EU Report Recommends 72-Hour Emergency Supplies
An EU report recommends that citizens stockpile food and water for at least 72 hours. Citizens should thus be well prepared for emergencies. The document warns primarily of the threat of war from Russia.
A report on the civil and military preparedness of the European Union recommends that citizens stockpile food and water for at least 72 hours.
Citizens are thus expected to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. According to «Newsweek», the report was authored by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who has since become Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the report on 26 March 2025 and acknowledged that the EU had been insufficiently prepared for both the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Niinistö stated that the EU must proactively prepare for such scenarios.
Households should maintain 72-hour supplies
The report recommends that households store enough supplies for 72 hours. “As part of this strategy, the EU should advise households to be able to sustain themselves for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency,” the document states.
Although the report addresses several potential threats, Russian aggression is identified as the greatest danger. “We have no clear plan for what the EU will do in the event of armed aggression against a member state. The threat of war from Russia compels us to treat this as the centerpiece of our preparedness, without neglecting preparation for other major threats,” the document states. Recommended supplies include, among other things, food, beverages, medicines, and a torch.
The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly prompted people around the world to buy up goods in order to stockpile supplies, leading to shortages of certain items.
«New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe. Our citizens, our member states and our businesses need the right tools to both prevent crises and respond quickly when a disaster strikes.» Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Threat to one member state affects all EU members
While the report does not identify Russian aggression as the only possible threat, it is cited as one of the greatest threats.
The report states that any aggression by Russia against an EU member state would affect all 27 countries of the Union: “The territorial integrity and political independence of each member state are inseparably linked to the other member states and the EU as a whole”. According to «RBC Ukraine», the document recommends investing at least 20 percent of the EU budget in strengthening security and crisis preparedness. Intelligence information must also be more easily exchangeable within the EU.
The 165-page report was handed over to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
