- “So it is against that background that we have, um, presented the preparedness strategy, um, on the 26th of March of this year. And there's a couple of principles worth highlighting in that respect. Um, first of all, we think it is important to pursue a, an all hazards approach. We need to prepare for all of these threats and risks. And some risks and threats are more important for some member states than others, and some are more worried about the security risks, while others are more worried about natural disaster risks. But that's fine. At European level, we need to cater for all of these different concerns. We also think it is important to have a whole of government approach. Disaster management response preparedness for this type of disasters and risks is not a responsibility of the blue light services alone. It's not just a civil protection or a health responsibility. It has to be everybody's responsibility, including those working on transport, on energy, on all sorts of different areas. Third principle we need a whole of society approach to deal effectively with this. Um, so far our efforts have been focused very much on preparing the, um, the, um, civil protection services, the health services for preparing for, for these, um, types of risks. But we feel that we're missing out on important parts of society.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “The private sector needs to get involved. The citizens need to take responsibility also. So it's generally a whole of society approach that we're looking for. And the final principle is preparedness by design. Um, preparedness should be part of each and every policy we develop. Um, when we plan big infrastructure works or other types of, of, of projects, or we finance all sorts of, um, of, of projects, we need to make sure that preparedness is included. Um, from the very early onset into these elements, there are seven areas where we think preparedness needs to be developed. I'll just run very quickly through these. Um, first of all, foresight and anticipation, um, were a lot more needs to be done. Um, we are proposing to develop an EU comprehensive risk and threat assessment and also an EU crisis dashboard. That comprehensive assessment will basically give a a 360 degree overview of all of the different risks and threats that we that we face so that we can prepare for all of these. Um, the crisis dashboard will bring together information from all of the different, um, rapid, um, early warning and rapid alert systems so that we have a good overview of the situation at any moment in time. The second area of work is the resilience of vital societal functions, um, where the main focus will be on the implementation of the existing legislation, in particular the critical Entities Resilience Directive and the two directive for the Cyber aspects.”
EU policy on screening foreign investment in strategic sectors and critical infrastructure · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “The health area is included in both these legislations, so important work is already taking place. Um, we're also looking at um, other sectors, for instance education or food, um, which are not included in these existing pieces of legislation and where we might develop minimum preparedness requirements, which would mirror what NATO has in terms of baseline resilience requirements. Um, so this is work that we're planning to carry forward in the coming weeks and months. Um, within that context, we're also looking at the question of whether we have sufficient stockpiles, whether we have access to sufficient, um, um, capacities to respond to all sorts of disasters and risks. That includes everything from shelter to food to generators, but also in the medical and the Cbrn area. In close cooperation between Hera and ourselves, we have developed already stockpiles at European level, and there is approximately €1.6 billion has been spent under the previous MFF and next generation EU on medical and Cbrn stockpiles, which are now available in different member states. Um, they are available to all Member states in case of need. If there is a big problem in one of the member states, they can be accessed, they can be made available. But it is very important that we maintain and further develop these stockpiles.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “Civil military cooperation will be very important. Um, crisis response is obviously an area where we collectively also need to become better. We are in the process of setting up an EU crisis hub, which will be based upon the existing Emergency Response Coordination Centre. And for those of you who have not yet had an opportunity to visit the Emergency Response Coordination Centre in DG echo, you're very welcome to contact us. I think it is useful to see it. Um, it's a very powerful, very good instrument. Um, and it's really a symbol of European solidarity. So we're going to strengthen that, um, crisis centre and develop it into a more cross-sectoral crisis hub, which will work with all of the other commission services and the eeaS. Just to finish off then next steps. I already mentioned two of them. So there is a medical countermeasures strategy and a stockpiling strategy coming, um, early July. Um, so that will be very important milestones to take this work forward. We're also revising the legislation on the Civil Protection Mechanism, which provides the legal basis for the funding in this area, including for some of the funding, um, of our colleagues work. Um, so a new proposal, um, for that will come as part of the MFF package around the middle of July. I'll leave it at that for now, but very happy to come back in case of questions. Thank you.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “Um, and it risks accelerating outbreaks of infectious diseases. So it's certainly also a concern for the health community. The second development is this changing security landscape. And I will not go into any sort of detail on that. But, um, with what is happening geopolitically, um, we do think that Europe needs to get prepared for more security related threats, including cyber threats, um, but also Cbrn chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear threats. Um, hybrid threats, hybrid types of warfare, but also conventional warfare. And it is um, to to put it very bluntly, it is time we also reflect on how prepared we are for war if it ever comes to the European Union. And obviously, health infrastructure and the healthcare systems play a key role in that sort of situation. There are very important challenges for the healthcare systems in relation to logistics, the massive evacuation of patients. Mass casualty treatment, etc., etc.. So the bottom line is we need to get prepared. A lot has been done already. Um, a lot of achievements that we should be proud of also has been created. Um, is very effective and functioning very well. We work very closely from DG echo side with with our colleagues. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism provides a framework that's very effective, um, for this sort of work. Um, so a lot has been done already, but more is needed and I'll come to that in a second.”
