European Union wants to prepare its citizens for war

The European Union aims to ensure its citizens are prepared for any eventuality, including war. On Wednesday, the Commission, the bloc's governing body, will convene to assess key defense policies that directly impact the Union’s citizens.

The EU's new preparedness strategy takes a comprehensive approach, addressing various needs beyond the potential threat of military invasion. Among the measures under consideration, according to media reports, is a requirement for each household to be equipped with essential survival supplies.

Example of the Baltic countries

Several northern European nations near Russia already have similar plans in place. Finland, along with the Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—were joined last year by the Scandinavian countries, all of which published booklets containing basic survival instructions for their citizens.

The release of these manuals, most recently Sweden's, is yet another indication of the increasing sense of insecurity surrounding Russia that looms over Europe. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the debate over reinstating compulsory military service has intensified across all EU countries.

Only a few countries, primarily the Nordic and Baltic nations, still have compulsory military service, while others, such as France, offer some form of voluntary or civic service with limited training.

From an expenditure and investment perspective, the EU has shown greater determination, already announcing a rearmament plan worth 800 billion euros in mid-March. This collective plan is expected to be paired with an increase in defense spending across individual countries, with targets set at around 2% for those nations currently investing below this threshold.