The European Commission is stepping up efforts to prepare people, communities and national emergency services for a growing range of crises, from natural disasters and extreme weather to major disruptions that could
threaten essential services.
The new measures aim to strengthen Europe's ability to withstand emergencies, ensure that citizens know how to protect themselves and maintain the operation of critical civil protection systems when disasters strike.
European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib presented the latest initiatives at the European Civil Protection Forum 2026. The proposals include practical guidance for citizens, a planned annual EU Preparedness Day and new recommendations designed to ensure that national civil protection authorities remain operational during major disruptions.
The Commission is placing particular emphasis on the first 72 hours of an emergency, a period during which individuals and households may need to manage essential needs while public authorities organise assistance.
The initiatives form part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025, which seeks to move Europe away from a predominantly reactive approach to crises towards a more comprehensive system of prevention, preparation and coordinated response.
New guidelines focus on household readiness, schools and vulnerable groups
The Commission's population preparedness guidelines are intended to help national and local authorities turn emergency planning into practical advice that people can follow in everyday life.
The recommendations cover four main areas:
1. Preparing for the first 72 hours
Citizens are encouraged to ensure that they can meet basic needs during the initial three days of an emergency, when public assistance may not yet be fully available. This includes keeping essential supplies at home and preparing an emergency bag containing items needed for a rapid evacuation.
Depending on individual circumstances, emergency kits may include drinking water, non-perishable food, medicines, a torch, batteries, a portable radio, a power bank, cash and important documents.
2. Introducing preparedness education in schools
The Commission wants emergency preparedness to become part of early childhood and primary education. Teachers and educators would receive training to help children understand how to respond to emergencies through age-appropriate activities.
The objective is to develop practical knowledge and confidence without causing unnecessary fear or anxiety among young people.
3. Making emergency planning accessible to everyone
The guidelines call for more inclusive preparedness measures, with particular attention to people with disabilities. Authorities are encouraged to involve people with disabilities in planning and ensure that emergency information, evacuation arrangements and assistance systems are accessible.
The Commission's approach recognises that people may face different challenges during a crisis and that emergency planning must account for those differences.
4. Improving public information and emergency communication
Authorities are encouraged to provide clear, reliable and accessible information before, during and after emergencies. Effective communication is essential to help people understand risks, follow instructions and avoid confusion when situations deteriorate.
The guidelines are non-binding, meaning they do not impose new legal obligations on EU Member States. Instead, they provide a common framework that national and local authorities can adapt to their own circumstances.
The Commission has also published four accompanying guidance documents containing examples of good practice from EU countries and other parts of the world. The recommendations may be revised as authorities gain experience and receive feedback.
EU Preparedness Day planned for October 2027
The Commission is proposing to introduce an annual EU Preparedness Day on 23 October, with the first edition scheduled for 2027.
The initiative is intended to make preparedness a shared public priority, encouraging individuals, families, schools, businesses and communities to take practical steps to protect themselves and others.
The event would also recognise the work of national, regional and local authorities, civil protection organisations and community groups involved in strengthening Europe's emergency response capabilities.
The proposed date has symbolic significance. It marks the anniversary of the establishment of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 23 October 2001. Over the past 25 years, the mechanism has helped coordinate European solidarity and disaster response both within the EU and internationally.
The proposal also follows recommendations from the European Citizens' Panel on Preparedness, which brought together 150 citizens from across the EU between March and May 2026. Among its recommendations was the creation of an annual EU Preparedness Week.
The Commission will work with the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions on a joint declaration supporting the initiative.
Keeping Europe's emergency response systems operational
Alongside measures aimed at citizens, the Commission has adopted a Recommendation on operational continuity and stress-testing to strengthen the resilience of national civil protection contact points.
These contact points play a central role in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, serving as channels through which countries coordinate assistance when major emergencies occur.
The recommendation encourages EU Member States and participating countries to develop operational continuity plans and regularly test their ability to function under disruptive conditions.
The objective is to ensure that national authorities remain able to communicate, coordinate and request or provide assistance even when their own systems are under pressure.
The guidance draws on lessons from previous crises, highlighting the importance of maintaining communication channels and decision-making capacity when emergencies disrupt normal operations.
Although the recommendation is non-binding, the Commission considers operational continuity essential to ensuring that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism can function around the clock and respond effectively to emergencies.
The mechanism enables countries to request and coordinate assistance during disasters that overwhelm national response capacities. Its Emergency Response Coordination Centre operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A broader European strategy for crisis resilience
The latest initiatives are part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025. The strategy was developed in response to growing concerns about Europe's exposure to interconnected threats, including geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, cyberattacks, information manipulation, climate change and natural disasters.
It builds on recommendations from a report prepared by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who called for a fundamental shift in Europe's approach to security and crisis management.
The report argued that preparedness should no longer be treated solely as a responsibility of governments and emergency services. Instead, it should involve the entire society, including businesses, civil society organisations and individual citizens.
The strategy sets out 30 key actions and an action plan aimed at strengthening Europe's ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises. Its priorities include improving early-warning systems, protecting essential services, reinforcing emergency stockpiles and enhancing cooperation between civilian and military authorities.
The Commission has also highlighted the importance of maintaining the continuity of vital services such as healthcare, transport, telecommunications and water supplies during emergencies.
The EU's approach reflects a growing recognition that modern crises rarely remain confined to a single sector or country. A disruption affecting energy supplies, for example, can have consequences for healthcare, transport and communications, while extreme weather events can place simultaneous pressure on emergency services across national borders.
By combining household preparedness, public education, inclusive emergency planning and stronger institutional coordination, the Commission aims to make resilience a routine part of European life rather than a response introduced only after a crisis has begun.
The central message of the new measures is that Europe's ability to withstand future emergencies will depend not only on the capacity of its institutions to respond, but also on how well its citizens, communities and essential services are prepared before disaster strikes.
