EU urges citizens to prepare for war with '72-hour survival kits' amid fears of World War III

The European Union is pushing for every family in the 27-nation bloc to have a three-day survival kit ready in case of war or natural disasters.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said the proposals would be formally presented today as part of a wider 'preparedness strategy', the Telegraph reports.

Brussels hopes to ensure that every citizen is equipped for 72 hours of "self-sufficiency", amid the growing threat of continental conflict erupting.

EU citizens will be told to stock up on dozens of essential items, including matches, identity documents encased in waterproof materials, bottled water, diet chocolates and a flashlight, as part of their 'resistance' kit.

European leaders have said that the invasion of Ukraine could soon erupt into a 'global' war. Some Scandinavian countries have already stepped up their preparations, distributing war survival guides.

The EU has now joined such efforts following a landmark report by former Finnish President Sauli Niinisto last year on strengthening Europe's civilian and military preparedness.

"Knowing what to do in case of danger, playing games with different scenarios, this is also a way to prevent people from panicking. All this comes in addition to national strategies," Lahbib told AFP.

This will ensure there is no panic if disaster strikes, he added, recalling that shelves were cleared of toilet paper in the early days of the pandemic.

In a letter to EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, three lawmakers from the European Parliament's center-right Renew group urged the commission to go further by sending a handbook to every household in the bloc on preparing for 'various crises, from potential conflict to climate disasters, pandemics and cyber threats.'

EU leaders believe Vladimir Putin could march further into Europe if the Russian invasion of Ukraine is successful.

"The Russians have globalized the war in Ukraine," French President Emmanuel Macron said last month.

"There is a conflict in Ukraine, in which the Russians have, in fact, made things global. Will the war be limited to this theater? Let's hope so," he added.

France is preparing to issue a survival manual for all families, advising on how to defend the republic in the event of an invasion.

There will also be instructions on how to create a survival kit, including directions to stockpile six liters of water, canned food, batteries and basic medical supplies.

Norwegian officials are also preparing through mass evacuation drills for citizens in some of the country's northernmost cities, with citizens already equipped with survival guides.

Swedes have been given brochures titled: "If crisis or war comes", while Finland has warned its citizens to prepare "for incidents and crises".

Last summer, Danish officials warned people about the amount of water, food and medicine needed to get through the three days of the crisis. /Telegraph/