EU issues guidelines to strengthen Europe's emergency preparedness

The European Commission is intensifying efforts to strengthen preparedness across the EU, citing the “increasingly frequent and complex crises” in Europe.

Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, unveiled new guidelines on Tuesday to help countries, people, and neighbourhoods prepare for emergencies.

“Every European should know what to do, how to protect their family, and how to help others,” Lahbib said. “Preparedness starts in our homes, in our schools, in our communities.”

The guidelines cover 4 key areas, starting with 72-hour self-sufficiency, which advises people to stock supplies and cater for themselves, while public assistance is being mobilised.

The second is preparedness education, which focuses on incorporating contingency planning into early childhood and primary education curricula and providing training for educators.

The third is disability-inclusive preparedness, which highlights the needs of persons with disabilities and encourages their participation in planning, while the fourth is communicating risks and threats.

The framework is hinged on the adopted recommendation on operational continuity and stress-testing to strengthen the resilience of national civil protection contact points.

The European Commission, meanwhile, has proposed an annual EU Preparedness Day to be held 23 October each year, starting in 2027, to promote active involvement in emergency planning.