Brussels:Today, the European Commission announced the creation of the PreparEU Advisory Group, designed to provide strategic guidance to the Commission's President, Ursula von der Leyen, and Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management. This group aims to address the increasing threat of disaster risks, such as extreme weather events and wildfires, which are being exacerbated by climate change.

According to Cyprus News Agency, the establishment of the PreparEU Advisory Group was initially announced by President von der Leyen during her State of the Union speech on September 16, 2026. The group will comprise 11 senior experts in EU civil protection and crisis management, along with six scientists and academics from various EU Member States.

The Advisory Group will evaluate the current capabilities of EU Member States under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU. It will explore the effects of natural hazards, technological risks, and other emerging threats on mass movements, emergency health, shelter, communications, and infrastructure disruptions. The group will focus on prevention, preparedness, and the development of new capabilities, including dual-use assets and the European Firefighting Fleet.

The inaugural meeting of the PreparEU Advisory Group is scheduled for early November 2026, with a goal of presenting recommendations by spring 2027. The secretariat for the group will operate out of Brussels, hosted by the Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

The creation of this group is a response to the increasingly complex risk landscape in Europe, where disasters have transnational and sector-wide impacts. The EU aims to shift from reactive responses to a proactive, integrated approach, as part of the EU Preparedness Union Strategy. This initiative underscores the need for stronger civil-military coordination and enhanced equipment and capabilities to ensure EU civil protection is more effective, reinforcing European solidarity in times of crisis.