Citizens of the European Union have been advised to stock up on food and basic necessities in case of war or other large-scale emergency. This is stated in a report on EU civil and military preparedness prepared by Sauli Niinistö, an adviser to the President of the European Commission and former President of Finland, Newsweek reports.
According to the document, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine have revealed shortcomings in the EU’s preparations, prompting a shift to a proactive preparedness strategy. Accordingly, households are advised to stock up on supplies to survive autonomously for at least 72 hours in the event of a critical situation.
The report recommends that EU countries provide citizens with guidance on stockpiling, evacuation plans and access to emergency services. Among the essentials are non-perishable food, water, medicines, flashlights, batteries and a portable radio. The document identifies possible aggression from Russia as the main threat.
‘The EU does not have a specific plan of action in case of an armed attack on one of its member states. However, the threat posed by Russia to European security requires that we consider this as an important element of our preparedness, alongside other serious challenges,’ the report says.
Niinistö notes that the key to a preparedness strategy should be empowering citizens. The EU should actively raise awareness and support self-reliance skills among the population. The politician also proposes to increase the EU budget by 20% to strengthen security and crisis response, including enhanced intelligence sharing between member states.
