European Union presents new resilience building strategy
- Details
- Published: Thursday, 08 June 2017 09:28
The European Union has released details of a new strategy for resilience building, which puts a strong emphasis on disaster anticipation, prevention and preparedness. The strategy sets out how the European Union aims to support states, societies, communities and individuals in adapting to growing and increasingly long-term pressures.
Speaking during the launch, European Commission High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini said: "One fourth of the world's population lives in fragile States or societies. We want to prevent these fragile situations from turning into new wars, new humanitarian catastrophes, or new refugee crises. This is what we call resilience. This Communication will help us coordinate an impressive set of different tools, that only the European Union can mobilise: from humanitarian aid to incentives for private investments, from climate action to military missions. It is a forward-looking, truly integrated approach - the only one that can work, in the complex world of today. It is the European way to peace, security and human development".
The strategy focusses on anticipation, prevention and preparedness, aiming to work along three linked lines:
- Expanded assistance for partner countries' resilience: the EU will continue to support domestic efforts of partner countries to become more resilient, with the help of broadened political, development and humanitarian support. This includes strengthening inclusive and participatory societies, alleviating long-lasting crises or preventing violent conflict. It will also take into account the vulnerabilities and needs of forcibly displaced people, while also recognising the positive contribution of migrants to inclusive growth and sustainable development.
- Policy dialogue and bilateral initiatives: the EU can draw upon significant experience of addressing complex domestic policy challenges and enhancing resilience. Examples of this include its work on energy security, climate adaptation, economic and social policy or addressing global health risks. Having invested heavily in research on resilience, the European Union is ready to share these insights with its international partners.
- Resilience and the security of the EU: internal and external security dimensions of EU policy have to become more closely integrated, in order to strengthen its response to hybrid threats, cyber security, the security of critical infrastructure, terrorism and violent extremism.
