Fernando López Miras, Chairman of the Working Group on Defence of the European Committee of the Regions, together with a delegation representing 10 European regions, visited the European Defence Agency (EDA) on Monday, 23 March 2026, and was briefed by EDA officials.
European regions and cities witness security risks first-hand, from the impact of the war in Ukraine to pressure on external borders and hybrid threats. That makes local resilience and preparedness vital. Industrial sites and innovation policies are often designed and implemented by regional entities across Europe. The Working Group on Defence, established on 1 April 2025, promotes the contribution of local and regional authorities to the EU’s security and defence architecture.
From EDA, members of the Chief Executive’s Policy Office briefed the delegation on the Agency’s main areas of activity. Discussions centred on EDA’s role in supporting the European Union’s objective of achieving defence readiness by 2030, including its support to Member States in joint procurement of military equipment, the development of cyber defence capabilities, as well as its support to the European defence industry.
The Agency also outlined how it contributes to the development of Member States’ military capabilities over the medium to long term, as well as potential avenues to expand its activities following the 2025 call by EU leaders to strengthen EDA.
The EDA meeting provided an opportunity to discuss how Europe’s security challenges can best be addressed, with a focus on strengthening cooperation between EU-level defence initiatives and local and regional authorities. Exchanges explored how regional bodies can contribute to Europe’s defence ecosystem, including in areas such as industrial cooperation, innovation and resilience.
López Miras stressed the role of regions in enhancing Europe’s overall resilience. He also reaffirmed the Working Group’s commitment to strengthening cooperation across all levels of governance in support of a more integrated and effective European defence framework.