EU should build stockpiles to prepare for pandemic, natural disaster or invasion
Briefly

The European Commission has proposed developing stockpiles of food, medicine, and raw materials to better equip the EU against military invasions, pandemics, or natural disasters. Member states are advised to also stockpile water purification products and equipment for emergencies. The strategy is informed by lessons from the Covid pandemic, emphasizing the need for preparedness to avoid future shortages. By 2026, the EU will establish a critical raw materials centre for joint procurement and maintain updated lists of essential goods for various crises.
The EU should develop stockpiles of food, medicine, generators, and raw materials to be better prepared for military invasions, pandemics, or natural disasters.
The plans reflect lessons from the Covid pandemic, when EU member states scrambled to secure masks and other medical kit for themselves, leaving shortages for those most in need.
By 2026, the EU intends to set up a critical raw materials centre to jointly buy essential goods and organise stockpiles.
Officials are working out what governments should stockpile and how to bolster readiness for health emergencies, including antimicrobial resistance and biological threats.
Read at www.theguardian.com
[
|
]