EU Civil Protection Forum: Lahbib “Prepared, not afraid”, four guidelines and first EU Preparedness Day

The 9^th European Civil Protection Forum opened on 3 November 2026 in Brussels, where Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, announced four guidelines on population preparedness and a proposal for an annual EU Preparedness Day on 23 October, with a first edition in 2027.

The two-day Forum “Preparing today, ready for tomorrow” included a celebration of the 25^th anniversary of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The measures implemented the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025.

The non-binding guidelines cover four areas:
• 72-hour self-sufficiency: supplies and grab bags for the first three days of an emergency, while public assistance is mobilised.
• Preparedness education: integration into early childhood and primary curricula, with…