Newsweek reports this.
The report on Europe’s preparedness for civil and military crises, published on Wednesday, was prepared by Sauli Niinistö, former president of Finland and special advisor to the president of the European Commission. This voluminous 165-page document has already been delivered to Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.
The authors point out that the EU was not prepared for either the COVID-19 pandemic or Russia’s aggressive actions towards Ukraine. The European Union must move from a reactive attitude towards threats to a more proactive approach to preparedness.
The Russian threat is the main one, but not the only one
Although the report highlights several potential threats, Russian aggression is identified as the primary one.
“The EU does not have a clear action plan in the event of an armed attack against one of its member states. The threat from Russia forces us to consider this issue as a key element of our strategy, along with preparation for other important challenges. ”says the document.
Concern is especially strong among countries bordering the Russian Federation; However, any attack by Russia on an EU country will affect all 27 states of the Union.
“The territorial integrity and political independence of each EU member state are inextricably linked,” the authors emphasize. The report also states that empowering citizens and strengthening self-reliance should be at the core of the EU’s preparedness strategy.
Crisis preparedness measures
The report suggests allocating at least 20% of the EU budget to security measures and crisis preparedness, as well as intensifying intelligence sharing between EU countries.
EU citizens are recommended to prepare for self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours in the event of a crisis, stocking the home with food, water, medicine, as well as a flashlight and a battery-powered radio.
“These recommendations are designed to prepare communities for a variety of crises, including a new pandemic, extreme weather conditions or even armed conflict. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how quickly shortages and demand for supplies can arise, and has driven to the global community. “The community recognizes the importance of personal preparedness,” the report’s authors conclude.
Cursor previously wrote that Scientists said humanity needs to prepare for a new pandemic.. The emergence and spread of new pathogens is inevitable.
