Estonia's European Union Policy

28.    The European Union needs to develop common readiness to respond to different crises and threat scenarios with severe consequences, including a military threat scenario or a large-scale hybrid attack. Joint response capabilities (such as the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s rescEU capacities) must continue to be developed, and crisis stockpiles should be pre-positioned based on risk assessments that take regional specificities into account. 

29.    Joint efforts are needed to improve preparedness for organising the evacuation of the population, as well as for monitoring and responding to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

30.    To ensure the continuity of food supplies and supply chains during crises, a coherent EU crisis plan needs to be developed. This plan should include crisis protocols for stockpile management, logistics, supply chain priorities, and cooperation between Member States, including the need to actively support front-line states in the event of a military crisis.

31.    Based on threat assessments, stockpiles of pre-positioned medicines, medical equipment, and blood products must be ensured in Estonia or nearby countries. 

32.    Joint emergency plans must be developed, and cross-border data exchange and cooperation improved in order to manage pollution incidents in marine and transboundary water bodies in a coordinated manner. 

33.    In the EU, the resilience of water services to environmental, economic, and geopolitical threats needs to be strengthened by implementing early warning systems, crisis management mechanisms, circular economy principles, and strategic measures to protect water resources. A standard for the quality, continuity, and sustainability of water services must be developed to ensure clean and affordable water.

34.    Strengthening cooperation between military and civilian cyber communities is essential to more effectively protect critical infrastructure, prevent and counter cyberattacks, and manage crises in a coordinated manner. Particularly important are cooperation and joint exercises between the European Union and NATO, through which approaches should be harmonised, real-time information sharing improved, and resilience to hybrid and cyber threats enhanced.