The European Commission has presented its anti-crisis preparation release for the European Union (EU) in which it proposes to create a Coordination Center To improve the response capacity and educate the population To be ready to deal with hybrid threats, natural disasters, or possible armed conflicts.
Why do you need an EU preparation strategy?
The pandemia of COVID-19 In 2020, the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the multiples natural catastrophesfrom floods to forest fires, and now the return of Donald Trump To the White House have put European security in check. In recent months, several countries such as Sweden, Finland or Belgium have warned about the need to launch an anti-crisis preparation plan at the community scale. In a statement, the final government argued that “The preparation of crises is one of the cornerstones of security.”
In response, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von Der read commissioned the former president of Finland Sauli Niinistö A report about it. Ninistö certified that the EU I did not have the political structures or the necessary resources to respond the threats to which he faces and formulated a series of recommendations, part of which now collects the community executive.
What threats does the EU face?
Communication speaks of four types of threats. The first is the natural disasters such as floods, fires or other extreme weather events caused by climate change. The second Disasters caused by human action such as industrial accidents, technological failures or pandemics. The third refers to hybrid threats ranging from misinformation campaigns to critical infrastructure sabotages or cyber attacks. The fourth and last threat that Brussels identifies are the armed conflictsincluding possible direct attacks against member countries of the Union.
What do you propose in response?
The commission has presented a battery of actions and ideas to improve the anticipation capacityof resilience, of Population preparationof public-private and civil and military cooperation, in addition to reinforcing the response capacity to crises.
How does it plan to improve anticipation?
The Commission proposes to develop a frame for risk assessment and threats that allow to evaluate the risks and emit an early alert. Also reinforce cooperation To improve the exchange of information and good practices. Brussels also proposes to strengthen the Emergency Response Coordination Center.
What does the commission refer to when talking about resilience?
Brussels refers to guarantee basic services In case of crisis, such as access to health, transport, telecommunications or drinking water. In this sense, in addition to including this aspect in its way of doing politics, the Commission proposes to establish a global framework with minimal requirements. Also includes in this area the plan of Adaptation to climate change. In addition, Brussels opens the door to launch a strategy of European Storage of Critical Resources As medicines, material necessary to respond to disasters, technological components that allow guaranteeing energy supply, or even water and food to deal with possible shortage in case of crisis. The Commission does not clarify however if it will ask governments to take over or can underway a purely European system.
How do you consider preparing the population?
According to the commission, 60% of The European population does not feel prepared to deal with a disaster, 50% do not even know what to do and two thirds consider that they need more information. That is why Brussels considers that it is essential to educate the population about how to respond in case of crisis. The commission raises launch awareness campaigns nationally and local. It also proposes to improve public alert systems.
The other proposal of the Executive is the idea of calling the population to have ready emergency plans and kits In case of crisis that include food, water, medicines or batteries that allow them survive without any supply for at least 72 hours. Brussels puts an example of the situation of thousands of people without access to food, drinking water or light on the days that followed The Dana in Valencia. It is in any case a proposal in which it will work with European governments to present a more specific guide.
Why is public-private cooperation necessary?
To begin with, crises do not understand estates. The impact usually affects private companies and at the same time, these can play a fundamental role in the response. In particular, Brussels points to the need for protocols in case of crisis in companies, and also that these are part of the preparation plans to guarantee the availability of essential goods.
And civil and military?
The EU acknowledges that The worst possible scenario is that of a conflict But in reality, the threats that they already face have more to do with what we know as hybrid war: cyber attacks and sabotages. In all these areas, cooperation “without fissures” between civil and military authorities is key.
The commission calls to establish a civil-military preparation frame With clear functions and responsibilities, facilitate investment in two -use technologies (such as drones or radars) and Periodically perform preparation exercises To test capabilities. Brussels also call to improve cooperation with strategic partners such as NATO.
How can we reinforce our response capacity?
The Commission warns that crises, from pandemics, cyber attacks, but also the effects of climate change, do not usually affect a single country. In addition, they often come in cascade. That’s why Coordination is fundamental.
In this sense, Brussels proposes to establish a crisis coordination center at the community level. Also insists on the need to reinforce systems of Early alert and information exchange mechanisms, but also the response by increasing capacities for example of Union Civil Protection Mechanismto facilitate help where necessary.
In addition, the commission together with the high representative for the EU foreign policy will make use of this reinforced cooperation to carry out a more in depth analysis of possible threatswhich will present next year.
“The new realities demand a new level of preparation in Europe”, Von der has said in a statement, “our citizens, our member states and our companies need the right tools both to prevent crises and to react quickly when a catastrophe occurs.” This series of measures expects to contribute to that response capacity.
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