Emergency bag. Photo: Shutterstock The European Commission is introducing new measures to help citizens prepare for emergencies, including a recommendation that people should be able to manage their essential needs independently during the first 72 hours of a crisis.
The initiative, presented on November 3, 2026, by European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib at the European Civil Protection Forum, is part of the EU's broader effort to strengthen its ability to respond to increasingly frequent and complex emergencies.
Alongside the new population preparedness guidelines, the Commission announced plans to establish an annual EU Preparedness Day, with the first edition scheduled for October 23, 2027.
The measures are part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025, which aims to improve Europe's ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises.
One of the central recommendations is that citizens should be prepared to meet their basic needs independently for the first three days of an emergency, while public authorities organize assistance and emergency services respond.
The Commission's guidelines encourage people to prepare essential emergency supplies and keep an emergency grab bag ready for situations requiring evacuation or temporary disruption to everyday life.
The guidance also addresses several other aspects of public preparedness.
These include introducing emergency preparedness education into early childhood and primary school curricula, alongside training for teachers. The aim is to help children develop practical safety skills through age-appropriate activities without creating unnecessary fear or anxiety.
Another priority is making emergency planning more accessible to people with disabilities. The Commission wants authorities to consider their specific needs and involve them in preparedness planning so that emergency measures do not leave anyone behind.
The guidelines also call for better communication of risks and threats, with authorities expected to provide timely, reliable and accessible information before, during and after emergencies.
The recommendations are non-binding, meaning they provide guidance for national authorities rather than imposing new legal obligations on EU citizens.
The Commission is also proposing a dedicated annual event to make emergency preparedness a more visible priority across Europe.
EU Preparedness Day would take place every October 23, beginning in 2027. The date marks the anniversary of the establishment of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism on October 23, 2001.
The mechanism coordinates assistance between EU countries and participating states when major disasters and emergencies occur, both within Europe and beyond its borders.
The annual event is intended to encourage citizens, local communities and organizations to take a more active role in emergency planning. It will also recognize the work of national, regional and local authorities and civil protection organizations.
The initiative follows recommendations from the European Citizens' Panel on Preparedness, which brought together 150 citizens from across the EU between March and May 2026. Among their proposals was the introduction of an annual European Preparedness Week.
The Commission plans to work with the European Parliament, the Council and other EU institutions on a joint declaration supporting the initiative.
Beyond household preparedness, the Commission is also addressing the ability of national emergency coordination systems to continue operating during major disruptions.
A newly adopted Recommendation on Operational Continuity and Stress-Testing provides guidance to EU Member States and participating countries on keeping their national civil protection contact points operational during emergencies.
These contact points play an important role in coordinating assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The recommendation encourages countries to develop continuity plans and regularly test them to identify weaknesses before a major crisis occurs.
The guidance draws on lessons from previous emergencies and disruptions, with the objective of ensuring that European civil protection coordination can continue operating around the clock, even under difficult conditions.