EU competences on defence · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “Thank you very much for the the very rich set of questions. I'll do my best to provide some replies to these, and I'll be very happy to give the floor also to Daphne. If you want to come in on some of the more health related aspects. Um, there were a number of questions related to health careers and, um, and as important as they are, I'm afraid they go a little bit beyond the remit of my responsibilities and probably also Daphne's responsibilities. Um, so I'm not sure to what extent we'll be able to help with those questions, but I'll focus on those where I can, um, comment. Certainly. Um, first of all, I think a very important question was raised, and I will give you a very general answer to this, but I think the philosophy has to be that this has to be about building resilient systems. Um, um, if you have to improvise in a crisis by starting something entirely new or develop something from scratch, you're off for a bad start. Um, you need to have a system that is flexible and robust and strong enough to cater for different developments and that can adapt very quickly, etc.. So I think, um, it cannot be a choice between one or the other. We need to build systems that can be resilient, that can cater for all sorts of different needs. Um, and that can be adapted in crisis times as, as needed.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
- “And it's something we actually care deeply about. How how could the EU possibly take over on any of these things? It would be a complete nonsense. So the role of the EU is here to facilitate, to support, to coordinate, make sure we all develop in the same direction that we sort of, um, that we don't create gaps, um, anywhere, sort of, and that we make sure that we're able to react swiftly together as, as necessary. Um, prevention, um, the importance of prevention cannot be underestimated. I fully agree. Also, within the context of the Civil Protection mechanism, there is an enormous amount of work and funding that goes into prevention of all sorts of climate related risks. Um, not everything can be avoided. Earthquakes cannot be avoided. Volcanic eruptions cannot be avoided. Um, but the impact of floods, for instance, or the impact of forest fires. Um, there's a lot that can be done to mitigate that and to prevent that. And we have to make sure that this remains a top priority. I fully agree with that. Um, but at the same time, um, we have to accept that in today's world, it's not going to be possible to prevent each and every threat and risk. Um, it would be irresponsible, in our view, not to prepare for scenarios that may happen. Um, and that's where we think that, um, preparedness now needs to be a key word and needs to be taken forward at all levels.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “Um, we're putting together a lot of different things under the term crisis. I actually fully agree. Um, security threats are very different threats from natural disaster risks. And it's again very different from health security risks. But we think there is a lot of synergy also between all of this and very often, preparing for one type of risk will also help you to be better prepared for other types of risk. If you have good medical evacuation systems and capacities, if you're able to move patients from one place to the other, that might help you in earthquake scenarios, and it might equally help you in volcano eruptions, and it might equally help you in war scenarios. So I think there's also a lot of capacity that can be developed for many different sort of threats and can be very helpful. What is very clear is that we do not touch the division of responsibility between member states and the EU very clearly in many of these area areas, be it civil protection or health. The primary responsibility sits with member states. That's how it should be. And very often within member states, it is further decentralized. It's not the federal level necessarily, or the central level. It's very often at local level that the response to a crisis takes place. So the strategy fully, fully recognizes that.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “So so that is one example. So mainstreaming of of the funding for preparedness will be very important. Um, but we also need to make sure there are dedicated budget lines for preparedness. Um, and that these are well equipped and uh, and well resourced. Um, also for the future sharing of data is going to be a, a key challenge in all of this. And this is something that will come back in the stockpiling and the medical countermeasures strategies. Um, we have started developing these European last resort stockpiles without having full data, full knowledge about what member states have in their Stockpiles, and I fully understand the sensitivities that member states have. And I fully understand that there are limitations in what member states can share about their stockpiles. But of course, in if we want to get this right, it is in everybody's interest that we find a way to share these sensitive data between member states and the European Union. The European Commission in particular, so that we can develop the European stockpiles in view of what is already available in member states if something is fully available in member states. There's no point in us putting taxpayers money on it. It's better that we then focus on areas where there is not enough available, and we constantly have to find ways around this.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
- “So this is something where we would feel further development is is needed. Cooperation with insurance companies is something to be further developed. There is a beginning of that already. There are contacts. There is some exchange of data. But you're absolutely right. They sit on very important, very valuable data. And and they also have to become a partner in developing this preparedness because, um, there is of course a link between what we expect from citizens and what insurance companies will consider insurable risks. Um, so, um, there will be all sorts of questions that will pop up in this respect that that need to be looked at on the EU preparedness law. I'm not going to say much at this stage. It is something we are exploring. I think it is important that we take a step by step approach and that we see, um, sort of how we can, um, further develop this, um, financing, um, allowing me to just say two things. We need to follow a double track on financing. I think, um, it is very important that we mainstream this across all of the funding instruments, that all of the available funding instruments contribute to preparedness investments. Um, if we finance under the cohesion funds, the construction of a new bridge. We need to make sure that that bridge is constructed in a way that it is fully compatible with military requirements, with civilian preparedness requirements, etc., etc..”
