The European Commission has launched the Preparedness Union Strategy to support member states and enhance Europe’s capability to prevent and respond to emerging threats.
It comes as the EU is facing increasingly complex crises and challenges from growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, hybrid and cybersecurity threats, foreign information manipulation and interference, to climate change and increasing natural disasters.
The strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed action plan to advance these objectives, as well as developing a ‘preparedness by design culture’ across all EU policies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our Member States, and our businesses need the right tools to act both to prevent crises and to react swiftly when a disaster hits.
“Families living in flood zones should know what to do when the waters rise. Early warning systems can prevent regions hit by wildfires from losing precious time. Europe stands ready to support Member States and trusted partners in the neighbourhood to save lives and livelihoods.”
Overall, by taking 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. The Niinistö Report on Preparedness and Readiness of the EU has noted that strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness to address increased security challenges in health, migration, technology security, climate defence or the economy, is a matter of urgency.
The strategy has focused on an integrated all-hazards approach, which brings together all relevant actors, across 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.
