Europe’s defence industry must be able to deliver the whole spectrum of capabilities required to protect Europe’s security and freedom in necessary volumes and without delay. To this end, ensuring sovereignty over our own defence capabilities must be at the core of our efforts, while working together with non-EU partners as necessary. To achieve this target, increased EU funding, oriented towards products and capabilities fully owned and controlled by European entities, must flow quickly to European industries.
At the same time, defense spending must be transparent and accountable. Increased investments in defense must not serve as blank checks for industry giants; they must benefit European citizens. Just as with vaccine development during the pandemic, public investment in defense research and production should yield broad societal benefits.
Europe must also rethink how it funds its defense efforts and must urgently find the way to raise 500 billion euro to collectively invest into its defence industrial basis over the next decade. Exempting necessary defense spending from the Maastricht criteria, and joint issuance of defence bonds—similar to the EU’s post-pandemic recovery plan—could help finance Europe’s defence reindustrialisation. Meanwhile, implementing windfall taxes and introducing a financial transaction-based “peace tax” could ensure that those who benefit most from Europe’s stability contribute fairly to its defense.
Europe Must Speak with One Voice
A strong Europe is a unified Europe. The EU must reform its decision-making processes in foreign and security policy. The days when a single member state could block collective action to serve its short-term interests must end. We can no longer afford half-measures. Europe must move toward qualified majority voting in foreign and security policy to ensure faster, more decisive action.
Furthermore, Europe’s role within NATO must evolve. The role of NATO as Europe’s primary security provider is no longer an absolute certainty; consequently, its European pillar must become significantly more important as the United States turn towards Asia. Europe must urgently be able to defend itself – regardless of who sits in the Whitehouse. Moreover, EU has unique capabilities—particularly in industrial coordination, standard-setting, and financing—that can complement NATO’s efforts. A more structured EU-NATO partnership is essential to avoid duplication, enhance collaboration, and strengthen collective deterrence.
The Time to Act Is Now
At this pivotal moment, we must acknowledge the ground-breaking shift triggered by Donald Trump and act accordingly. The EU must take full responsibility for its own security and for the rules-based international order.
To achieve this, Europe must act decisively, reliably, and with unity—while protecting its distinctive social and economic model. The EU possesses immense potential to help shape a global order that is peaceful, prosperous, and progressive.
The time to harness that potential is now. The future of Europe depends on our ability to stand together, strengthen our defenses, and safeguard our values. There is no alternative.
MEPs Tobias Cremer (S&D, German), Raphaël Glücksmann (S&D, French), Sven Misker (S&D, Estonian) and Thijs Reuten (S&D, Dutch are members of the Foreign Affairs committee in the European Parliament.
This text does not reflect the S&D group position.