Even though significant progress has been made over the past years to adapt human well-being, ecosystems, and the economy in Europe to climate change, the forthcoming integrated European Climate Resilience and Risk Management Framework (ECRRMF) must take a more ambitious approach to ensure resilience and preparedness across Europe by 2050. This scientific opinion paper, published by the German Environment Agency (UBA), outlines scientific recommendations - based on 20 years of experience in Germany - to strengthen the design and implementation of the ECRRMF. It proposes key objectives for the integrated framework, as well as actionable pathways across enabling governance mechanisms, the climate adaptation policy cycle and cross-cutting considerations.