Faced with the multiplication of global crises, the European Commission received on Sunday 24 May the conclusions of a panel of European citizens dedicated to preparedness and launched two days earlier. Structured around six major strands, the report sets out several avenues for strengthening the resilience of the EU27.
The participants first recommend harmonising European alert systems through colour codes and developing an ‘emergency brochure’ so that every household can “cope independently for at least 72 hours in the event of a crisis”.
To stem disinformation, the panel insists on the need to ensure that this kit “is readily available to financially and health-vulnerable citizens”. This also involves creating “knowledge centres”, conceived as local places intended to better inform people about emergency responses.
In terms of self-sufficiency, the citizens call for food sovereignty to be secured and for digital infrastructures based in the Union to be developed. They call for volunteering to be given greater recognition through an “EU volunteer card” offering tax advantages or ECTS credits for students.
Lastly, the report proposes introducing educational programmes from the age of four years. These would be financed through defence budgets, “reflecting the close link between population preparedness and overall European security”. This decentralised framework will have to adapt to regional contexts while preserving local autonomy.
Read panel recommendations: https://aeur.eu/f/m1c (Original version in French by Justine Manaud)