CoESS Calls for Strong Recognition of Private Security in Europe's ProtectEU and Preparedness Union Strategies
CoESS has issued a declaration urging EU Institutions to fully integrate the private security sector into Europe’s internal security and preparedness strategies. With over 2 million security officers operating across Europe and its innovation capacity, private security is already today a key enabler that to European security and preparedness, both at critical infrastructure and in the public space.
Despite this vital role, the sector often remains underrepresented in EU-level and national security and crisis preparedness frameworks. CoESS is calling for a change—one that recognises the industry growing relevance in a complex and evolving threat landscape.
This should include a better promotion of innovation and competitiveness in the uptake of security technologies that can help bring the protection of our most important assets to the next level, including tools such as AI, drones, and integrated cyber-physical risk systems.
Concretely, CoESS urges EU Institutions to:
Partner on workforce resilience, enhancing security careers and crisis readiness.
Support tech innovation through smart, aligned industrial policies.
Strengthen public-private partnerships via joint training and crisis coordination.
Include private security in EU emergency preparedness and continuity planning.
Shape legal frameworks for public spaces, critical infrastructure, and counter-drone security.
Reform public procurement to foster quality employment and technological readiness.
Promote critical infrastructure standards like EN 17483 across Member States.
This declaration reaffirms CoESS’s readiness to contribute to a whole-of-society approach in building a safer and more resilient Europe.
Read the full declaration here.