The European Commission has announced a groundbreaking strategy for the Union of Preparedness to prepare citizens and associate States for major crises. Brussels calls on the citizens of the European Union to make stocks of basic products, specified as food, water and medicines, and to increase individual resilience to disturbances that may happen as a consequence of natural disasters, cyber attacks, armed conflicts or critical infrastructure failure.
This is the first specified comprehensive EU preparatory plan since the Cold War. This change is not a consequence to 1 circumstantial event, but a consequence of a broad hazard analysis and the request to strengthen the resilience of societies in a dynamically changing world.
A fresh civilian safety strategy for Europe
Strategy ‘Union of Preparedness“ is the European Commission’s consequence to the expanding number of threats, both natural and human. The nonsubjective is to increase the capacity of citizens and countries as a full to respond and last in crisis situationsWhatever their nature. The task involves joint, coordinated action at national and EU level, as well as active inclusion of EU residents.
The paper indicated that societies can no longer presume that state services will be able to respond immediately in any emergency. This is why the Union is betting on Education, self-help and resilience of citizens.
What does this mean for citizens? European Commission recommendations
As part of the Commission's recommendations, concrete actions have emerged, to be taken by all citizen of the Union now. Here are the most crucial ones:
Security of basic stocks – Commission calls for each household to be included several days of food, drinking water and medicines. This is intended to let self-function in case supply systems are disrupted.
Access to basic information – It is recommended to prepare your own sources of information (e.g. radio for batteries), emergency contacts and a plan of action in case of cut off from energy networks or telecommunications networks.
Education and exercises – associate States are to organise educational campaigns and hazard simulations to increase the readiness of residents. The EU wants awareness of the risks to be as common as in the Nordic countries or Japan.
Cooperation with neighbours and the local community “The EC underlines that resilience is being built together, so local support networks, training and information exchange will be promoted.
The geopolitical and technological context
The strategy was announced at a hard time – against the background ongoing armed conflicts, fragility of global supply chainsand increasing cyber-attack threats targeted at critical infrastructure. Examples from fresh years – how COVID-19 pandemic, War in Ukraine is attack on the power grid in Germany – revealed how susceptible Europe is to the effects of global and local crises.
In addition, the EC points to Climate change, which already present have the effect of utmost weather, drought and floods. In specified a world, self-response is not adequate – be prepared in advance.
What is the implementation of the strategy?
The Implementation Plan for the Union of Preparedness implies:
By the end of 2025 Each associate State is to make and print its own Educational and operational plan for citizens.
A dedicated web portal will be launched available in all EU languages, including guidebooks, video materials and ready checklists, among others, which products are worth collecting and how to arrange a home contingency plan.
EU implementation infrastructure resilience standards, including cybersecurity, energy independency and consequence procedures in the first 72 hours of the crisis.
Special training centres will be established in cooperation with the European Emergency Management Agency (ERCC), which will carry out exercises and support national services.
Experts: this is simply a step in the right direction, but it will not be without challenges
Civil safety and crisis management experts indicate that The Union of Preparedness can redefine the way Europeans think about threats. In the opinion of analysts, this is simply a long-awaited step, although its implementation will require a large educational and organizational effort – both at national and local level.
As experts emphasize, the biggest challenge will be changing the mentality of societies utilized to comparative safety. meantime – as the data shows – average European does not even have a basic food supply for 48 hours, not to mention the emergency measures or the evacuation plan.
Future perspective: Will Europe become resilient?
“The Union of Preparedness” is not only a method plan, but a method plan. cultural change – Trying to reconstruct citizens' sense of control and work in emergency situations. If the EC strategy is effectively implemented, Europe can become more than just safer, but besides more aware of your weaknesses and strengths.
The coming months will show how associate States will follow these recommendations and whether citizens will truly take the call to safe key resources seriously.
Read more:
The European Commission calls for food and medicines to be safeguarded. fresh guidelines for citizens
