EU in Emergencies

How can Europe stop the spread of mosquito-borne diseases before they become the next big health threat? 🦟 🌍 The Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp hosted a key workshop for the protection of #publichealth in EU. Experts from across Europe and the Western Balkans came together to tackle a growing challenge: the spread of mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as West Nile virus and other infections like #Dengue, #Zika, and #Chikungunya. These mosquitoes — like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti — are expanding rapidly due to #climatechange and globalization, increasing health risks across the region. Organised by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the consortium #VectorNet, with support from DG HERA and DG SANTE, the workshop aimed to: 🦟 Identify country needs for mosquito surveillance and control; 🧩 Explore possible actions to address those needs; 🤝 Foster cross-regional collaboration. The event was a valuable opportunity to discuss practical solutions and pave the way for #EU4Health 2025 initiatives, which will further strengthen the EU’s #healthpreparedness and response capacity. 👉 We continue working together to anticipate, prevent, and respond more effectively to emerging health threats in Europe.

The European Union plays a key role in coordinating disaster response around the world. This is made possible through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which operates 24/7 and can mobilise emergency assistance to any country in need.   Created in 2001, the Mechanism: ☑️ pools expertise and capacities of first responders, ☑️ avoids duplication of relief efforts, ☑️ ensures that assistance meets the needs of those affected. It has already responded to over 800 requests for assistance — from wildfires and earthquakes to evacuations and pandemics. Beyond response, the Mechanism also supports disaster preparedness, prevention, and the exchange of best practices across Europe.   In addition to the EU countries, there are currently 10 participating states in the Mechanism: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine.   How does the EU Civil Protection Mechanism work in practice? Find out this and more from the video below or from our website ➡️ europa.eu/!YTRBmG © European Union, 2025.

🧪 Strengthening global resilience to CBRN threats What are CBRN threats? C = Chemical B = Biological R = Radiological N = Nuclear These risks can emerge from accidents, natural disasters or deliberate acts. To help countries tackle them, the EU launched the CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative in 2010 — the EU’s largest civilian external security programme. 🌍 63 partner countries across 8 regions ✅ 100+ capacity-building projects funded ✅ 46 national CBRN teams established ✅ Tailored support for national action plans From biosafety at borders in Southeast Asia, protection of critical CBRN infrastructure in Southeast and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, chemical waste management in North Africa, chemical safety in the African Atlantic Façade region and the Middle East, CBRN medical training in the Gulf to the provision of specialised equipment in East and Central Africa, the CoE Initiative empowers countries to prevent, detect, and respond to CBRN threats with confidence. 💡 Our demand-driven approach ensures that solutions are practical, localised, and sustainable. The EU is committed to making the world safer, better prepared, and more resilient, together. Discover more about the EU CBRN Centers of Excellence below 👇 https://europa.eu/!nMgdvn #EUForeignPolicy

Last week, Commissioner Hadja Lahbib visited the Czech firefighters strategically pre-positioned in Greece via the #EUCivilProtection Mechanism.   They are part of a group of nearly 650 firefighters from 14 European countries deployed this summer to high-risk areas in France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain - ready to support national teams when wildfires break out.   👏 A big thank you to the teams who already finished their shift or are currently on the ground: 🚒 Netherlands → in Spain 🚒 Italy, Romania → in France 🚒 Czechia, Bulgaria, Moldova → in Greece   By pre-positioning these teams, we ensure faster, more coordinated responses - protecting lives, homes, and the environment.   This is #EUSolidarity in action. © Czech Civil Protection  

✅ A successful milestone for Europe’s health preparedness. One month after the #HERAIndustryDays 2025, the conversations, partnerships and ideas generated during the event continue to shape our work on medical countermeasures. Over two days, we explored critical challenges: ·      How can we strengthen manufacturing & supply resilience? ·      How do we ensure sustainable funding for innovation? ·      How can we improve strategic stockpiling & crisis response? 👏 Thank you to all participants, speakers and partners who contributed to this important exchange. 🎥 Watch our wrap-up video to revisit the highlights ⬇

