EU must prepare for disasters, pandemics, failing infrastructure and hybrid attacks

The EPP Group wants the EU to be prepared for any future crises - be it attacks on critical infrastructure, supply chain disruptions, pandemics, cyberattacks, or potential wars. The upcoming EU Preparedness Union Strategy, to be presented on Wednesday, will mark a vital step toward enhancing Europe’s resilience, security, and stability.

“Preparedness demands proactivity. It requires a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach that anticipates every possible scenario. We must break down the barriers between internal and external security and integrate capabilities across both civilian and military sectors,” says Lena Düpont MEP, EPP Group’s Spokeswoman for Home Affairs. 

The EPP Group calls for greater cooperation and coordination between EU Member States on civil and defence preparedness. Europe needs a robust EU-wide risk assessment system - one that can evaluate threats based on their likelihood and impact and enable a unified, strategic response.

"In this era of geopolitical instability, climate change, and global health risks, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is more important than ever. COVID-19 taught us the importance of readiness -  how emergencies escalate quickly and know no borders. We must build our preparedness capacity rather than depend on external help," says Peter Liese MEP, the EPP Group’s Spokesman on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

The EPP Group expects the new EU Preparedness Union Strategy to deliver the strategic foresight needed to strengthen Europe’s early warning systems, threat analysis, and operational coordination.