What is the purpose of a survival kit (emergency backpack) and why should citizens be prepared to meet their basic needs for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency, as recommended by the European Commission?
In light of the public debate that has arisen regarding the new guidelines for preparing Europeans for emergencies, sources at the European Commission answered questions from the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, explaining the rationale behind the new guidelines and the reasons for emphasizing citizens’ self-sufficiency for 72 hours.
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The key change, as they point out, is “the shift from strategic planning to day-to-day implementation, with the aim of creating a shared culture of preparedness throughout European society.”
The new guidelines, presented on November 3, 2026, by Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, a few days ago at the European Civil Protection Forum—as relevant sources clarify— had been previously announced as proposed actions under the EU Preparedness Strategy of March 2025, with the Commission fulfilling this commitment and moving forward, as the same sources add, “to the next step in this effort, specifying the actions needed to systematically strengthen citizens’ preparedness in all member states.”
At the same time, the importance of strengthening preparedness for all types of crises—whether caused by natural phenomena or by human processes and actions— is underscored by the president of the OASP and professor emeritus of Dynamic Tectonics, Applied Geology, and Natural Disaster Management at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Efthymis Lekkas. He views the EU’s recommendations positively, noting, however, that “this in no way implies a strategy of intimidation.”
As announced by the European Commission, as Europe faces increasingly frequent and complex crises, the European Commission is stepping up its efforts to strengthen preparedness across the EU. In this context, Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, presented new guidelines on November 3, 2026, aimed at preparing people and communities for emergencies.
These guidelines focus on four key areas:
- 72-hour self-sufficiency for citizens,
- preparedness education starting at a young age,
- the inclusion of people with disabilities,
- and more effective communication regarding risks and threats.
“The Commission is not merely reiterating the actions proposed in 2025. It had already committed, as part of the Strategy for a Preparedness Union presented in 2025, a commitment to develop guidelines for citizens’ self-sufficiency for at least 72 hours. With these guidelines, the Commission is fulfilling this commitment and taking the next step in this effort by specifying the actions needed to systematically strengthen citizens’ preparedness across all Member States. Modern crises can cause simultaneous disruptions to essential services, such as electricity, water, communications, and supply chains. “In the early hours of an emergency, the relevant authorities may need time to organize their response and reach the affected areas,” European Commission sources told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).
As for the first pillar, namely the 72-hour self-sufficiency of citizens, this relates to providing assistance to people to meet their basic needs during the first three days of an emergency, while public assistance is mobilized, including through basic emergency supplies and emergency kits containing, for example, water, food, medicine, and alternative means of heating, cooling, and lighting.
“In practice, citizens will be encouraged to maintain basic supplies of water, food, and medicine, as well as to acquire skills such as first aid and emergency management,” according to European Commission sources.
At the same time, they note, preparedness will be integrated into school curricula so that children learn to recognize risks, evaluate information, and know how to seek help.
Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring that warnings and evacuation procedures are accessible to people with disabilities, as well as on protecting citizens from misinformation and deepfakes.
“The new guidelines, published on November 3, 2026, had been announced in advance as proposed actions under the EU Preparedness Strategy of March 2025 and translate them into concrete measures,” the same sources note, adding that “prior to drafting the guidelines, the Commission organized, among other things, a series of technical consultations with experts from all EU member states, as well as three two-day meetings (March–April–May 2026) of a group of 150 randomly selected citizens from all EU Member States, whose recommendations are publicly available.”
In fact, to make preparedness a shared priority across Europe, the Commission proposes establishing an annual EU Preparedness Day, to be held every October 23, starting in 2027.
In response to a question from the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) about why the 72-hour timeframe was set, European Commission sources clarified that the 72 hours represent a minimum benchmark, so that households can meet their basic needs during the initial phase of a crisis. “This reduces immediate reliance on emergency services, which can then focus on those who need urgent assistance. This timeframe does not mean that a crisis will necessarily be over within three days or that assistance will be delayed for that same period. It means that citizens can be properly prepared, with essential supplies, a family emergency plan, and the necessary knowledge to manage the first difficult hours,” the same sources note.
Along the same lines, Mr. Lekkas points out that it has been estimated that a failure in the power or water supply network could last approximately that long.
As sources at the European Commission point out, the new guidelines—which were developed with input from experts from member states, national civil protection authorities, stakeholders, and citizens, “are non-binding and do not provide for penalties in the event of non-compliance, nor do they impose a single national preparedness plan.”
“Member States remain responsible for developing their own measures, taking into account their specific national circumstances, risks, and needs. The European Commission supports Member States through guidelines, cross-border risk assessments, the exchange of best practices, training activities, and joint exercises. At the same time, it strengthens cooperation through the EU Civil Protection Knowledge Network and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, through which assistance can be mobilized when a crisis exceeds national capabilities. Furthermore, Article 110 of the European Electronic Communications Code includes a provision for public alerts to citizens via mobile communications networks. Consequently, the EU’s goal is to encourage and support all member states in strengthening their preparedness, without replacing national authorities,” emphasize sources at the European Commission.
Source: Proto Thema
