Europe's preparedness depends on professionals who can act

The policy background

With the Preparedness Union Strategy of March 2025, the EU made preparedness a cross-cutting policy theme. It takes an all-hazards approach that involves society as a whole and sets out 30 key actions, among them minimum preparedness requirements for essential services, public awareness, cooperation between civilian and military authorities and partnerships with business. In July 2025 an EU Stockpiling Strategy followed.

The open question is delivery. Analysts, for example in a Bertelsmann Stiftung policy brief, warn that the strategy could become too broad if it is not narrowed to a few clear priorities.

Preparedness is not a strategy paper. It is whether Europe can still function when things go wrong. That was the central message I took away from the 10th EESC Liberal Professions Day in Brussels.

My assessment

1. Preparedness must become part of everyday European policy. We cannot start building resilience when a crisis has already arrived. Coordination, clear responsibilities and workable regulation have to be in place beforehand.

2. Resilience becomes real through professional expertise. Engineers keep infrastructure functioning. Architects design for changing risks. Doctors, pharmacists and public-health professionals protect continuity of care. The liberal professions are not at the margins of preparedness. They are part of Europe’s operational capacity.

3. Digital preparedness is now professional preparedness. Cybersecurity, AI, data protection and human oversight can no longer be delegated entirely to “the IT department”. They increasingly touch the core of professional responsibility, independence and trust.

4. Europe needs to trust those who carry responsibility. Preparedness cannot mean simply adding another layer of rules. We need strong standards and accountability, but also professional independence and enough room for experts to exercise judgement when it matters.

The conclusion

A resilient Europe needs strong institutions. But it also needs strong professions. After ten editions of the Liberal Professions Day, one thing is clear: the liberal professions have a strong voice in Brussels, and there are good reasons to make it even stronger.

Where do you think Europe is still least prepared today: infrastructure, health, cyber, regulation, or somewhere else entirely?

Status: October 2026.