Critical Industries in Critical Times: Can We Plan for and Prevent the Unthinkable

Critical industries form the backbone of EU resilience. The war in Iran has shown just how quickly global trade can be disrupted, with key maritime routes collapsing, energy flows interrupted and supply chains forced to reroute almost overnight. In this context, frameworks such as Operationsplan Deutschland outline how governments may coordinate or prioritise access to essential infrastructure in extreme scenarios, forcing companies to rethink how they plan, pivot and operate under pressure. But resilience is not just about continuity, it is also about protection: securing supply chains, safeguarding critical systems and ensuring that essential capabilities remain operational under stress.