Brussels – November 03, 2026 -- The EU is running a disaster-preparedness campaign called "Wir Handeln Gemeinsam" ("We Act as One") in seven member states through December 2026, aiming to show citizens how emergency crews prepare long before a crisis hits. It launched around the 9th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels, held under the motto "Prepare today, be ready for tomorrow."

Wildfires have already burned 669,000 hectares in 2026

Across Europe, wildfires have destroyed more than 669,000 hectares so far in 2026. That is more than at the same point in 2025, which was the worst wildfire year since records began. Floods add to the toll, causing an estimated €8.6 billion in economic losses for the EU every year.

Germany has already helped its neighbors this year. North Rhine-Westphalia sent a specialized wildfire team to the Spanish province of Zamora, and Germany contributed 40 soldiers to firefighting efforts in France over the summer.

Cross-border drills test crews under simulated emergencies

The campaign follows civil protection professionals as they train across borders. Under the EU's MODEX exercises, teams from different countries work through full-scale emergency simulations. They test procedures, share expertise, build trust and improve cross-border coordination. The campaign puts a special focus on floods and asks people to treat preparedness as a shared responsibility.

One participant is Anne Klose, a safety officer from northwest Germany. In her free time she volunteers in disaster relief, supplying communities with clean water when regular service is cut off. She says that although Europeans speak many languages, disaster response shares one: helping others.

Seven countries take part in the campaign

The European Commission is leading the initiative in Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. It uses digital and social media content, video portraits of responders and media partnerships. It is also part of the Commission's broader "Protecting what matters to us" campaign.

EU sets aside €3.6 billion for its civil protection mechanism

Europe now has to prepare for more than natural hazards, including health crises, power outages, cyberattacks and geopolitical threats. The EU's 2021-2027 budget allocates €3.6 billion to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Preparedness Union Strategy, adopted in March 2025, aims to improve coordination and involve authorities, rescue services, businesses and citizens.

A country that needs extra help in an emergency can request it through the mechanism, which has been activated more than 880 times since 2001. Its rescEU reserve adds resources such as firefighting aircraft and medical equipment. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service supports the Emergency Response Coordination Centre with round-the-clock risk monitoring and satellite mapping.