EU will present a new strategy for preparedness for crises

The so called preparedness Union presented by the European Commission and prepared jointly with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas-is intended to respond to the recent crises that the European Union has faced and continues to face, from the COVID-19 pandemic, through natural disasters such as floods and droughts, to the war in Ukraine and increasing hybrid attacks, especially from Russia, cyberattacks destabilize the community.

Brussels has defined ‘preparedness’ as the ability of the European Union to effectively protect its citizens from both natural (natural disasters) and man-made (Wars) threats, and as the ability to guarantee the continued uninterrupted functioning of the community in the event of crises, m.in. by ensuring the functioning of hospitals, schools, institutions and transport infrastructure.

This strategy will help to ensure that when the crisis comes, everything will work as it should, and we will be ready to act quickly and effectively, ” said Roxana Minzatu, EU Commissioner for Social Affairs and preparedness.

The strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed plan for their implementation. The list includes: protecting essential EU services, increasing stocks of critical equipment and materials, improving the EU’s preparedness for climate change.

Among the key actions, the EC also highlighted the role of promoting preparedness among citizens. In practice, this means encouraging them to m.in. to collect basic supplies (food, medicine, water) for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency. According to a Eurobarometer survey conducted in Brussels, 50 per cent of EU citizens are now living in poverty. citizens of the Union after three days would be left without water and food. The strategy also includes the inclusion of preparedness lessons in school curricula. EU sources said: “This is about letting people know what to do when the sirens go off.”

The crisis centre and EU preparedness exercises

The Plan also envisages strengthening the Coordination of crisis response between member states in order to avoid the current fragmentation of actions. I’m talking here. m.in. establishing an EU Crisis Centre and conducting regular EU-wide preparedness exercises. It would involve the military, civil service, police, health workers and Fire Service.

The EU also wants to facilitate the implementation of dual-use investments, such as the construction of roads and railways, which, in addition to transporting civilians, can also be used for the efficient transport of soldiers or heavy military equipment. Here, too, the EU is thinking both of public-private partnerships, including contracts with companies for the rapid delivery of products and materials needed in times of crisis, and of cooperation with strategic partners, such as NATO, on security issues or the transport of troops.

An important step is to improve systems for forecasting upcoming crises, which is supposed to allow them to be prevented in time. In Brussels, it is said that the EU plan resembles the solutions already existing in the Scandinavian countries, which have well-developed crisis guides for the population. They contain instructions, m.in. how to survive in a crisis for at least 72 hours.

EU officials also acknowledge that in order to protect itself effectively, the Union needs to change its approach.

We need to be more proactive, just responding to crises is no longer enough, ” she said.

The commission plans to present the financing details of the strategy in July, together with a proposal for the next multiannual EU budget. However, officials remind that, according to estimates, 1 euro spent on prevention will help to save 7-10 euros, which would have to be spent in response to the crisis.