Strengthening Europe's resilience and preparedness: Renew Europe calls for dedicated funds in the next MFF
The next Multiannual Financial Framework must include dedicated funds for crisis preparedness and response for cities on the frontline. This was the main takeaway at yesterday's event "Cities on the Front Line: The Role of European Cities in Protecting Citizens During Crises," organised by the Renew Europe Group, which brought together city officials, public health experts, civil protection authorities, politicians and specialists to explore how to better equip cities and help Europeans build preparedness and resilience.
"City administrations are one of the most important actors on the ground when responding to crises. If we want a secure and resilient Europe, the next EU budget needs to provide them with more support and a bigger role in the design of crisis preparedness plans.", said MEP Jana Toom.
Jana ToomRenew Europe MEP, Estonia
From the COVID-19 crisis to recent drone threats and drawing on best practices from cities such as Vilnius, participants agreed: the role of cities as vital partners in enhancing Europe’s security, is not always sufficiently recognised nor integrated in EU policy design and the cost of inaction is too high. This is why Renew Europe is pushing to ensure that both the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and EU support for health emergency preparedness and response reflect this urgency. This includes more financial support for capacity building in urban areas.
"€208 billion in four years. That is what Europe paid for not being ready. Investing in resilience is investing in our sovereignty - and it starts with citizens, not institutions. I am calling for a European Resilience Week: a yearly moment to train, to test, to prepare. With a dedicated budget and a 72-hour response standard, Europe can lead."
Grégory AllioneRenew Europe MEP, France, Renaissance
said MEP Grégory Allione.
MEP Olivier Chastel added:
When a crisis starts, it doesn't hit only a state - it hits a street, a neighbourhood, a city. The COVID-19 crisis has shown that pandemic management starts at the local level. Building a true European culture of crisis preparedness requires integrating the health, environmental and civil dimensions, and strengthening coordination from the European level down to cities, which are at the heart of the response."
Olivier ChastelRenew Europe MEP, Belgium, Mouvement Réformateur
Renew Europe is also pushing for three concrete priorities: interoperable alert systems, better protection of hospitals and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks, and the creation of a European firefighting capability. Every European should receive a clear and reliable alert on their phone the moment a crisis hits no matter where they are in the EU. Hospitals and essential infrastructure must be shielded from cyberattacks. Europe needs its own firefighting capability so we can respond together, faster and stronger. The next steps include closer cooperation between cities and the EU institutions, notably by ensuring that the EU budget together with the upcoming EU Civil Protection Mechanism can enhance the Union’s resilience to future crises.
The event brought together MEPs, EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, city officials from Vilnius and Helsinki, public health experts from the Basque Country and Brussels, and senior representatives from HERA and DG ECHO, all moderated by Sean O'Curneen, Renew Europe Secretary General of the European Committee of the Regions.