European Union citizens should stockpile enough food and other essential supplies to sustain them for at least 72 hours in the event of a crisis, the EU Commission has said.
In new guidance released Wednesday, March 26, the commission stressed the need for Europe to shift its mindset, to foster a culture of “preparedness” and “resilience.”
The 18-page document warns that Europe is facing a new reality marred with risk and uncertainty, citing Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, sabotage of critical infrastructure, and electronic warfare as prominent factors.
The initiative appears to serve as a wake-up call for member states to the gravity of the bloc’s security situation.
Russia’s threats and the Trump administration’s confrontational approach towards Europe have prompted European leaders to stress the need for war readiness.
The Commission’s European Preparedness Union Strategy says citizens across the continent should adopt practical measures to ensure they are ready in case of an emergency. This includes having enough essential supplies to last them for a minimum of three days, the document says. “In the case of extreme disruptions, the initial period is the most critical,” it says.
Overall, civilians should be encouraged to foster self-reliance and psychological resilience, the document states.
The commission also calls for the introduction of “preparedness” lessons in the school curricula, including giving pupils the skills to fight disinformation and information manipulation.
“New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe.,” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a statement. “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.”