EU Regions Committee calls for stronger role of local authorities in civil protection

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) this week adopted an opinion on the revision of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, calling for a more significant role for local and regional authorities. While member states remain primarily responsible for civil protection, the CoR notes that actual preparedness and assistance are often provided at the local level.

The opinion emphasizes that cities and regions should be fully involved in disaster risk assessments at both national and regional levels to ensure plans reflect on-the-ground realities. The CoR welcomes the European Commission's proposal to strengthen the mechanism through a cross-sectoral approach but warns that capacity must be strategically allocated considering regional diversity and proximity to threats.

CoR members express concerns that the proposed budget may be insufficient and call for dedicated, reliable funding for local authorities that cannot be diverted elsewhere. The opinion also demands expanding civil protection measures to include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, critical infrastructure disruptions, and cross-border health emergencies.

Furthermore, the CoR calls for integrating climate adaptation into civil protection and making social vulnerability mapping mandatory to support at-risk groups. The opinion stresses the need for research on disaster prevention and new tools based on scientific evidence and regional experience.

The CoR particularly highlights the recognition of diverse territories—remote, island, border, and war-affected regions—and calls for flexibility in EU disaster resilience goals. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which involves 27 member states and 10 participating states, was activated 64 times in 2025, responding to conflicts, wildfires, and hurricanes.