The European Commission is calling on citizens to prepare for emergencies by keeping at least a three-day supply of essentials, including food, water, medicine, batteries and important documents.
The recommendation is part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, a new plan aimed at strengthening Europe’s ability to handle crises like “natural disasters, cybersecurity threats and geopolitical tensions and conflicts.” The strategy outlines 30 key actions to improve readiness across the bloc.
“New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our Member States, and our businesses need the right tools to act both to prevent crises and to react swiftly when a disaster hits,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The plan also calls for stronger emergency preparedness in hospitals, schools, transportation, and telecommunications. A new crisis coordination center will be established to improve cooperation between EU nations.
With Europe still on high alert following the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, officials say a proactive approach is necessary, the document read.
The strategy aims to ensure all 27 member states have a consistent level of readiness to allow for “better outcomes for people and societies” in case of any type of hazards.
While the plan does not introduce new military initiatives, it takes inspiration from Nordic countries, where governments, businesses, and citizens work together on crisis preparedness.
“Today we face an increasing number of external security challenges and a growing number of hybrid attacks in our common European space. It is clear that Europe must be stronger on all fronts and at every level of society,” Kaja Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, is quoted in the document.
“It is always better to prevent crises than to deal with their consequences.”
The EU also plans to expand stockpiles of critical supplies, including medicine and energy equipment, to ensure a swift and coordinated response to future emergencies.