The EU preparedness conference marks 1 year since the adoption of the EU preparedness union strategy. The conference bring together public authorities, academia, the private sector, international organisations and civil society to assess progress and set priorities for preventing and responding to future crises.
- disaster risk reduction | public safety | civil defence | emergency response | public-private partnership
- Monday 23 March 2026, 08:30 - Tuesday 24 March 2026, 18:00 (CET)
- Brussels, Belgium
Speakers
Practical information
- When
- Monday 23 March 2026, 08:30 - Tuesday 24 March 2026, 18:00 (CET)
- Where
- Egmont PalaceKleine Zavel / Petit Sablon 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
- Languages
- English
Description
The EU Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, will participate in the event, along with representatives of several EU Member States and Ukraine. After the opening, a high‑level panel will discuss today’s key challenges for the EU, with a special focus on wildfire management and lessons from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. These themes will run through the conference and shape the 4 main sessions, which link preparedness to concrete actions.
Conference focus
The conference aims to:
- take stock of the progress made, 1 year into the adoption of the preparedness union strategy
- discuss future risks, needs and priorities
- turn lessons from recent crises into practical solutions
- connect preparedness work on security and wildfires across different sectors
Key themes and sessions
4 sessions look at how to strengthen the EU’s preparedness:
- civil-military cooperation: what role for the EU?
- public-private preparedness: strengthening cooperation for crisis readiness
- population preparedness: lessons from across Europe
- preparedness-by-design: engagement across sectors
The session on civil-military cooperation will look at how civilian and military groups can work better together during crises. It will focus on improving coordination and preparedness across different sectors.
The session on public-private preparedness will explore new ways to prepare for emergencies by using technology, partnerships between businesses and governments, and innovative funding ideas.
The session on population preparedness will discuss how to help citizens become better prepared for crises. This includes clear communication about risks, encouraging citizens to be more self-sufficient, and involving youth in preparedness efforts.
Lastly, the session on preparedness by design will examine how including preparedness and security from the beginning in EU policies and laws can help countries strengthen their overall preparedness.
