Security at Home: Harghita County’s Voice Matters in Brussels Too
European decisions on defence and security do not mean war or fear for Harghita County. They mean preparedness, local development, jobs and stronger community protection.
In the European Committee of the Regions, Borboly Csaba advocates for rural and mountain areas, as well as minority communities, so that they are not left outside the European security system.
13 May 2026
Recently, there has been increasing discussion in Brussels about European defence, security and the preparedness capacity of Member States.
Many people are rightly asking: what does all this mean for the residents of Harghita County? Does it mean recruitment, participation in war or military obligations?
The answer is clear: no.
The European Union does not have a common army, and decisions regarding defence remain the responsibility of the Member States. The current European processes are not aimed at generating fear, but at strengthening everyday security, increasing preparedness and ensuring that local communities also benefit from developments in these fields.
In the spring of 2025, the European Committee of the Regions established a Working Group on Defence, whose objective is to ensure that the voice of localities, counties and regions is present in the European decision-making process on security.
Borboly Csaba, Vice-President of Harghita County Council, argues within the European Committee of the Regions that security cannot be only the concern of capitals and large cities.
As he emphasized, security begins where people live: in villages, small towns, mountain areas and minority communities.
European developments in the field of defence can create opportunities for Harghita County in several areas. These include the involvement of local small and medium-sized enterprises, digital technologies, logistics, healthcare developments, as well as the strengthening of civil protection.
These developments do not serve exclusively military purposes. They are also investments that are useful in everyday life.
The development of transport infrastructure, the modernization of railways, roads, border crossing points and logistical connections are important not only from a strategic point of view, but also for the economy, freight transport and people’s mobility.
For Harghita County, this can mean better connections, stronger economic relations and, in the long term, more local opportunities.
Civil protection also plays an important role.
Strengthening the work of volunteer firefighters, mountain rescuers, people trained in first aid and local community networks can help localities respond faster and more effectively in emergency situations.
The active volunteer communities in Harghita County can play a particularly important role in this field.
Today, security no longer means only physical protection.
Countering hybrid threats, cyberattacks, fake news and artificially generated panic is also part of European security thinking.
The purpose of disinformation is often to create fear, divide communities and weaken people’s trust in institutions.
That is why it is important for local authorities to be able to inform people quickly, clearly and credibly. Verified information, a prepared institutional system and community trust are now just as much a part of security as roads, ambulances or the functioning of firefighters.
Through the amendments submitted within the European Committee of the Regions, Borboly Csaba requested that European security strategies pay greater attention to rural areas, mountain regions and minority communities.
The aim is to ensure that these communities are not excluded from funding, training programmes and development opportunities.
Among the proposals was also the simplification of access to funding, so that counties and localities with more limited administrative capacity can also benefit from European opportunities.
Another important objective is to strengthen cooperation between regions, so that in emergency situations neighbouring counties can respond together, in a coordinated and efficient manner.
“Real security begins where people live – in towns, villages and communities. ProtectEU must be implemented at local level – otherwise we will have two Europes: one that feels protected and one that feels forgotten,” said Borboly Csaba in the European Committee of the Regions.
All of this is particularly important for young people.
A secure outlook for the future, local jobs, digital protection and functioning community institutions can help young people build their future in Harghita County.
According to Borboly Csaba, the voice of the people from the Ciuc, Gheorgheni, Odorheiu Secuiesc areas and from the whole of Harghita County must also be present in decisions made in Brussels.
The goal is for European security not to remain a distant institutional topic, but to become a concrete local result: safer communities, stronger institutions, more opportunities and more trust at home.