EU: Prepare for 72 hours of emergency. In the background, the shadow of Moscow

Stocks of food, water, medicines and batteries for at least 72 hours. The European Union is preparing to officially ask the citizens of its member states to organise themselves to survive the first three days independently in the event of an emergency. The measure - which at first reading may seem excessive - is part of a much broader and more worrying context: recent intelligence analyses that Russia could launch a military attack against Europe within the next five to ten years.

This was reported by El Paíswho previewed the draft of the Union Preparedness Strategypresented today by the European Commission. A document that, in no uncertain terms, calls on the Member States to prepare concrete plans to strengthen civil resilience and to directly involve the population in the logic of prevention and self-defence.

'Europe's preparedness and resilience in the face of armed violence may be tested in the future,' the draft reads.

An increasingly less hypothetical scenario

The new strategy comes as fears grow over a possible escalation by Moscow. The security agencies of several countries, including Germany, have begun to outline realistic conflict scenariosemphasising that Russia, despite its engagement in Ukraine, is also strengthening its military capacity on the European front.

Brussels responds with a package of 30 strategic measuresincluding the creation of common European stocks (food, energy, medicines), inter-state emergency simulations, training of the civil population and a digital platform for alarms and practical guidance in real time.

But the most delicate step is the use of joint military resources between Member States: a possibility provided for in the European Treaties but which, in this context, takes on a significance that is anything but theoretical.

Changing mindsets to deal with the state of emergency

The European Commission clearly speaks of a 'change of mentality': from the idea of a Europe immune from war, to a society ready to react to violent, sudden and interconnected crises. Per questo, oltre alla risposta militare, si insiste sulla preparazione civile all’emergenza: ogni cittadino europeo deve essere in grado di resistere per almeno tre giorni in assenza di servizi essenziali.

In the coming months, another complementary strategy will focus on the protection of critical infrastructure and the fight against hybrid threats, such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns. These, too, according to the Commission, instruments already active in Russia's geopolitical arsenal.

Europe and the test of history

The new strategic line is clear: this is not alarmism, but realism. The conflict in Ukraine has shown that war can come knocking at Europe's door again. And should the Kremlin decide to extend its pressure beyond its current borders, the EU wants to be ready. At least for 72 hours.

Source: https://elpais.com/internacional/2025-03-26/agua-comida-y-medicinas-que-incluir-en-un-kit-de-emergencia-como-el-que-recomienda-la-ue.html