One hundred and fifty citizens from across all European Union member states are meeting online from April 24 to 26 for the second session of the European Citizens’ Panel on Preparedness. The discussions aim to generate concrete strategies for enhancing the EU’s ability to respond to future shocks, ensuring that the actions taken under the EU preparedness union strategy are both inclusive and responsive to the needs of the populace. Participants are deepening their exploration of priorities previously identified in earlier sessions.
Key areas of focus include boosting citizen engagement, strengthening education and solidarity, promoting inclusion, maintaining the integrity of communication—which encompasses combating disinformation and misinformation—and improving overall crisis management across Europe. Among the attendees are four Bulgarians, representing Sofia, Burgas, Isperih, and Reberkovo. Speaking to BTA, Antoaneta Petkova, one of the Bulgarian representatives, noted the ongoing importance of collaborative dialogue.
She expressed hope that the group, which includes delegates from Germany, Italy, and Czechia, will continue to discuss proposals, specifically highlighting the necessity of introducing comprehensive educational training for all ages, covering both theoretical knowledge and practical crisis response skills. Petkova added that several other vital concepts related to disaster and crisis response are slated for discussion. The plenary session is available for live viewing on the panel’s official website.
These citizen-led discussions are pivotal in shaping a unified and comprehensive approach to European preparedness.
Topics: #citizens #preparedness #bulgarians
