The integrated political crisis response (IPCR)

What is the integrated political crisis response (IPCR)?

When a crisis or disaster strikes, whether it is natural or human-made, the EU can use several sectoral crises response mechanisms to deliver aid and resolve the situation.

The integrated political crisis response (IPCR) arrangements support rapid and coordinated decision-making at EU political level in the case of major and complex crises, including acts of terrorism.

Through this mechanism, the presidency of the Council coordinates the political response to the crisis by bringing together:

EU institutions
affected member states
other key actors

Wie der Krisenreaktionsmechanismus IPCR funktioniert (Infografik)

How IPCR crisis coordination works in practice

In times of crisis, the presidency of the Council brings together key actors, namely from EU institutions and affected member states, to ensure coordination and address gaps.

The Council's crisis coordination mechanism can be triggered either by the presidency or by a request by a member state under the solidarity clause.

The IPCR mechanism supports the Council presidency, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the governments of the member states to the European Union (Coreper) and the EU Council, by providing specific tools to:

streamline information-sharing
facilitate collaboration
coordinate crisis response at political level

The main tool is an informal roundtable, which is a crisis meeting chaired by the Council presidency and attended by representatives of the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the office of the President of the European Council, relevant EU agencies, member states and experts. Other tools include:

analytical reports to provide decision makers with a clear picture of the current situation
a web platform on which to exchange and collect information
a 24/7 contact point to ensure constant liaison among stakeholders

The crisis coordination mechanism can be activated for events occurring inside as well as outside the EU.

Operational modes

There are two modes of activation, depending on the situation:

an information-sharing mode, triggering the creation of analytical reports and the use of the web platform to better understand a given situation and prepare for possible escalation
a full activation mode, involving the preparation of proposals for EU action to be decided upon by the Council of the EU or the European Council

In the event of a crisis without an IPCR activation, information exchange can be supported via monitoring mode. The IPCR mechanism is currently activated in full mode for three specific crises:

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine
the situation in the Middle East
migration and the refugee crisis

The full activation mode allows specific coordinated EU response measures to be developed at the presidency-led roundtables.

For more information about the tools and operational modes of the crisis coordination mechanism see:

IPCR arrangements in brief (brochure)

Preparing for crises

The Council is involved in several preparatory activities to ensure that the IPCR crisis mechanism works well, once it is activated. These activities include:

training on the mechanism for stakeholders
exercises
sharing information on risks and planning
a network of crisis communication experts from member states and EU bodies

Current activations of the IPCR

Full activations

Situation in the Middle East

Following Hamas’s brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel on 7 October 2023 and the unfolding events in the Middle East, the Spanish presidency of the Council decided to activate the IPCR arrangements in monitoring mode on 16 October.

On 19 October 2023, the presidency upgraded the activation of the IPCR mechanism to full mode.

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine

Following the launch of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the French presidency of the Council decided to activate in full mode IPCR arrangements (on 27 February 2022).

The migration and refugee crisis

Following the migration crisis of 2015, the Luxembourg presidency decided – in October 2015 - to trigger the information sharing mode of the IPCR crisis coordination mechanism.

In November 2015, the presidency upgraded the activation of the IPCR mechanism to full mode. It has been in full mode since then.

Monitoring mode

Ebola outbreak

On 1 June 2026, the Cyprus presidency decided to use the IPCR in monitoring mode to support information exchanges on the Ebola outbreak.

Hantavirus outbreak

Following the deactivation of the IPCR activation in information-sharing mode for the hantavirus (Andes) infection outbreak on 3 July 2026, a monitoring page was opened on the IPCR web platform.

The monitoring page allows member states, the Commission and the EEAS to upload relevant information to support situational awareness and to share any remaining reports or other relevant material.

Past activations of the IPCR

Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria

Following the earthquake of 6 February 2023 in Türkiye and Syria, the Swedish presidency of the Council decided to activate the IPCR in full mode to coordinate EU support measures.

On 2 May 2023, the Swedish presidency decided to deactivate the IPCR.

Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: Council presidency triggers activation of IPCR (press release, 6 February 2023)

COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak

In December 2019, following the outbreak of COVID-19, the Finnish presidency of the Council decided to activate the EU's IPCR arrangements in information-sharing mode.

In the light of the deteriorating situation and the different sectors affected, the Croatian presidency of the Council escalated the activation of the IPCR mechanism to full mode on 2 March 2020.

On 4 May 2023, the Swedish presidency of the Council decided to deactivate the IPCR.

Foreign interference in the context of the European elections in June 2024

In the conclusions of its special meeting of 17-18 April 2024 and in the context of the upcoming European elections, the European Council invited the EU institutions and national authorities to cooperate on ‘risks stemming from disinformation, including through artificial intelligence, as well as foreign information manipulation and interference in electoral processes’.

On 24 April 2024, the Belgian Presidency activated the IPCR arrangements in information-sharing mode in relation to foreign interference in the framework of the June 2024 European elections. The activation of the IPCR served to support this cooperation by facilitating exchange of information among Member States and EU institutions.

On 25 June 2024, the Belgian presidency decided to deactivate the IPCR but decided to continue to monitor the situation. In June 2025, the Polish presidency decided to deactivate the IPCR.

Foreign interference: Presidency reinforces exchange of information ahead of the June 2024 European elections (press release, 24 April 2024)

Why the EU needs a crisis response mechanism

The need for a crisis response mechanism at EU level emerged in the early 2000s in the aftermath of several dramatic events, including:

the 9/11 terrorist attacks, committed in the US in 2001
the terrorist attacks in Madrid in 2004 and in London in 2005
the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004

In 2006, the Council adopted the emergency and crisis coordination arrangements (CCA). The CCA was designed to be a platform for exchanging information and coordinating action between member states in the event of a major crisis.

In 2013, building on the CAA, the Council adopted the integrated political crisis response (IPCR) arrangements. This improved mechanism provides several benefits, including:

more flexibility
more scalability
more use of existing resources, structures and capabilities

In 2018, the Council adopted an implementing decision codifying into a legal act the IPCR arrangements.

Council implementing decision on the EU Integrated Political Crisis Response Arrangements (EU official journal)