Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must not only respond when crises strike — it must also learn from every emergency and turn those lessons into action.
Speaking after her visit to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, von der Leyen said the ERCC has shown time and again that Europe can respond when countries come under pressure.
But she stressed that Europe must now adapt faster, strengthen prevention and act before an emergency turns into a disaster.
Von der Leyen said the EU Civil Protection Mechanism works by pooling expertise and emergency capabilities across countries, so that when one country is overwhelmed, Europe can step in.
She described the ERCC as proof that Europe is greater than the sum of its parts.
The visit also served as important preparation for her upcoming State of the Union speech, where crisis response, preparedness and European solidarity are expected to be key themes.
Von der Leyen ended with a heartfelt message of gratitude to the ERCC teams, saying Europe is grateful for their expertise, knowledge and life-saving work.
Her message was clear: Europe’s strength lies in solidarity, preparation and the ability to act together before disaster strikes.
#eudebates #VonDerLeyen #ERCC #EUCivilProtection #SOTEU
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe must not only respond when crises strike — it must also learn from every emergency and turn those lessons into action.
Speaking after her visit to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre, von der Leyen said the ERCC has shown time and again that Europe can respond when countries come under pressure.
But she stressed that Europe must now adapt faster, strengthen prevention and act before an emergency turns into a disaster.
Von der Leyen said the EU Civil Protection Mechanism works by pooling expertise and emergency capabilities across countries, so that when one country is overwhelmed, Europe can step in.
She described the ERCC as proof that Europe is greater than the sum of its parts.
The visit also served as important preparation for her upcoming State of the Union speech, where crisis response, preparedness and European solidarity are expected to be key themes.
Von der Leyen ended with a heartfelt message of gratitude to the ERCC teams, saying Europe is grateful for their expertise, knowledge and life-saving work.
Her message was clear: Europe’s strength lies in solidarity, preparation and the ability to act together before disaster strikes.
#eudebates #VonDerLeyen #ERCC #EUCivilProtection #SOTEU
