On 30 September, the European Commission proposed to establish a new EU Critical Communication System (EUCCS) to provide Europe’s first responders with secure and resilient communication channels in crisis situations.
When wildfires, floods, hybrid threats or terrorist attacks occur, first responders need to communicate and coordinate quickly across borders. Today, national critical communication systems are neither technically compatible nor interlinked. The proposed EU Critical Communication System will change this, enabling Europe’s first responders to communicate and cooperate seamlessly across borders in real time, whenever and wherever needed.
The EUCCS connects national critical communication systems, bringing together different first responders – police, firefighters, emergency medical services and other civil protection organisations across Member States. The System covers all EU and Schengen associated countries.
The System will allow first responders to communicate faster and in a more secure way across services, both at national level and across Europe. Notably:
- All 31 countries will gradually move from narrowband radio systems to broadband technology such as 5G, while EU satellites provide additional back-up for situations when land-bound systems are incapacitated, such as during blackouts.
- The EUCCS will enable first responders to share data, video, messages and geolocation in real–time through a single secure device.
This will improve situational awareness and coordination in case of crises or emergencies.
The system will be secure, protected against cyber and hybrid attacks using encryption, and a strong protocol. It will be supported by:
- A European Union Network Monitoring Centre which will provide a secure and resilient optical fibre network, allowing countries to connect through one central point instead of building many separate links with each other.
- A European Union Security Monitoring Centre which will track cyber security risks, assess threats and support Member States.
Reinforcing European strategic autonomy
The proposal provides countries with a new European-built solution, reducing reliance on foreign technologies and strengthening European tech sovereignty. The system’s critical components (including satellites, the core mobile network, and the mobile broadband technology used) are developed by European companies. This makes national investment in critical communication more attractive for Member States, by increasing the reach of the critical communication system from a regional or national tool to one that covers the entire EU and the Schengen Associated Countries. The EU Critical Communication system t can serve for coordination across many more services, such as the armed forces.
The system is also designed to adapt to the continuous innovation in critical communication and commercial electronic communications. The Commission will support Member States in cooperating with industry and research organisations to ensure the continuous innovation of critical communication in the EU.
While being interconnected at European level, Member States will maintain full control over their national networks and over the governance of the new system, which will be ensured by a Member States’ expert group.
Next steps
It is now for the European Parliament and the Council to adopt the Regulations. The European Union Critical Communication System is planned to be launched gradually, with a transition period for Member States to connect to the system, starting in 2030.
Background
The EU Critical Communication System was identified as one of the key actions of the European Internal Security Strategy, ProtectEU in April 2025 and the EU Preparedness Union Strategy launched in March 2025. This builds on the recommendations of the Niinistö Report on Preparedness and Readiness of the EU, urging the EU to complete the EU Critical Communication System as soon as possible.
