EU consular crisis preparedness

On 20 May 2026, the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam organised the EU Regional Consular Crisis Exercise, bringing together EU Member States’ consuls, EU Consular Correspondents to Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea, as well as the Consuls of Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 

Participants role-played a table-top exercise led by the European External Action Service (EEAS) Consular Affairs Division based on a fictitious natural disaster scenario, simulating a coordinated consular response.
 
The exercise aimed to identify gaps and weaknesses and to strengthen coordination among various stakeholders. It highlighted key elements of an effective response, including the importance of immediate information sharing, close coordination with local authorities, ensuring citizens’ documentation and discussing possible evacuation routes.
 
The exercise proved to be a valuable learning experience, enhancing preparedness for responding to complex emergencies. The next steps include meetings with relevant national agencies and follow-up actions within the EU Local Consular Coordination.

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