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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Lahbib at the European Citizens Panel on Preparedness Brussels, 20 March 2026 Speech by Commissioner Lahbib at the European Citizens Panel on Preparedness It is great to see so many people from across Europe, so many countries, so many languages. Today I am excited to speak with you about preparedness, and I am looking forward to hearing you...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Lahbib at the European Citizens Panel on Preparedness Brussels, 20 March 2026 Speech by Commissioner Lahbib at the European Citizens Panel on Preparedness It is great to see so many people from across Europe, so many countries, so many languages. Today I am excited to speak with you about preparedness, and I am looking forward to hearing your ideas. I also want to warmly thank the members of our Knowledge Committee for their work to make Europe safer and more inclusive. I want to start with the most important message right up front. In today's unpredictable world, we need everyone on board to help keep our families and communities safe. Businesses, scientists, volunteers, young people, and our citizens. Preparedness is not just for governments alone. Being ready for the unexpected is a shared responsibility. Over the next few days, we have a unique opportunity to share our ideas and experiences, and to help shape European policies together. So why are we focusing so much on preparedness right now? Because today our societies face more threats than ever before: wars, wildfires, sabotage, power outages, hybrid and cyber-attacks, disinformation. When these crises happen at the same time, they can paralyse our societies. But this new reality does not have to be a source of fear. It can be a spark for change. The word “preparedness” can sometimes sound scary, but it should be the opposite. It should inspire confidence and peace of mind. For me, the real eye-opener was Finland. Finland shares the longest border with Russia. War does not feel far away there. Yet, what I saw was something surprising: people were calm and confident because they know what to do if a crisis happens. Everyone knows their role: parents, teachers, doctors, volunteers, students. That knowledge reassures people. Let me start with one simple truth: being prepared makes us safer. Across Europe, we have already seen the warning signs. Take the blackouts in Spain and Portugal where millions of people suddenly lost electricity. Lights out. Trains stopped. Traffic lights dead. Hospitals running on backup power. Then there were the wildfires. Last summer was one of the worst wildfire seasons Europe has seen in decades. More than one million hectares burned, an area bigger than Cyprus. At the same time, we see wars in our neighbourhood. The war in Ukraine and now the war in the Middle East. The impact of these wars does not stop at the battlefield. It reaches our homes through energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and disinformation spreading online. That is why, one year ago, the European Union proposed something new: the Preparedness Union Strategy. The idea is simple: prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And we want this Strategy to belong to every European. So let me ask you a few quick questions: Have you ever thought about what you would do in an emergency? How would you stay informed? What would happen if the electricity went out? Or if the water stopped running? Or if the internet suddenly disappeared? Would you know what to do? Nearly six out of ten Europeans say they do not feel prepared for disasters. That is why preparing our people is at the heart of our Strategy. It is about giving people the tools, the knowledge, and the confidence to face the unexpected. One practical example is the 72-hour “grab bag”. Everyone should be able to manage three days on their own in an emergency with food, water, medicine, and basic supplies. Some of you might already be helping in other ways, like volunteering. Organisations like the Scout Movement or the Red Cross are often the first to respond when a crisis hits. When Russia invaded Ukraine, the European Scouts were among the first at the border helping refugees. 35,000 Scouts from nine European countries helped more than one million displaced Ukrainians. That is European solidarity. When I look around this room, I see something encouraging: so many young faces. You are creative, connected, and tech-savvy. You know how to get the word out fast, through your networks and communities. That power can help people prepare and keep them safe. Crises often hit young people the hardest. During COVID, nearly one in three young people said their mental health suffered. That is exactly why your voice matters, and why I launched the first Youth Policy Dialogue on preparedness last year. People also experience crises differently. For some, leaving a building during an emergency is simple, but for someone in a wheelchair, it can be life-threatening. For someone who cannot hear an alarm, the warning may never come. Preparedness must work for everyone. Each of you here today brings something unique to this panel. Your story, your experience, your community. You are experts in the places you call home, and your ideas will help make us all safer. So speak up, we are all ears. SPEECH/26/675
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