The European Commission has launched an unprecedented safety strategy that will affect all 450 million citizens of the Union, including Poles. Plan named “The Union of Preparedness” implies a fundamental change in the approach to crisis management. From now on, the work for surviving the first critical hours of disaster or conflict is to remainder not only on the services, but besides on average citizens. This is simply a historical phrase that makes each of us an active associate in the civilian defence system. The initiative is simply a direct consequence to a series of shocks – from pandemic and its impact on supply chains, through climate disasters, to Russian aggression against Ukraine and expanding hybrid attacks. Brussels says plainly: states will not always be able to respond immediately, and citizens must be ready for independence.
What precisely does the "survivor package" mean for Poles?
A central and most tangible component of the fresh strategy is the advice to every household in Poland and the EU as a full had supplies to last for a minimum of 72 hours without any external assistance. Analysts considered this period to be a crucial time that emergency services request to organise effective assistance after a large-scale disaster. The guidelines of the European Commission are very concrete and practical.
Each home endurance package shall contain:
- Food: Products with a long shelf life that do not require complicated preparation. Canned foods (meat, fish, vegetables), biscuits, pasta, groats, rice, and lyophilised foods are recommended.
- Water: Absolute minimum three litres of drinking water per individual per day. This means that a household of 4 should have at least 36 litres of water stored or have reliable filters for treatment.
- First-aid kit: A well-equipped first aid kit, containing dressing agents, painkillers and antipyretics, and most importantly – individual supply of medicines for people suffering from chronic diseases.
- Independent sources of information and light: Battery (or crank) radio to receive emergency messages, as well as flashlights, candles and spare batteries.
- Basic tools: Multi-purpose knife, matches or lighter, basic tools that may be needed in case of failure.
The aim is to make a situation where citizens will not be at the mercy of the first, most chaotic days of crisis, thus relieving the services that can focus on the most urgent tasks.
Why is the Union on alert? Shocking data and fresh threats
The Brussels decision is not based on theoretical assumptions but on hard data and painful experiences of fresh years. The alarming results of the Eurobarometer showed that Almost half of EU citizens would be in a critical situation after 3 days cuts from food and water supply. This problem is peculiarly severe in large cities, where residents trust on regular deliveries to stores and do not accumulate supplies.
The catalyst for change was convergence of respective powerful threats. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of global supply chains. fast weather phenomena specified as flooding in Germany and fires in Greece have shown that rescue systems can be rapidly overwhelmed. But this Russian invasion of Ukraine It became the final alarm bell, making Europe aware of the reality of the armed conflict at its borders. There is besides a increasing wave of cyber attacks and acts of sabotage aimed at critical infrastructure, which confirms that the continent has become the mark of a systemic destabilisation campaign.
It's not just supplies. The changes will besides affect schools and infrastructure
The Union of Preparedness strategy is much more than just recommendations on home pantry. It's a comprehensive plan to rebuild reasoning about safety on all level. 1 of the revolutionary ideas is Include emergency education in compulsory school programmes in all associate States. The goal is to rise generations who can identify a threat, know how to respond in an emergency and aid others. alternatively of panic and helplessness, future adults are to be equipped with applicable endurance skills.
The plan besides involves massive investments in double-use infrastructure. fresh roads, railway lines or telecommunications networks are to be designed to service not only civilian purposes, but besides to let fast evacuation of the population or efficient deployment of troops in the event of a conflict. peculiar emphasis was placed on protecting critical objects – power plants, water captures, hospitals and server rooms – from physical and cyber attacks. associate States are required to carry out safety audits and implement state-of-the-art safety systems.
How do another countries prepare? Germany is already implementing the plan
Although the strategy is new, any countries are already at the forefront of its implementation. Germany became a pioneer, updating its General Defence Framework Directive. This paper sets out detailed procedures for the government, companies and citizens in the event of a war. The German Home Minister, Nancy Faeser, has repeatedly stressed that preparations are a necessity in the face of possible Russian aggression.
The example of Germany is to become a model for the remainder of the Union, including Poland. The aim is to harmonise procedures so that global cooperation can be efficient and coordinated in the event of a cross-border crisis. This is besides a fundamental change in the communication of authorities with citizens. alternatively of calming down and minimising risks, European leaders put transparency on the table. It was considered that a well-informed citizen is simply a citizen better prepared And more panic-resistant. This fresh honesty in talking about threats is expected to build trust and a sense of perpetuity, not fear.
Continued here:
The European Union with a fresh plan. Poles must prepare for 3 days without help!