Regulation of vehicles insurance · EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “We are building through a ground as part of rescue, the largest field hospital in the world, which will consist of three different field hospitals and 19 specialised medical teams, which can all work together or separately individually. So we're building up huge capacity. And we have these stockpiles that we have started setting up over the last few years, which are particularly important for hospital equipment, for Cbrn countermeasures, medical countermeasures for um detection material, etc., etc.. Um, that rescue is is developed by DG echo and for the medical part in close cooperation with Hera. So we work very closely with the colleagues working on this, and we think it is very important to now further to maintain rescue. And there there is really a challenge for the next Multiannual Financial framework because also maintaining this level of preparedness is costly. Um, but it is by now something that many member states are counting upon. So we will need to maintain that, um, and we need to further develop it, for instance, medical evacuation, which is something we now do on a weekly basis. We have medical evacuation operations from Ukraine. There's every week, again, patients coming over from Ukraine to hospitals across Europe. There's also regularly patients from Gaza coming in now. And we really have a shortage of medical evacuation aircraft. There are simply not enough of these aircraft a large type of aircraft in the EU.”
Russia-Ukraine conflict (10th term) · EU Development & Humanitarian Aid
- “Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman. Um, dear members of the committee. Um, first of all, thank you very much for the opportunity to, um, for the European Commission to present the Preparedness Union strategy also in this committee. And since it is my first time in this committee, let me also congratulate you on the creation of the committee. And we very much look forward to working with you. Um, I will say a few words about the context, um, the reasons why we're presenting this preparedness union strategy. Then I will go into the main principles and we'll finish with outlining the main areas of work that we see. Um, and I'll try and do that very quickly to allow for questions. Um, on, on the context. First of all, the, um, the European Union is facing a very rapidly evolving risk and threat landscape at this moment in time, and that has to do, of course, in the first place, with climate change and climate change leading to an increase in the severity, the frequency and the predictability of or the unpredictability of natural disasters, we see more forest fires, we see more floods, we see more storms, and we're bound to see much more of that in the future. Um, obviously all of these natural disasters have also a health dimension, um, and need to be prepared for, um, the climate change and the increasing temperatures are also increasing the risk of vector borne diseases like Zika or dengue.”
EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “At EU level. We think it is very important that citizens develop a 72 hour period of self sufficiency. The emergency services that we have in Europe are extremely professional, but in mass casualty situations or in overwhelming disaster situations, they will have to focus on the infrastructure. They will have to focus on the vulnerable in society. It will take a while before they can help all of us think about blackout scenarios, etc.. So to cover that interim period, um, between the occurrence of a crisis and the response from the emergency services, it is important that our citizens are equipped, that they have the necessary supplies at home, etc., to deal with the risks themselves, um, and to cater for their needs in the best possible way. We also want to include preparedness more in school curricula. Think about first aid training courses. Also, um, it's important that preparedness gets included in youth programs. Um, we think it is very important that the guidelines take into account disabilities, for instance, that there is a need, that there is there's a lot of evidence that in all recent floods, the victims had a disproportionate number of very vulnerable people, elderly or persons with disabilities. Um, and that is not acceptable. Um, so, so we really need to make sure we, we cater for all of these needs. Other areas of work include public private cooperation.”
EU policy on disability inclusion & accessibility · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “That's also why we think that preparedness by design is extremely important. We now need to mainstream this. We need to make sure that preparedness is not just what keeps me awake during the night, or what keeps Daphne awake during the night, but it needs to be everybody's responsibility, and everybody within their own remit needs to make sure that they are doing whatever is needed to be fully prepared. Um, I fully agree with the comments about the importance of regional and cross-border, um, sort of cooperation. I think there's a lot we have in common between different parts of, of the EU, different member states. There's a lot that can be done together. Um, and it is, um, very important that we encourage that, that we would promote that cross-border and regional cooperation and that we support that as much as we can. Rescue is a a very important pillar of that. And it's an area where Hera and Echo work very closely together. And so we have on the rescue, which is indeed very recent and is only started a few years ago. We have by now invested altogether over €3 billion. Um, that money has been spent on a fleet of forest fire fighting aircraft, on helicopters, on strategic transport capacities, on medical evacuation capacities.”
EU Development & Humanitarian Aid · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)
- “Now, fully agree with that. So the preparedness union strategy is the cross-sectoral, holistic horizontal approach, which basically means that all layers of society need to get prepared. So it applies to hospitals as well as to prisons, as well as to police services or the private sector, etc., etc.. So it's really across the board. Um, and of course, sectoral initiatives like the Action Plan on strengthening cyber Security of, of hospitals fit very nicely into that. Um, I don't think we need to do action plans for all of these sectors, and that's why we thought that a holistic approach was was very useful to complement that. So wherever there is a need for specific sectoral action, by all means that should take place and it should go ahead. Um, but we wanted to bring all of that together in a more holistic approach under the preparedness strategy. Thank you.”
Public and private sectors role in healthcare services · EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.)