European Union Urges Citizens to Stockpile Food, Supplies in Case of Crisis

The European Union is urging its citizens across member states to stock up on food and essential supplies, enough to last for three days without any external support in case of a crisis, a new report seen by several news outlets reveals.

European Commission’s draft Preparedness Union Strategy, expected to be published Wednesday, says that “In case of extreme disruptions, the initial period is the most critical,” according to Politico, which has seen the document. The message of the EU is clear: the first 72 hours after any crisis are critical, because during that window outside help may be delayed or simply unavailable. That’s why it’s important that, according to Brussels, every home should have an emergency kit in place.

While the report doesn’t dictate a standardized list, it points to basic supplies like bottled water, non-perishable food, medicines, torches, batteries, and a way to communicate or get information, like a battery-powered radio.

The proposal aims to strengthen civil resilience and preparedness across the 27-member bloc so that its citizens can be ready for anything -whether it’s war, cyber attacks, extreme weather or disease.

For the last several years, Europe has been lurching from one crisis to another -from the COVID-19 pandemic to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and with natural disasters and financial shocks present more than ever.

“None of the major crises of the past years were isolated or short-lived,” the 17-page draft says. “Europe cannot afford to remain inactive.”

Commission Executive Vice President Roxana Minzatu, who is scheduled to present the strategy on Wednesday, told Politico that the document’s message is “fix your roof while the sun is shining,” adding that the Commission’s aim is “helping individuals…on a household level.”

Beyond emergency kits, the EU is pushing for civil defense training, public awareness campaigns and join emergency drills between member states. The goal is to shift the mindset from passive dependence to active readiness.

The growing threats for the European Union that requires its citizens to stockpile on supplies

The Commission’s proposed document doesn’t come out of the blue but rather at a time of growing instability, both globally and right by Europe’s doorstep -where Russia’s war with Ukraine is being fought since 2022.

Intelligence services have openly discussed the possibility of a future armed conflict within Europe’s borders within the next five to ten years. Meanwhile, climate change continues to wreak havoc in the continent through disruptive weather and economic instability.

“Many people do not know what to do in the face of natural disasters,” Minzatu said. “All these types of crises require some set of basic skills, some understanding and knowledge about what to do first,” she said.

Europe should also be prepared for more cyber attacks, the draft states according to Politico. Since the war in Ukraine began, Russia has been ramping up activity in cyberspace, including targeting critical infrastructure such as energy networks. China, Iran and North Korea also consistently target western governments.

State-sponsored hybrid and cyber attacks have become a “permanent feature of today’s reality,” the document argues, and proposes the setup of a “European cybersecurity alert system.”

The draft also includes a strategy to support medical countermeasures against public health threats -to be complemented by contingency stocks proposed in the Critical Medicines Act.