A series of natural disasters in 2004-5, including the tsunami in Asia, the cyclone in Louisiana, floods in Central Europe and drought and fires in Spain and Portugal have led to calls for a more efficient European Union response to such crises, whether within the EU or elsewhere.
Eiropas Komisija ir ierosinājusi ieviest Ātras reaģēšanas un sagatavotības instrumentu lielām ārkārtējām situācijām laikposmam no 2007. gada līdz 2013. gadam.