EditEU member states show uneven progress in crisis preparedness
From Nordic resilience to Southeastern caution, Europe’s approach to survival kits and emergency planning reflects stark national contrasts
As geopolitical tensions between Russia and the West persist, the European Union is reviving its call for citizens to be ready for crises with basic survival kits. EUalive’s partner Siol reports.
Several member states, especially those bordering Russia, have already updated and distributed manuals on how to respond in emergencies and what to include in a 72-hour survival kit. Others, such as Slovenia and Bulgaria, have taken only initial steps, testing alert systems without yet providing households with detailed instructions.
The European Commission’s initiative, presented by Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, urges EU citizens to prepare enough food, water and essential supplies to be self-sufficient for at least three days in the event of severe disruptions.
“Knowing what to do in an emergency prevents panic,” Lahbib said, recalling the empty supermarket shelves seen during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. She unveiled her own survival kit and called on each member state to draw up a list of items tailored to the risks they face. Recommended essentials include copies of personal documents, cash, a battery-powered radio, chargers, flashlights, matches, first aid, food and water, and even simple board games to help pass the time.
The new EU preparedness strategy outlines dozens of action points, from creating a central crisis coordination hub to building a strategic reserve of critical equipment, such as firefighting aircraft, medical stockpiles and tools for responding to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. The plan draws on the work of former Finnish president Sauli Niinistö, who stressed the need for strategic resilience across Europe.
Not everyone is convinced. The far-right in the European Parliament accused the Commission of spreading fear and “war hysteria.” Kinga Gál of the Patriots for Europe group argued that such measures create panic rather than reassurance. “There is no war in the European Union, and I hope there never will be,” she told Euronews.
Yet several governments have already taken significant steps. Sweden updated and distributed its “In case of crisis or war” booklet in late 2024, while Finland launched an online guide to help citizens cope with blackouts, storms or even military conflict. In both countries, more than half of households reportedly keep emergency supplies. The Baltic states have also moved quickly: Lithuania’s “Knowledge Saves” campaign began in 2022, Estonia updated its emergency handbook in June 2024, and Latvia issued new brochures advising citizens on how to manage the first three days of a crisis. Poland has pledged to deliver survival manuals to every household by the end of the year.
Western Europe is catching up as well. France introduced visual guides for flood preparedness, Germany updated its survival kit recommendations after the 2021 floods, and Belgium’s National Crisis Centre encourages residents to purchase emergency packs and register with its BeAlert warning system.
In Central and Southeastern Europe, progress is uneven. Slovenia recently tested its SI-ALARM system, which sends warning messages to mobile phones in affected areas, though technical glitches meant some users never received the alerts. Authorities promised improvements. Bulgaria has a similar BG-Alert system in place, also aligned with EU standards, but has not provided households with survival kit guidelines or distributed preparedness handbooks. Public awareness remains limited compared with Nordic or Baltic countries, although commercial retailers do offer private survival kits for purchase.
“Of course, we all hope never to need such preparations,” Danish MEP Stine Bosse commented, “but even in cases of floods, storms or fires, it is useful to have some essentials at hand.”
For the EU, the push is not just about geopolitical uncertainty. It is also about fostering a culture of readiness against increasingly complex, interconnected crises. Whether citizens heed the advice may depend less on Brussels’ messaging than on the credibility and visibility of national campaigns.
Caption: Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management, and Equality, gives a press conference on the EU Preparedness Union Strategy to prevent and react to emerging threats and crises following the weekly college meeting of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, 26 March 2025. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Updated: October 1, 2025 - 13:34
