A call for stronger, autonomous and competitive Europe

On the occasion of the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), leading European decision -makers, economic leaders and security experts presented the Munich Declaration 2025 – a courageous vision to strengthen European defense and economic competitiveness.

The explanation was published by the European Panel and his committee – initiated by

• José Manuel Durão Barroso (Former President of the European Commission),
• Klaus ruling (former managing director of the ESM),
• André Loesekrug-Pietri (Chairman and Scientific Director of Jedi),
• Othmar Karas (President of the European Forum Alpbach),
• Antonella meal-pointers (Vice President of the European Forum Alpbach),
• Andreas Treichl (Chairman of the first foundation Austria) and
• Martin Scalership (Entrepreneur).

The Munich Declaration 2025 outlines concrete measures To strengthen European security architectureto secure the technological leadership role and to promote strategic autonomy in an increasingly volatile and protectionist world.

The central messages of the Munich Declaration 2025:

• European defense union – a stronger coordination of the armed forces, quick, flexible and possibly centralized procurement and an increase in defense spending 3 – 4 % of GDP are necessary and affordable. In the explanation the Foundation of a European Darpa-like agency supported in the areas of AI, cyber, space, Drone And defense technologies should be leading to ensure that Europe is still at the top of the innovation.

• Competitiveness and growth -The explanation emphasizes that economic power is the basis of sovereignty, that the EU internal market urgently needs to be completed, that technologies with a double use such as AI-controlled productivity must be promoted and that strategic investments in the manufacturing, energy and cloud infrastructure must be made possible. Regulatory adjustments, more trade agreements and a capital market union are crucial for stronger growth and global competitiveness in Europe as well as for more public procurement and military operational readiness.

• Sustainable financing – Means are available for more private and public investments in defense, technology and infrastructure. The declaration calls on to use existing European financing instruments, such as: B. a European market for infrastructure bonds or the ESM, which currently has a credit lines of EUR 400 billion. A temporary increase in budget deficits and debt that is compatible with the European and national budget rules will be necessary to strengthen defense skills, innovation and growth immediately. The expenses for European infrastructure investments are covered by technologies with a double use by European public and private assets that will increase over time, growth and tax revenue

The Munich Declaration 2025 proposes decisive steps towards a more resistant Europe that guarantees security, prosperity and strategic independence. The signatories ask the European governments, European institutions and industry to act quickly in order to implement the sketched measures.

The European Forum Alpbach will support this initiative by offering a platform for the security policy dialogue on the EFA25, whereby the European defense union will be a central topic in the subject area “Security”.

The European Panel is from the European Forum Alpbach (President: Othmar Karas; Vice President: Antonella Mei-Pochtler), the Bavarian Family Company Association, the Joint European Disruptive Initiative (Jedi), which acts as an agency for advanced research projects (ARPA) for Europe (Chairman: André Loeskrug-Pietri), carried and is an official side event at the Munich Security Conference 2025.

www.munichdeclaration.org