The EU Commission wants to propose guidelines to the member states on how the population can provide for itself for 72 hours in the event of an emergency: In extreme crises, the first phase is critical, according to the communication on the new preparedness strategy. The guide is intended to clarify the issue of essential emergency supplies such as food, as well as possible shelters. A new online platform with tailored information for citizens and travelers on dangers and ways to mitigate risks is also planned.
The guide for citizens is one of 30 measures proposed by the Commission together with an action plan as part of the strategy. New realities require a higher level of crisis preparedness, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Citizens, member states and companies need the necessary instruments to prevent crises or to be able to react to an emergency. A new crisis awareness is needed so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency, added Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu. The crisis prevention strategy is like an insurance policy.
A key objective is to involve the population more actively in crisis preparedness. The handling of threats and emergencies is also to be taught in schools, and an annual "EU Day of Preparedness" is to promote awareness. The strategy is based on last year's Niinistö report. Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö emphasized that the EU must improve its civil and military preparedness in the face of growing threats. The new EU strategy is partly based on the example of Finland, which, with its more than 1000-kilometer-long border with Russia, has, among other things, a well-developed civil defence system.
Crisis prevention is not just a national task, said Mînzatu. A joint European approach is also needed.And it is better to "repair the roof while the sun is shining." However, the EU and the member states do not have to start from scratch, as the coronavirus pandemic has shown. The strategy attempts to do justice to the different perceptions of the threat situation between Southern and Eastern Europeans.
In Spain, the focus is on protection against natural disasters such as flooding, said the Vice President. In the Baltic states, the focus is more on the man-made threat of cyber attacks. The action plan includes the establishment of an EU crisis coordination center. This is based on the Emergency Response Coordination Center (ERCC). Before the end of this year, the Commission intends to propose how the member states should build up reserves of critical resources or ensure the supply of water. In addition, the member states are to set up a digital communication infrastructure in the event of a crisis.
The proposal for an EU strategy on crisis preparedness represents a decisive step towards strengthening Europe's resilience, security and stability, writes MEP Lena Düpont (CDU) in a reaction. The MEP particularly welcomes the fact that civil and military security are to be more closely interlinked. Socialist MEP Tobias Cremer also welcomes the comprehensive security concept for society as a whole. At the same time, he criticizes the fact that the strategy paper falls short of expectations in terms of social resilience and social cohesion. In an era of hybrid warfare, social cohesion is just as relevant to security as defense spending or investment in civil protection.