On November 3, 2026, in Brussels, the European Civil Protection Forum was opened, with a speech delivered by European Commission Commissioner Hadja Lakhbib. She began her address with a personal recollection: twenty-five years ago, in autumn 2001, she worked as a young journalist for Belgian television and covered events in Afghanistan during the height of the war. This personal experience served as a starting point for reflections on the importance of civil protection and preparedness for crisis situations. The forum brought together representatives of European structures responsible for coordinating actions in emergency situations, exchanging experience, and strengthening mutual aid mechanisms between EU member states. Such events are acquiring particular significance against the backdrop of a growing number of natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and other challenges requiring coordinated work by national and European response services. The commissioner's address emphasized the continuity between her personal experience working in conflict zones and her current political mission to build a resilient system for protecting European citizens.