WW3 sparks emergency stockpile race as EU acknowledges rising threats

Russia's bombardment of Kyiv has focused minds in Brussels (Image: Getty)

The European Union is ramping up preparations for potential conflict and major disruptions, unveiling plans to build emergency stockpiles of critical resources amid mounting fears of war, sabotage and large-scale supply chain collapse, a leaked document has revealed. A draft strategy report from the European Commission warns of a “deteriorating risk landscape” fuelled by geopolitical instability, climate change and the growing threat of hybrid and cyber attacks.

The Commission is now pushing for member states to co-ordinate stockpiles of key items, including food, medicines, nuclear fuel and vital raw materials. The move comes as concern deepens over Europe’s vulnerability to targeted attacks, particularly on its underwater infrastructure. Brussels specifically flagged the need for shared EU-level stockpiles of cable repair modules to respond quickly to damage affecting undersea energy or communications networks.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Image: Getty)

Incidents in recent years — including suspected sabotage of pipelines and cables — have underscored how exposed the continent’s systems are.

The Commission also aims to stockpile rare earths and permanent magnets, both of which are essential to energy technologies and defence equipment. Such materials are largely imported from outside the EU, leaving the bloc heavily reliant on fragile global supply chains.

In one of the starkest assessments to date, the paper, seen by the Financial Times, notes that the EU is facing “increased activity from hacktivists, cybercriminals and state-sponsored groups.”

It also warns that the region is warming twice as fast as the global average, intensifying the frequency of natural disasters such as wildfires — like those that recently forced 5,000 people to flee Crete.

Keir Starmer speaks with von der Leyen in Brussels

The stockpiling plan is part of a broader EU effort to boost its collective resilience. General Carsten Breuer, Germany’s Chief of Defence, recently warned that Russia could launch an attack on an EU country within the next four years.

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, who prepared a major security report for the EU last year, said security must be treated as a “public good” and called for a shift to a “preparedness mindset”.

He urged Brussels to define minimum stockpile targets for various emergency scenarios, including war or global trade breakdowns.

The EU already manages a basic emergency response network including firefighting aircraft, a medical evacuation jet and strategic reserves of medical equipment distributed across 22 countries.

However, the Commission now says this system needs upgrading, with a “stockpiling network” to enhance coordination and a regularly updated list of essential goods tailored to different threats and regions.

To support the effort, the Commission is encouraging governments to work more closely with the private sector — including the use of tax credits to incentivise stockpiling. It also wants greater collaboration with NATO, including joint warehousing and better management of dual-use infrastructure.

The European Commission has advised households to be ready to survive 72 hours without assistance and will factor emergency preparedness into upcoming proposals for the bloc’s new multiannual budget.

The final stockpiling strategy is expected to be published next week, although revisions may be made before its formal presentation.