04 Dec 2025
EC presents Economic Security package
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission and the High Representative presented a Joint Communication on strengthening Economic Security. It outlines concrete steps to reinforce the EU's strength and resilience in the face of growing external economic threats, while retaining our openness and commitment to international trade and investment.
The Joint Communication builds on the Economic Security Strategy of 2023 which set the overarching economic security objectives of promoting industrial strengths, protecting European interests and partnering with like-minded countries.
This Communication sets out the EU's strengthened approach to addressing risks, using all the tools at its disposal. To strengthen its economic security, the EU will use existing tools irrespective of their original purpose and will deploy its toolbox more proactively when needed. It will also enhance its information collection and analytical capabilities to inform EU decisions and improve coordination with Member States and businesses.
Drawing on risk assessment work with Member States, the Commission's immediate focus will be in six priority high-risk areas:
- Reducing strategic dependencies for goods and services;
- Attracting safe investment into the EU;
- Supporting a vibrant European defence and space industry, and other critical industrial sectors;
- Securing EU leadership across critical technologies;
- Protecting sensitive information and data;
- Shielding Europe's critical infrastructure.
The Joint Communication 'Strengthening EU economic security' includes references to "funding and restrictions through EU tools like Horizon Europe" and to research security (mentioning amongst others the future Centre of Expertise on Research Security). Amongst other issues, the EC intends to "Include an economic security component for key strategic sectors in the upcoming Competitiveness Coordination Tool".
The Commission states that it is already putting in motion any necessary legislative changes, guidelines and other supportive measures to implement the actions set out in the Joint Communication. The Commission also stresses that it will continue to engage intensively with the Member States, third countries and with stakeholders on the new economic security strategic approach.
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