Europe is racing to close protection gaps left by decades of complacency, and Israel holds a proven model that could save time, money, and lives.
Walking through the central streets of Berlin, it’s easy to miss what lies beneath the surface. Behind heavy doors, music drifts from exclusive clubs, bars, and hotels, many of them located in basements that once served as bunkers built during World War II. Their conversion into leisure and entertainment venues has become a quiet symbol of Europe’s complacency, a belief that the threats of the past were nothing more than a closed chapter in history.
In recent decades, the concept of “civil defense” has almost entirely disappeared from Europe’s public and professional discourse. Underground structures built in times of real threat have been repurposed into museums, parking lots, warehouses, and private businesses, while modern architecture has focused on the comfort and aesthetics of urban life. The prevailing assumption was that large-scale wars belonged to the past, with no reason to prepare for a threatening future.
But the war in Ukraine and the growing power of Russia have shattered that illusion, revealing just how dangerous such complacency can be. In Germany, for instance, of the roughly 2,000 shelters that were active during the Cold War, only about 580 remain operational today, providing protection for less than half a percent of the population, a stark warning of how unprepared the continent truly is.
While Europe is only now awakening to this new and troubling reality, in Israel, such concerns have long been part of daily life. Here, the threat to the civilian population has never left the agenda, and the idea of protection is not about preparing for some distant scenario; it is about ensuring that defensive capabilities are available at any given moment. This mindset led, already in the late 20th century, to concrete measures and the integration of protective solutions into binding laws and regulations.
European countries can learn a crucial lesson from Israel in civil defense
The latest war with Iran emphasized that despite existing gaps, European countries can learn a crucial lesson from Israel in civil defense. The “Safe Room Law,” enacted in 1992, made a shelter a mandatory feature in every new home, creating an integrated network of private and public protection solutions. Around this legal framework, Israel developed strict engineering standards, enforcement of building codes, maintenance and upkeep systems, and ongoing training for professional personnel.
All of this has been tested repeatedly under real emergency conditions, providing Israel with a reservoir of practical knowledge, from structural resilience to operational readiness, that Europe could adopt to dramatically shorten its own path to preparedness.
Europe can adopt from Israel a series of principles that would give it an immediate advantage. First and foremost, the introduction of binding legislation requiring protective solutions in every new construction project, just as Israel did with the Safe Room Law.
This should be paired with standardized and clearly defined protection standards, alongside an enforcement system to ensure compliance. A centralized framework for maintenance and upkeep, supported by cooperation between local authorities and security agencies, can ensure that shelters are operational at all times. Israel can also provide training for European professionals, as well as technological expertise and ready-to-use systems that can be integrated without delay.
Europe’s renewed interest in civil defense is more than a security issue; it is also a strategic and economic opportunity for Israel. Decades of living under threat have given Israel not only the protective systems but also the expertise to design, build, and maintain shelters that are practical, accessible, and effective.
As European governments invest billions in closing their protection gaps, Israel is uniquely positioned to offer tested solutions, professional training, and advanced technologies. By fostering partnerships now, Israel can ensure that when Europe decides to act, the know-how and systems they need will already be within reach.
The writer is an expert in urban and transportation planning at Planet Urban Consultancy and a Technion alumnus.