The European Commission issued a press release in Brussels on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Over the course of a quarter century, European countries have united their efforts to save lives during various catastrophes—from natural disasters to man-made accidents. The mechanism allows EU member states and participating countries to rapidly coordinate assistance to one another, including the deployment of rescue teams, equipment, and resources to affected regions. According to the European Commission's assessment, this tool has become one of the most striking examples of practical solidarity between European states. Over its 25 years of operation, the mechanism has been activated in hundreds of cases—during forest fires, floods, earthquakes, and other emergencies both within the European Union and beyond its borders. The European Commission emphasizes that such cooperation enables countries to manage the consequences of disasters more effectively than if they were to act alone. The anniversary served not only as an opportunity to review the mechanism's track record, but also to outline plans for its further development in light of new challenges, including climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events that require coordinated international response.