Seminar on strengthening cooperation with the candidate countries and Western Balkan countries in the field of civil protection

The seminar will be jointly organized by the European Commission-DG Environment, Civil Protection Unit and the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

Closer integration of the candidate countries into EU activities and support for the European course of the Western Balkan countries comprise one of the priorities of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2008. 

The Western Balkans are immediate EU neighbours, and are also prone to natural and other disasters. In light of recent devastating forest fires in the South Eastern European region, the Commission and the Presidency believe that civil protection is one of the areas where cooperation between the EU, Candidate Countries and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans should be strengthened in order to create a safer environment to live in. This should contribute to further development of national disaster prevention and preparedness systems and efficient and prompt response in case of disasters, and support gradual participation of all of the above-mentioned countries in key EU civil protection activities. 

The seminar can be seen as a kick-off event for the process of strengthening cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan countries in the field of civil protection.

The aims of the seminar are:

1. To support closer integration of Candidate Countries into EU activities in the field of civil protection and to provide them with further support in the EU accession process. 

2. To enable a better understanding of the current status and development of national disaster management systems in Western Balkan countries and to provide further support in their European course. 

3. To inform the Candidate Countries and Western Balkan countries of EU developments in the field of civil protection. 

4. The seminar should contribute to further exploring the possibilities of strengthening cooperation with the Candidate Countries and Western Balkan countries in the field of civil protection.