EU Directive on War Preparedness: Survival Supplies for 72 Hours – Medicines, Food, and Essentials

The European Commission is urging citizens to prepare for emergencies by stockpiling food and essential supplies as part of its strategic readiness plan presented today. According to the front page of the Greek newspaper ‘Ta Nea,’ Brussels is calling on member states to mobilize their citizens to store everything from food to essential items. The Commission emphasizes greater collaboration between civilians and the EU military. In recent days, it was revealed that the Commission has issued detailed guidelines on how citizens can prepare against an impending threat and protect themselves in emergencies. The publication highlights that all EU citizens are urged to stockpile emergency supplies to survive at least 72 hours in case of war, cyberattacks, sabotage on critical infrastructure, natural disasters, or pandemics. This forms part of the Union’s strategy for resilience, which will be presented by Executive Vice President Roxana Minzatou and Commissioner Ajza Lambimp. The strategy also includes increased cooperation between civilians and the military, recognizing the necessity of military involvement in addressing future risks and threats. ‘A resilient Europe must be able to anticipate, withstand, adapt, and recover from any crisis,’ states the draft strategy published by ‘Ta Nea.’ It underscores that current threats require constant readiness. The Commission warns that peace and stability are no longer guaranteed, and Europe’s preparedness and resilience against armed attacks may be tested in the future. The strategy encompasses seven key areas, including civilian-military cooperation, proactive risk prediction, societal resilience, public-private sector collaboration, crisis response coordination, effective decision-making, and resilience through external partnerships. The goal is to protect citizens, minimize the impact of crises on daily life, and maintain vital societal functions. The Commission aims to improve threat assessments and introduce a ‘crisis dashboard’ to assist policymakers in decision-making. Additionally, the Commission will help EU countries with guidelines for households to ensure self-sufficiency for 72 hours with water, food, medicines, batteries, and hygiene products. Stockpiling will occur not only at the citizen level but also across Europe, covering medicines, basic raw materials, food, energy, and systems ensuring minimal water supply. An annual Readiness Day is also proposed across all member states to keep citizens, businesses, and governments vigilant against crises and disasters.