Thursday 26 February 2026 | 14:30-15.30 CET | JDE 53 and Teams
European Committee of the Regions, 99-101 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels
Tadeusz TRUSKOLASKI (PL/EA), Mayor of Białystok, the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship, bordering Ukraine, and rapporteur for this opinion, would like to collect stakeholders' views on the roadmap objectives and proposed actions to strengthen EU defence by better integrating new technologies via civilian innovative SMEs within the EU defence supply chains. The roadmap also aims to make the EU defence market more agile, and adaptative. SMEs have a key role to play as well as regions who support innovative clusters.
The rapporteur would like to gather your views and feedback on this topic, including but not limited to the following questions:
- Do you agree with the identified challenges in the roadmap or do you have additional challenges from the point of view of regions?
- Do you think that the launch of a Fund of Funds will mitigate the investment challenge faced by SMEs, and those from the advanced technologies sector in particular? Are there any additional measures you consider necessary to support these innovators all along the production cycle (from research until commercialisation)?
- As a region with innovative clusters focusing on civilian industry, how will you structure your action to promote the integration of SMEs and mid-caps in the EU defence supply chain? Which association/organisations could be relevant? The ENDR? The EEN? Which approach would ensure a maximum reach out to these civilian companies?
- How useful the proposed actions of the roadmap can be for regions in their support to their innovative and defence industry? What is the potential impact in your region?
- As a defence-related region, what is the weight and role of dual-use industry in your regional economy? How dual-use industry can help bring cohesion and defence closer? Do you see the potential of dual-use industry for regional development?
- Are you ready to support enhanced EU inter-regional cooperation which would strengthen EU defence supply chains but also potentially support the end of the "national orders only" policy in some Member states? Do you support an EU mapping and coordination of regional industry potential offerings?
- More generally, will the modernisation of the EU defence industry equal to the modernization of EU defence? Will Member States buy more European? Which additional measures can complement the roadmaps and latest legislation to reach the objectives of the European Defence Readiness 2030?
- How could industries that struggle in today's competitive landscape be supported to convert their production into defence production? How should EU and Member States facilitate this shift?
The meeting will be held in English and Polish.
The consultation will take place in hybrid format, on the premises of the CoR, Bâtiment Jacques Delors Rue Belliard 99-101, Brussels, in room JDE 53, and online via Teams.
Please register for the meeting by Thursday, 25 February 2026 (midnight).