The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) believes that cities and regions should have a more prominent role in the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The corresponding conclusion was adopted at the committee's plenary session in Brussels. Although the primary responsibility for civil protection remains with the EU member states, it is local and regional authorities that are often the first to arrive at the scene of emergencies and organize assistance to the population. Therefore, according to the CoR, they should be involved at all stages—from risk assessment to planning and responding to crises. The committee supported the European Commission's proposal to modernize the civil protection mechanism and make it more comprehensive to cover various types of threats. At the same time, the CoR suggests allocating resources taking into account the specific characteristics of individual regions and the potential risks they face. Particular attention is paid to funding. The Committee of the Regions believes that the allocated funds may be insufficient and proposes creating separate, stable funding sources for local authorities so that money is not redirected to other purposes. The document also proposes to expand the scope of the mechanism to include chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, potential disruptions to critical infrastructure, and cross-border health threats. In addition, the Committee of the Regions calls for a closer connection between the civil protection system and measures for climate change adaptation. Among the proposals is a mandatory assessment of the social vulnerability of the population, so that assistance reaches the most vulnerable groups more quickly. Special attention is proposed to be given to regions with special conditions—border areas, islands, remote areas, and regions affected by war. According to the CoR, pan-European goals in disaster resilience should take into account the real differences between territories. The European Civil Protection Mechanism brings together EU countries and ten other partner states. Through it, countries can quickly request international assistance in major emergencies. In 2025 alone, the mechanism was activated **64 times**—in connection with the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, wildfires in several European countries, and hurricanes in the Caribbean region. Since its establishment in 2001, it has been activated **more than 830 times**. The Committee of the Regions is an advisory body of the European Union, representing the interests of local and regional authorities in discussions on European legislation.