FEU issues call for resilience focus
The Federation of EUropean fire officers (FEU) has called on the European Union and national governments to treat the fire service as a core pillar of European resilience following a seminar in Vienna on Thursday 20 November 2025.
According to FEU, European fire service leaders and specialists at the Vienna seminar agreed that fire and rescue services form the last line of defence when other systems fail during major crises.
The organisation reported that discussions focused on pressures from cyber attacks, prolonged power outages, climate driven disasters and growing geopolitical tension across the region.
FEU said the seminar underlined the need to keep fire and rescue services fully operational during the earliest stages of severe disruption.
The federation positioned these early hours as a period when communities are most exposed to cascading failures in infrastructure and public services.
Strengthening 72 hour operational readiness
FEU stated that one of the key priorities agreed at the Vienna seminar was the ability of fire and rescue services to maintain operations for at least 72 hours during major disruptions.
Participants highlighted that this 72 hour window is when coordinated emergency intervention can have the most direct effect on life safety and community stability.
The organisation linked this objective to the resilience of fire stations, equipment and communication systems in the face of widespread disruption.
FEU also emphasised that staff wellbeing and capacity during extended incidents must be planned into national and European resilience strategies.
Stephan Wevers, president of the Federation of EUropean fire officers, said: “Europe’s resilience is only as strong as its ability to protect people when other systems fail.
“The fire service stands on the frontline of this mission,”
Embedding fire services in resilience planning
According to FEU, seminar participants argued that fire and rescue services must be structurally integrated into resilience planning frameworks at both national and European levels.
The federation said this should place fire services alongside energy providers, digital infrastructure operators, healthcare systems and civil protection agencies when developing resilience strategies.
FEU reported that attendees saw formal cross sector planning as essential to maintaining continuity of emergency response when multiple systems are affected at once.
The discussions also pointed to the role of fire services in supporting civil protection coordination during complex incidents.
FEU explained that improved planning links between sectors could help manage situations where infrastructure failures and environmental hazards arise at the same time.
Investment, foresight and cross border cooperation
FEU said the seminar identified investment in people and infrastructure as another core priority for European resilience.
The federation highlighted the need to protect fire stations, vehicles and specialist equipment so they can remain operational under stress conditions.
According to FEU, resilient emergency communication systems were also seen as essential to sustaining command, control and information sharing during crises.
The organisation added that the wellbeing and readiness of fire and rescue staff must be supported so personnel can function effectively during extended incidents.
FEU stated that strategic foresight was a further priority, with attention on future risks from extreme weather, cyber threats and failures in critical infrastructure.
Based on the seminar outcomes, FEU called on the European Union and national governments to recognise the fire service as a core pillar of resilience within policy and strategy frameworks.
The federation urged policymakers to ensure adequate funding for infrastructure, innovation and workforce readiness in fire and rescue services.
FEU also pressed for stronger cross border cooperation and knowledge exchange so that countries can respond more effectively to transnational crises.
Implications for European fire leadership
The priorities set out by FEU have direct implications for fire and rescue chiefs, senior officers and emergency and disaster response managers across Europe.
The focus on 72 hour operational readiness highlights the need for these leaders to review continuity plans, resource allocation and staff support arrangements for extended incidents.
Attention to cross sector resilience planning is relevant for government departments and civil protection authorities that coordinate national strategies and rely on fire services during multi system failures.
The call for investment in infrastructure, communication systems and staff wellbeing is pertinent for procurement officers, local and national decision makers and those responsible for budgeting for fire and rescue capabilities.
Emphasis on cross border cooperation and knowledge exchange has practical meaning for organisations involved in mutual aid, joint training and shared response frameworks for incidents that cross national boundaries.
The strategic foresight element aligns with the work of standards and certification bodies, risk assessors and fire engineering consultants who address emerging threats such as climate related events and cyber risks to critical infrastructure.