The European Commission has presented guidance to help people meet basic needs during the first 72 hours of an emergency. School education, disability inclusion and reliable risk information are also covered. The non-binding measures accompany work to keep national civil protection contact points operating during disruptions and a proposal for an annual preparedness day beginning in 2027.
The European Commission presented new crisis-preparedness measures on 3 November. Hadja Lahbib, the commissioner responsible for preparedness and crisis management, introduced the guidance at the European Civil Protection Forum. The package includes helping people meet basic needs during the first 72 hours of an emergency, while public assistance is mobilised. The population-preparedness guidelines are non-binding for member states.[1], [2]
Preparedness education for pupils and teachers is another part of the guidance. It also calls for emergency planning to include people with disabilities and for authorities and first responders to be trained to meet their needs. Risk communication forms a separate area, focused on access to reliable information. A recommendation on operational continuity seeks to keep national civil protection contact points functioning during disruptions and calls for resilience tests. That recommendation is also non-binding.[1]
The Commission proposed an annual preparedness day from 2027, to be held on 23 October. The date marks the establishment of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, which coordinates disaster assistance, in 2001. A citizens’ panel of 150 participants meeting between March and May had called for a recurring public preparedness event. The measures follow the Preparedness Union Strategy presented in March 2025, with national and local authorities among the intended users of the guidance.[1]
