The European Commission will work to ensure that European citizens are safer and more secure, and that Europe has the means to maintain peace through credible deterrence. These last few years have been a sharp reminder how fragile peace is. They have also been a wakeup call for Europe to give itself the means to protect itself and deter potential adversaries.
Source: Eurobarometer, 2025
Build a European defence union to protect the European Union and its people
to protect the European Union and its people
Enhance preparedness and crisis management to stand ready to react to crises
to stand ready to react to crises
Improve internal security to address all threats online and offline
to address all threats online and offline
Strengthen common borders to make them more secure
to make them more secure
Manage migration fairly and firmly
How we will achieve our objectives
Over the course of the Commission’s mandate between 2024-2029 and to meet Europe’s security and defence challenges, we will
Build a European defence union
We will act on defence to protect Europeans by
helping Member States rebuild, replenish, and transform national armed forces by building upon the existing defence industrial programmes, to invest in high-end capabilities in critical areas such as naval, ground, air combat, space-based early warning and cyber
helping pool resources and counter common threats through flagship European defence projects to be ultimately decided by Member States
developing a single market for defence products and services , enhancing defence research and development, production capacity and fostering joint procurement
Central to this work will be further strengthening EU-NATO cooperation.
Enhance the EU's preparedness and crisis management
We will develop a preparedness union strategy to ensure we are better prepared for crises by
better preparing the whole of society for possible crises , including the citizens and the private sector
strengthening our foresight and anticipation capabilities
addressing new threats , in particular those linked to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) and cybersecurity
supporting medical countermeasures against public health threats, including joint procurement and stockpiling
Ensure a safer and more secure Europe
For people to feel safe, we will work on
a new European internal security strategy to help ensure that security is integrated into EU legislation
a new European action plan against drug trafficking , which will see us work with partners to close routes and business models of drug traffickers
a new counter-terrorism agenda to address new and emerging threats and to take a stronger approach to terrorist financing and anti-radicalisation
Strengthen common borders
To deliver stronger common borders, we will
put in place a fully functional digital border management system
implement an integrated border management approach
develop an EU visa policy strategy
ensure a complete and fully functioning Schengen area
Stand fair and firm on migration
Migration is a European challenge that must be met with a European solution. To manage migration effectively with solidarity at its heart, we will
implement the pact on migration and asylum and frame our forward-looking vision in the first five-year European migration and asylum strategy
put forward a new common approach on returns to speed up and simplify the process
continue developing strategic relations with non-EU countries
work with Member States to open up legal pathways to migration , based on the skills needs of our economies and our regions
Monitor, follow, and stay updated on the progress of new initiatives, proposed laws and legislative changes under this priority
June 2026 Strengthening Europol to step up the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism
Strengthening Europol to step up the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism
March 2026 A strategy to tackle rising wildfire threat
A strategy to tackle rising wildfire threat
February 2026 Measures to prevent and counter terrorism Rules against the trafficking of illicit firearms
Measures to prevent and counter terrorism
Rules against the trafficking of illicit firearms
January 2026 A new strategy on migration and asylum to prevent illegal migration, protect people and attract talent to the EU New measures to strengthen cybersecurity resilience and capabilities
A new strategy on migration and asylum to prevent illegal migration, protect people and attract talent to the EU
New measures to strengthen cybersecurity resilience and capabilities
Follow the implementation of the priority
Europol and Eurojust are EU agencies that are central to the EU’s response to organised cross-border criminal networks, terrorists and hostile actors. The Commission has proposed to strengthen their capacities and roles to improve the fight against crime, bring criminals to justice more efficiently and better protect EU citizens.
This is part of a broader effort to strengthen the EU’s response to an evolving criminal landscape that is becoming more sophisticated, international and digital. These actions will improve cooperation and complementarity between EU agencies and national authorities, including police, customs and courts.
Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President
Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness
Commissioner for Defence and Space
Commissioner for Equality; Preparedness and Crisis Management
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
The Commission’s other priorities
This page was last updated on 25 March 2026
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