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Search data reflects rising concern. In countries closest to Russia, online searches such as “where is my nearest shelter?” and “what to pack for evacuation?” have surged—particularly in 2025.
What Brussels Is Doing Behind the Scenes
National governments are not acting alone.
At the EU level, Brussels has launched what may be the most ambitious defence coordination effort in its history.
European defence spending surpassed €300 billion in 2024. Under the proposed 2028–2034 EU budget, an additional €131 billion has been earmarked for aerospace and defence—five times more than in the previous budget cycle.
At the heart of the strategy is Readiness 2030, a roadmap endorsed by all 27 member states.
Its goals are practical and urgent:
Enable troop and equipment movement across EU borders within three days in peacetime
Reduce that to six hours during emergencies
Eliminate bureaucratic delays through a “Military Schengen” system
To achieve this, the EU is identifying and upgrading around 500 critical infrastructure points, including bridges, tunnels, ports, and railways capable of supporting heavy military equipment.
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