EC: Serbia set to join the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
Serbia and the EU signed on Thursday an agreement clearing the way for the official membership of Serbia in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Serbia joins a well-established European cooperation framework for disaster management and emergency response.
Once national ratification is completed, Serbia will become the 33rd participating state in the Mechanism.
"At a time of more disasters striking both in Europe and around the world, Serbia's entry into the Mechanism underscores the strong necessity and desire to work closer together for better prevention, preparedness and response ", said Christos Stylianides, EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management who is in Belgrade today for the signature of the agreement.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism offers a wide range of cooperation opportunities to Serbia such as European monitoring tools and early warning systems, joint trainings and exercises, exchange of experts, disaster prevention and preparedness projects, direct communication among the civil protection authorities of the members during emergency response, information exchange and best practices, coordinated EU relief operations and transport co-funding.
Background
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism facilitates cooperation in disaster response, preparedness and prevention among 32 European states (the 28 EU Member States plus the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Norway). With the support from the European Commission, the participating states pool resources which can be made available to disaster-stricken countries all over the world.
Serbia witnessed first-hand the concrete results of European disaster cooperation when in May 2014 devastating floods hit the Balkans. Most EU Member States offered assistance such as boats, helicopters, pumps and humanitarian kits to Serbia and neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. More than 800 relief workers were deployed, 80 satellite images and maps were produced, and the European Commission co-financed the transportation of aid to the affected areas in both countries. Overall, this was the largest operation in the history of the Mechanism.
On 6-7 May 2015, the European Civil Protection Forum will take place in Brussels bringing together disaster management experts to discuss European cooperation and challenges with a focus on innovation and partnership.