Over 800 times. That’s how often the #EUCivilProtection Mechanism has been activated since its creation.   From devastating earthquakes, floods, and wildfires, to conflict zones, disease outbreaks, and evacuation operations - the Mechanism supports countries in their most critical moments. Whether it’s sending medical teams, coordinating evacuations, or deploying vital equipment, the EU and participating states stand united in times of crisis.   🧭 Our mission remains the same: we respond fast, we respond together, and we protect lives. 👉 Learn more about how the Mechanism works: https://europa.eu/!qgfXXy © European Union, 2025

Today we present the EU budget for 2028-2034.   This is the most ambitious EU budget ever.   We are investing more in our independence and in our people.   🌱 Cohesion and agriculture remain at the heart of our budget. 🧑🤝🧑 We are dedicating strong resources to social policies. 👩🔬 Our budget will make major boosts to innovation, digital, clean tech, and decarbonisation. 🇪🇺 It will help build a Union that protects. 🌍 Match our responsibilities on the global stage. 🇺🇦 And support Ukraine’s recovery and path to EU membership.   This is a budget for the realities of today, as well as the challenges of tomorrow. #ThePowerOfTogether

Today’s European Commission proposal for a modern next multi annual budget framework (#MFF) marks an important step forward in the EU’s efforts to build a more resilient and better-prepared Union. As one of the first deliverables of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy, the proposal introduces #UCPM/#HER – a dedicated instrument combining civil protection and health emergency response. For health security the proposal foresees funding under this instrument for surveillance, medical stockpiles, and procurement to ensure better detection, monitoring, and response to cross-border threats. This will reinforces our capacity to prepare Europe to respond to the complex risks of tomorrow. To ensure a seamless «end to end«  approach on health preparedness and response continues to be secured , the equally needed research and innovation actions would be eligible under two other funding sources : the future #HorizonEurope and the new #EuropeanCompetitivenessFund where a dedicated window is foreseen for health, biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy. The ECF will drive strategic investment into new technologies and catalyse private public investment. Both, Horizon Europe and the Competitiveness Fund will enable support along the entire research/innovation investment journey. Together all three proposals set out a pathway for 2028-2034 for a sustained health emergency approach to secure enhanced protection to the EU citizen for the rising challenges we face.   👉🏻 Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezvrq6n6   #UCPM #EUHealth #PreparednessUnion

After six months of work, the peer review report on Land Brandenburg’s wildfire risk management system is out!   Prepared jointly by experts from Spain, Italy, and Portugal, with support from the CMCC Foundation - Centro Euro Mediterraneo sui Cambiamenti Climatici, German authorities, and the #EUCivilProtection Mechanism, the review assessed Brandenburg’s wildfire governance and disaster risk management. 🌲 One unique challenge? Unexploded ordnance scattered across approximately 292,000 hectares of forest - posing serious risks to forest management and firefighting operations. 📌 Key recommendations include: • Developing a comprehensive wildfire risk management strategy • Better integrating wildfire prevention into forest and land-use planning — with special attention to Wildland-Urban Interface areas • Increasing support for local authorities and improving communication with the public and key stakeholders • Establishing a Wildfire Competence Centre to support coordination and expertise-sharing   This is the first regional peer review in Germany, setting a precedent for future collaboration on disaster preparedness.   Together, we are better prepared.   Learn more: europa.eu/!F9yFMT © European Union, 2025.

💣 Millions of hidden dangers. One global mission. Did you know that millions of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) still threaten civilian lives every day? The European Union is actively helping to tackle this challenge. Why? Because Mine Action saves lives, restores livelihoods, and is a precondition for social and economic recovery. In Ukraine, the most mine-affected country in the world, the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments is stepping up to the challenge. Since 2022, together with Member States and partners such as Switzerland, we have mobilised more than €380 million – contributing to clearing around 37,000 km². But Ukraine is not the only country facing the dangers of landmines and UXO. From clearance, training, and equipment provision to long-term capacity building, EU support to mine action enables stability, recovery, and safe return globally. 🌐 This includes support in key regions and countries such as the South Caucasus, Syria and Libya. This is #EUForeignPolicy in action.