From Wednesday till Friday, the ECR Group in the European Parliament held an external Bureau meeting in Riga, Latvia, bringing together MEPs, security experts, military professionals and academics to discuss Europe’s evolving security environment.

The discussions focused on three key areas: civil protection and societal resilience, cognitive warfare, and military mobility in the EU. Across all panels, participants underlined that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the growing use of hybrid threats have fundamentally changed Europe’s security reality. The meeting underlined that the European Union can no longer afford to treat preparedness as a theoretical exercise, it must become a practical priority.

Civil Protection and Societal Resilience in Europe

The first working session, moderated by ECR MEP Reinis Pozņaks, focused on the need to strengthen civil protection and societal resilience in response to a security environment in which the distinction between frontline and home front is increasingly disappearing.

Pozņaks said:

“Europe must stop speaking about future threats as if they were still distant. The lesson from Ukraine is that there is no longer a clear frontline. Societal resilience is therefore not an abstract concept, but a central part of national security.”

Inese Vaivare, Director of the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation, stressed the importance of empowering local communities and citizens said:

“Resilience cannot be built only through top-down projects. Citizens are often the first responders in a crisis, and local communities must have the tools, access and trust needed to act.”

Māris Tūtins, Colonel and Head of Information Analysis and Operations in the Latvian National Armed Forces, highlighted Latvia’s strong tradition of civil-military cooperation said:

“Latvian society has shown that it is ready to contribute to national defence. Civil-military cooperation, volunteering and the mobilisation of the whole nation are essential elements of resilience.”

Abraham Bachar, Brigadier General (Res.) and former Chairman of Israel’s National Emergency Management Authority, shared Israel’s experience in civil defence and emergency preparedness, saying:

“Preparedness begins with clear information, basic instructions and trust. When people know what to do, they do not panic, they act.”

The session also addressed the role of women, vulnerable groups, volunteers, education and public trust in strengthening societal resilience.

Cognitive Warfare

The second working session, moderated by ECR MEP Rihards Kols, examined the growing threat of cognitive warfare, disinformation, psychological operations and narrative manipulation by hostile actors.

Kols said:

“Our adversaries do not need to convince us of their arguments. Their aim is to divide societies, undermine trust and create instability. Europe must identify its vulnerabilities and act before they are exploited.”

Jānis Karlsbergs, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation and NATO StratCom expert, underlined the strategic nature of the threat, saying:

“Cognitive warfare is not a marginal issue. Russia, China and other hostile actors work systematically and over the long term to weaken our societies, exploit dependencies and erode trust in our institutions.”

Avital Sahar, Founder of Mithril Global Strategies and expert in cognitive warfare and OSINT, warned that Europe must become more active in countering such threats. He said:

“For our adversaries, this is not hybrid or cognitive warfare. it is simply warfare. Europe spends too much time analysing attacks and too little time imposing costs on those who conduct them.”

The discussion highlighted the role of artificial intelligence, public data, social media, hostile influence operations, sabotage, migration pressure and information manipulation in modern conflict.

Military Mobility in the EU

The third working session, moderated by European Parliament Vice-President and ECR MEP Roberts Zīle, focused on military mobility in the EU and the need to remove administrative, legal and infrastructure barriers that slow down the movement of troops, equipment and supplies across Europe.

Zīle said:

“Military mobility is now one of the practical tests of Europe’s seriousness on defence. If Europe wants to strengthen its security, it must ensure that infrastructure, funding and procedures match the reality of the threats we face.”

Alexandr Vondra, Vice-Chair of the ECR Group, stressed that military mobility must be treated first and foremost as a defence issue:

“Military mobility is not merely a transport file. It is about Europe’s ability to act quickly in a crisis. We need proper funding, dual-use infrastructure, coordination with NATO and a clear framework that helps move forces when they are needed.”

Mario Mauro, European Coordinator for the TEN-T Baltic–Black–Aegean Transport Corridor, underlined the strategic importance of transport corridors, saying:

“Transport corridors are no longer only about prosperity and integration. They are also about security. Military mobility is a priority because geography still shapes Europe’s foreign and security policy.”

Ryszard Czarnecki, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, called for faster implementation, saying:

“Today, moving military equipment across Europe can still take weeks. That is unacceptable in the current security environment. Military mobility must be improved not only for the Eastern flank, but for the security of Europe as a whole.”

Colonel Lauris Bļodons, Commander of the Relocation Coordination Centre of the Latvian National Armed Forces, pointed to the need for practical solutions:

“Our objective must be to reduce delays, improve coordination and ensure that transport and logistics systems are ready when they are needed. Proper use of funding and alignment with NATO are essential.”

The panel also discussed the proposed Military Mobility Regulation, the need for dual-use infrastructure, the role of digitalisation, the importance of EU-NATO cooperation and the requirement for adequate funding in the next European budget.

Concluding the working panels, participants underlined that Europe’s security can no longer be seen only through the lens of conventional defence. Civil preparedness, societal resilience, cognitive security and military mobility are now central to Europe’s ability to deter threats, withstand crises and defend freedom.