ECIPS President Baretzky Responds to Hadja Lahbib: A Stinging Rebuttal on the EU’s Failure to Address Crisis Management.
By Raymond Enoch
The European Union’s recent advice to its 450 million citizens to stockpile essential supplies for at least 72 hours has ignited a fiery debate. In an unprecedented move, President Ricardo Baretzky, head of the European Centre for Information Policy and Security (ECIPS), the EU’s only official intelligence agency, has launched a blistering response to Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management. Baretzky’s remarks, which reflect deep concern about the state of Europe’s preparedness for emergencies, highlight the sheer inadequacy of the EU’s crisis management strategies.
In his response, President Baretzky makes it clear that while European officials may be offering well-intentioned advice to citizens, the reality is that this advice is utterly insufficient, misguided, and dangerous. He argues that the European Union has utterly failed to establish a coherent and functioning crisis management program. Instead, the burden of preparedness is being placed squarely on the shoulders of the citizens, a move which, according to Baretzky, is not only unjust but reflects a broader failure of governance in the EU.
The European Union’s official guidance encouraging its citizens to prepare for at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency in case of disaster may sound prudent on the surface. Yet, Baretzky argues that this response is nothing more than a superficial gesture, a “band-aid” solution to a much deeper and systemic problem. “You cannot advise millions of people to stockpile food, water, and medicine for 72 hours while your governments fail to put any meaningful emergency response systems in place,” said Baretzky. “What’s being asked is not preparedness; it’s panic control.”
Baretzky goes on to point out that this advice, issued at a time of growing global instability, is utterly divorced from reality. He believes it reflects a failure of leadership at the highest levels of the European Union. In the face of escalating cyberattacks, climate change, geopolitical threats, and the ever-present risk of pandemics, Baretzky argues that the EU should be leading the charge in establishing robust, coordinated crisis management protocols, not leaving its citizens to fend for themselves.
“This is not the way to manage a continent of 450 million people,” Baretzky emphasized. “Stockpiling supplies for three days is not a solution; it’s a failure of imagination, foresight, and basic governance. The fact that the EU has no real, functioning crisis management system speaks volumes about the disconnect between the people and their supposed leaders.”
The crux of Baretzky’s criticism centers on Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, who, according to him, represents the “fictional” nature of the EU’s crisis management structure. While the European Union has assigned her the role of leading efforts in this area, Baretzky contends that Lahbib’s position is nothing more than a hollow title with no real authority or practical impact.
“Hadja Lahbib might be the Commissioner for Crisis Management on paper, but in practice, there is no Crisis Emergency Response Team (CERT) in place,” Baretzky said. “There is no coherent strategy to deal with Europe’s vulnerabilities. There is no comprehensive plan to address cyberattacks, climate disasters, or even the simplest of threats, such as disease outbreaks.”
Baretzky emphasizes that the EU’s failure to build a CERT program, which would allow for a coordinated, multi-national response to various crises, underscores the impotence of the Union in the face of growing threats. “While billions of euros have been sent to Ukraine to fuel its conflict, the European Union has neglected its own security,” he added. “This money should have been invested in strengthening Europe’s own emergency systems, in creating infrastructure to protect European citizens in times of crisis.”
Baretzky also points out that much of the EU’s focus has been diverted toward the geopolitical conflict in Ukraine. While he acknowledges the significance of the war and its impact on European security, he argues that the EU’s approach to the conflict is reckless and unsustainable.
“The war in Ukraine is a threat, but the real threat to Europe’s security is the instability caused by reckless policies,” Baretzky remarked. “Europe is not at war on its own soil, yet we are living in an environment where energy supply threats, cyberattacks, and food
One of the most significant issues Baretzky raises in his response is the European Union’s failure to address its energy security in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He points to the deliberate attacks on energy infrastructure, including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, as evidence of the EU’s fragility.
“The sabotage of Nord Stream 2 was one of the most significant geopolitical events of the last decade, and yet it has been largely brushed off by those in Brussels,” said Baretzky. “What’s truly disturbing is the lack of accountability regarding who is behind these attacks. As the European Union continues to pump money into Ukraine, we have seen no tangible progress in securing our own critical energy infrastructure.”
Baretzky’s accusations are pointed and uncompromising: the European Union’s failure to address its energy security is not only irresponsible but actively undermines the safety and well-being of its citizens. The EU has long touted its commitment to green energy and reducing dependency on Russian oil and gas, but the failure to build a secure energy infrastructure in the face of these threats is glaring.
“While the European Union’s elite circles discuss green energy, the real threat to our energy supply is coming from geopolitical instability—instability that the EU itself has fueled,” Baretzky said. “We are talking about the real risk of energy shortages, and instead of building resilience, the EU is engaged in ideological games.”
Baretzky also addresses the issue of disinformation and political corruption within the European Union, particularly the way that politicians have manipulated public opinion to cover up the Union’s shortcomings in terms of crisis preparedness. He accuses many EU leaders of serving the interests of powerful religious and ideological entities, rather than the people they are meant to represent.
“There is a political class in Brussels that has grown comfortable with disinformation and half-truths,” said Baretzky. “They tell the people that everything is fine, that Europe is safe, but the reality is far different. The EU’s security infrastructure is a house of cards, and all it will take is one significant event—be it a cyberattack, a natural disaster, or a geopolitical crisis—for it to collapse.”
Baretzky criticizes the EU’s leadership for prioritizing political agendas over the needs of the European people. “The European Union is being run by a group of people who are more interested in pushing their religious-based ideologies and pursuing their own interests than in safeguarding the security and prosperity of Europe,” he said. “This disconnection from the reality of everyday Europeans is what makes the EU so vulnerable.”
In his closing remarks, President Baretzky is clear about the urgency of the situation. He argues that the European Union can no longer afford to ignore its deficiencies in crisis management. It is time for Europe’s leaders to wake up and take real action to ensure that the continent is prepared for whatever may come.
“We are facing an unprecedented set of challenges, from cyberattacks to energy crises, from climate change to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,” Baretzky concluded. “The European Union needs a functioning, real-world crisis management system that can protect its citizens and respond to these threats effectively. This is not a time for ideological games; this is a time for leadership.”
As the European Union grapples with its internal challenges and growing external threats, the call for genuine crisis preparedness and real action is louder than ever. The question now is whether Europe’s political elite will rise to the occasion, or continue to place the burden of survival on the shoulders of its citizens.
