EU commissioner urges public to stockpile 72 hours’ worth of supplies

Geopolitical tensions are rising with fresh attacks on Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, escalating strain on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s relationship with NATO and the major influence of Donald Trump.

The US President has a huge influence on world politics, with fears currently high that he will move forward with his expressed desire to take over Greenland.

Last March, the European Union issued advice to stock up on basic supplies like food, water and medicine in the case of an unexpected disaster happening.

The range of disasters is wide and could be anything from a war breaking out to the outbreak of a disease.

Hadja Lahbib is the Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner. Outlining the EU’s strategy for dealing with future diasters, Ms Lahbib noted that threats facing Europe are "more complex than ever."

The commissioner stressed the importance of ensuring households have essential supplies for "at least 72 hours in a crisis."

 The six vital supplies Lahbib says households need to stockpile are food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and shortwave radios.

Speaking last year, Ms Lahbib said "the more prepared people are, the calmer and more confident they feel."

She explained: "I saw this first-hand in Sweden, where being prepared is a way of life. Everyone knows what to do in an emergency. It gives people peace of mind."

Sweden updated their Cold War-era civil emergency advice in 2024, which they now say "better reflects today’s security police reality."

Ms Lahbib detailed that the European stockpiling strategy covers "every step" in the cycle, starting out with anticipating the risks and identifying the gaps, and then pooling resources so there are no duplicates.

"We don’t need a fleet of Canadair airplanes in every Member State,’ she explained,

"What we do need is a system where these assets can be deployed quickly — wherever and whenever they are needed.

"Through smart coordination and strategic placement, we will be more efficient, more effective."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.