For ECR MEP Aurelijus Veryga, effective civil protection means preparing before a crisis occurs and being able to provide rapid, practical support when national capacities are overwhelmed.

Following today’s adoption of the European Parliament committees’ position on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for 2028–2034, Veryga, who acted as the European Parliament’s Co-Rapporteur on the file, said:

“When disaster strikes, there is no time to start building a response from scratch. Europe needs to know what capacities are available, where the weaknesses are, and how support can help the affected Member State quickly.

“Civil protection works best when Member States are prepared and know they can rely on practical European support when their own capacities are under pressure. Better coordination, planning and early warning can mean the difference between containing a crisis and allowing it to escalate.”

The new framework is intended to strengthen cooperation in responding to natural disasters, major emergencies, and serious cross-border health threats while improving coordination between EU countries. The mechanism is part of the EU’s 2028–2034 programming period.

“Recent crises have shown how quickly healthcare systems can come under enormous strain. We need the capacity to reinforce medical teams, move patients when necessary, and ensure essential medical supplies are available when they are needed most urgently,” Veryga added.

The joint position of the Environment and Public Health Committees was adopted by 61 votes in favour, nine against, and nine abstentions.