The EU Preparedness Union Strategy lays down actions to prevent and react to emerging threats and crises, such as growing geopolitical tensions and conflicts, climate change and increasing natural disasters. Key objectives of the Strategy are: (i) protecting Europe's essential societal functions; (ii) promoting population preparedness; (iii) enhancing crisis response coordination; (iv) strengthening civil-military cooperation; (v) bolstering foresight and anticipation capabilities; (vi) increasing public-private cooperation; (vii) enhancing cooperation with external partners. The Strategy includes 30 key actions and a detailed Action Plan to advance the Preparedness Union's objectives, as well as developing a ‘preparedness by design culture' across all EU policies. This Strategy provides for a proactive approach to preparedness to build a more resilient and secure European continent, better equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. It focuses on an integrated all-hazards approach, a whole-of-government 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. Vital societal functions will be protected by developing minimum preparedness criteria for essential services such as hospitals, schools, transport, and telecommunications; stockpiling critical equipment and materials; and enhancing climate adaptation and the availability of critical natural resources such as water. Nature-based solutions will be promoted to enhance preparedness and resilience including against natural disasters. Broader societal resilience cover agriculture, fisheries, waste, environment, climate change, sanitation, social protection and education sectors. Population preparedness will be promoted by encouraging the public to adopt practical measures, such as maintaining essential supplies for a minimum of 72 hours in emergencies, integrating preparedness lessons into school curricula and introducing an EU Preparedness Day to recognize efforts of national, regional and local authorities and communities to enhance preparedness and to raise awareness for preparedness needs in the population. Crisis response coordination will be strengthened through the establishment of an EU Crisis Hub to improve integration among existing EU crisis structures. Civil-military cooperation will be strengthened by conducting regular EU-wide preparedness exercises, uniting armed forces, civil protection, police, security, healthcare workers, and firefighters, and facilitating dual-use investments. A comprehensive risk and threat assessment will be developed at EU level, helping prevent crises such as natural disasters or hybrid threats. A ‘crisis dashboard’ will be developed, bringing together sectoral rapid alert systems and improving coordination for decision-makers. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre will be strengthened to be more proactive in managing emergencies and crises. The Commission and the High Representative will develop a catalogue of methods and guidelines for Member States to enhance preparedness training to ensure a coordinated and effective crisis preparedness and response. Public-private cooperation will be improved by creating a public-private preparedness taskforce. The public procurement framework will be revized to strengthen preparedness, namely by reinforcing security of supply along key value chains, particularly in times of crises. Emergency protocols will be formulated with businesses to ensure rapid availability of essential materials, goods, and services, and secure critical production lines. The cooperation with strategic partners like NATO will be enhanced on military mobility, climate and security, emerging technologies, cyber, space, and the defence industry.
2025-03-26