Today the European Commission published the results of a survey, according to which most EU citizens think they need better information to prepare for disasters and emergencies. In addition, according to the survey, citizens feel exposed to risks related to the effects of climate change, but also to security risks and social risks.

As part of the recent Eurobarometer survey, citizens in the 27 Member States were asked about their perception of their exposure to disaster risk, their level of knowledge and the resources they use to inform themselves about disaster risks. They were also asked how well prepared they are for disasters and to what extent they trust emergency services and the authorities.

Citizens in 17 Member States feel more exposed to extreme weather events such as storms, droughts and heat waves. In Portugal and Cyprus respondents feel more exposed to forest fires, while in Bulgaria they feel more exposed to floods. Responses differ significantly in Sweden, Denmark and the Czech Republic, where citizens consider themselves to be more exposed to cyber security threats. Regarding the perception of personal exposure, in Germany respondents cited political and geopolitical tensions as most important, in Estonia disruptions to critical infrastructure and in Finland health emergencies.

Korina Georgiou