The European Commission has introduced new guidelines urging citizens to prepare for emergencies by ensuring they can meet their basic needs independently during the first 72 hours of a crisis.
The guidelines, presented on Tuesday by Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib, also call for emergency preparedness to become part of school education, a statement from the commission said.
Under the recommendations, citizens should keep essential supplies and emergency grab bags ready to help them manage during the first three days of a crisis without relying on immediate external assistance.
The commission said that the measures aim to give individuals and communities the knowledge and resources needed to protect themselves and others during emergencies.
The guidelines also encourage European Union (EU) member states to introduce preparedness education into early childhood and primary school curricula, making emergency awareness part of children’s education.
As part of the initiative, the commission announced plans to introduce an annual EU Preparedness Day, with the first edition scheduled for October 2027.
The recommendations fall under the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, which the bloc adopted in March 2025 to improve Europe’s ability to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises and emerging threats.
