EU Preparedness Strategy to prevent and respond to emerging threats and crises
The Commission and the High Representative have launched the European Union (EU) Preparedness Strategy to support Member States and improve Europe's capacity to prevent and respond to emerging threats.
Its presentation comes at a time when the European Union is facing increasingly complex crises and challenges that cannot be ignored. From increased geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, information manipulation and interference by foreign actors, to climate change and the increase in natural disasters, the EU must be prepared to protect its citizens and the key societal functions that are crucial for democracy and everyday life.
Specifically, the Strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed Action Plan to advance the Union's preparedness objectives and develop a ‘culture of preparedness by design’ in all EU policies.
President Ursula von der Leyen has stated the following: ‘New realities demand a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our Member States and our companies need the right tools to act, both to prevent crises and to react quickly in the event of a disaster. Families living in flood zones must know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions affected by forest fires from losing precious time. Europe stands ready to support Member States and neighbouring countries that are our trusted partners to save lives and livelihoods’.
The Strategy's key objectives and actions are as follows:
Protecting Europe's essential societal functions:
- Develop minimum preparedness criteria for essential services such as hospitals, schools, transport and telecommunications.
- Improve the backup storage of critical equipment and materials.
- Improve adaptation to climate change and the availability of critical natural resources such as water.
Encourage preparedness among the population:
- Encourage the population to adopt practical measures, such as maintaining essential supplies for a minimum period of 72 hours in emergency situations.
- Integrate preparedness classes into school curricula and introduce an EU Preparedness Day.
Improve coordination of crisis response:
- Establish an EU crisis centre to improve integration between existing EU crisis structures.
Strengthen civil-military cooperation:
- Conduct regular preparedness exercises at EU level, involving the joint participation of the Armed Forces, Civil Protection, Police, security forces, health personnel and firefighters.
- Facilitate dual-use investments.
Strengthen foresight and anticipation capacities:
- Develop a comprehensive EU-level risk and threat assessment to help prevent crises, such as natural disasters or hybrid threats.
Increase public-private cooperation:
- Create a public-private working group on preparedness.
- Formulate emergency protocols with companies to ensure the rapid availability of essential materials, goods and services and to guarantee critical production lines.
Strengthen cooperation with external partners:
- Work with strategic partners, such as NATO, in the areas of military mobility, climate and security, emerging technologies, cyberspace, space and the defence industry.
Overall, through a proactive approach to preparedness, the EU aims to build a more resilient and secure continent, better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century.
Survival kit
The EU has detailed what is needed to survive for 72 hours without external assistance, within the European Union Preparedness Strategy, in the event of a climate catastrophe or war.
The emergency kit that Brussels wants all European households to have should include the following items:
- Bottled water (minimum 5 litres per person)
- Easy-to-prepare food
- A battery-powered radio
- A torch
- A spare battery for your mobile phone
- A stove
- Fuel
- Matches
- Cash
- Medication
- Iodine tablets
- First aid kit
- Adhesive tape
- A fire extinguisher
- Hygiene items
Background
The Niinistö report on strengthening EU preparedness concluded that there is an urgent need to reinforce the availability and the civil and military preparedness of Europe to face the growing challenges affecting security in the fields of health, migration, technological security, climate, defence and the economy. The report called for a profound change in mindset and a transformation in the way we understand and prioritise preparedness across the European Union. It also recognised that preparedness is not only a national responsibility, but a shared European endeavour that requires a stronger role for the Union in coordinating and supporting Member States in this area.
The Strategy therefore focuses on an integrated approach that covers all risks, a whole-of-government approach, bringing together all relevant actors at all levels of government (local, regional, national and EU), and a whole-of-society approach, bringing together citizens, local communities and civil society, businesses and social partners, as well as the scientific and academic communities.
Furthermore, in close cooperation with the Member States, the Union has the capacity to face future crises and can offer substantial and effective solutions for citizens and societies. The events and risks that the European Union has faced in recent years, and the firm and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have shown that close cooperation between the European Union and the Member States leads to better results for people and societies.