What the EU does The EU plays a critical role in coordinating disaster responses across Europe and beyond, addressing epidemics, floods, storms, forest fires, earthquakes, and human-induced disasters. Civil protection assistance consists of aid delivered before or immediately after a disaster strikes. This aid can come in the form of supplies such as medicines, shelter items, and water purification units. Specialised teams, such as firefighters or search and rescue teams, are often deployed, along with experts who assess and coordinate relief efforts on the ground. Additionally, the repatriation of EU citizens is an important part of the assistance provided.Key objectives:save and preserve lifeprevent and alleviate human sufferingsafeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural hazards and human-made crises Facts and figures Over 800Number of times the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated to respond to emergencies since 2001Over €3 billion of EU Solidarity Fund given to EU Member States and accession countries hit by natural disasters and public health emergencies since 2019285Number of Humanitarian Air Bridge operations, responding to dozens of crises worldwide between 2020-2024 Areas of actionEU Civil Protection MechanismFramework for cooperation between the EU countries and 10 participating states in responding to natural hazards and human-induced disastersEmergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)Coordination hub monitoring events around the globe 24/7 and ensuring rapid deployment of emergency supportEuropean Early Warning and Information SystemsBuilding more resilient response systems through early warning and informationEmergency Support InstrumentSupporting EU countries when a crisis reaches unprecedented scale and impactEuropean Medical CorpsQuick medical assistance and public health expertise to a health emergency inside and outside the EUrescEUStrategic reserve of European disaster response capacities, from firefighting planes and helicopters to medical items and field hospitalsWildfiresEU response to wildfires in Europe and beyondSupport to consular assistanceAssistance for consular support to citizens in emergencies, for example, in the context of evacuation operationsEuropean Disaster Risk ManagementEU support for preventive, preparedness, response and recovery actions Key achievements The EU Civil Protection Mechanism can be deployed inside and outside the EU, allowing any country to request assistance. In 2024, the Mechanism was activated 58 times to respond to, among other, (i) war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East (ii) floods in France, Czechia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Spain; (iii) wildfires in Europe and Latin America; (iv) tropical cyclone Chido in Mayotte.The EU has been running its largest-ever emergency operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, in response to the war in Ukraine. All 27 EU Member States and 6 participating states have offered in-kind assistance, including millions of items such as first aid kits, shelter equipment, firefighting equipment, water pumps, power generators, and fuel. The EU is also coordinating medical evacuations of Ukrainian patients in urgent need of treatment, transferring them to hospitals across Europe.rescEU is a strategic reserve of European disaster response capabilities and stockpiles, fully funded by the EU. It comprises a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters, a medical evacuation plane, and several essential stockpiles. These include field hospitals, transport assets, energy and shelter items, critical medical supplies, and equipment to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies.Pooling together civil protection capacities allows for a stronger and more coherent collective response. For the 2024 wildfire season, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Sweden put together 24 firefighting planes and 4 helicopters at the disposal of other Member States in case of an emergency. Thanks to the European Medical Corps programme, quick medical assistance and public health expertise can be provided in response to health emergencies inside and outside the EU. Recent deployments took place in response to COVID-19, explosions, earthquakes, and tropical cyclones. In focus RescEU: Europe’s crisis reserve campaign 2025When disaster strikes, the EU is ready to respond. Countries can count on fast, coordinated support. The affected country activates the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU analyses the situation and coordinates the needed resources. Resources from the EU’s own rescEU reserves, and offers from Member States are identified and urgently deployed. From firefighting planes and medical supplies to energy equipment and expert teams — help arrives where it's needed most.This is EU solidarity in action: delivering solidarity, speed, and support when it matters most.Read more Latest news 1 December 2025EU scales up help after Pakistan floods with additional €3 million26 November 2025Commissioner Lahbib travels to Egypt as EU pushes for unhindered Gaza reliefSee all Events 11-12Dec2025Training and workshopsGlobal Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI SolutionsSee all Related informationHumanitarian Aid and Civil Protection lawFunding and grants (civil protection)
The EU plays a critical role in coordinating disaster responses across Europe and beyond, addressing epidemics, floods, storms, forest fires, earthquakes, and human-induced disasters. Civil protection assistance consists of aid delivered before or immediately after a disaster strikes. This aid can come in the form of supplies such as medicines, shelter items, and water purification units. Specialised teams, such as firefighters or search and rescue teams, are often deployed, along with experts who assess and coordinate relief efforts on the ground. Additionally, the repatriation of EU citizens is an important part of the assistance provided.Key objectives:save and preserve lifeprevent and alleviate human sufferingsafeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural hazards and human-made crises
EU Civil Protection MechanismFramework for cooperation between the EU countries and 10 participating states in responding to natural hazards and human-induced disasters
Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)Coordination hub monitoring events around the globe 24/7 and ensuring rapid deployment of emergency support
European Early Warning and Information SystemsBuilding more resilient response systems through early warning and information
Emergency Support InstrumentSupporting EU countries when a crisis reaches unprecedented scale and impact
European Medical CorpsQuick medical assistance and public health expertise to a health emergency inside and outside the EU
rescEUStrategic reserve of European disaster response capacities, from firefighting planes and helicopters to medical items and field hospitals
Support to consular assistanceAssistance for consular support to citizens in emergencies, for example, in the context of evacuation operations
European Disaster Risk ManagementEU support for preventive, preparedness, response and recovery actions
RescEU: Europe’s crisis reserve campaign 2025When disaster strikes, the EU is ready to respond. Countries can count on fast, coordinated support. The affected country activates the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU analyses the situation and coordinates the needed resources. Resources from the EU’s own rescEU reserves, and offers from Member States are identified and urgently deployed. From firefighting planes and medical supplies to energy equipment and expert teams — help arrives where it's needed most.This is EU solidarity in action: delivering solidarity, speed, and support when it matters most.Read more
11-12Dec2025Training and workshopsGlobal Initiative on Resilience to Natural Hazards through AI Solutions
