The Union Civil Protection Mechanism ("Mechanism") was developed as a comprehensive framework for European cooperation in disaster prevention, preparedness and response. The overall objective of the Mechanism is to strengthen the cooperation among Member States in the field of civil protection and between the Union and the Member States in order to facilitate coordination to improve the effectiveness of system for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and man-made disasters. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the Mechanism activates support on request of a Member State overwhelmed by a disaster or any affected country in the world. By pooling the civil protection capabilities of the participating states, the Mechanism can ensure better protection primarily of people, but also of the natural and cultural environment and of property. The Mechanism consists of a series of elements facilitating adequate prevention, preparedness and effective response actions at EU level. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is the operational heart of the Mechanism. It is operated by DG ECHO (Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection) and is operational 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The role of the ERCC is to facilitate and support the mobilization and coordination of Member States' civil protection assistance during emergencies. It provides countries with access to a platform of civil protection means available amongst all the participating states. A training programme has been set up with a view to enhance the coordination of civil protection assistance interventions by ensuring compatibility and complementarity between the intervention teams and other intervention support as well as by improving the competence of the experts involved. The exercise programme comprises joint table-top exercises, full-scale field exercises, as well as more specific exercises for modules. In the future, the Commission will set up together with Member States a strategic exercise framework to improve coherence between exercises, as well as between the exercise programme and the other elements of the Mechanism. In addition, the Mechanism also provides for the organization of a system of exchange of experts. The European Emergency Response Capacity in the form of a voluntary pool is based on Member States' disaster response assets. It will be managed by the ERCC and aims to make disaster response more pre-planned, predictable, effective and faster. The focus is the delivery of relief assistance in the first emergency phase. Deployed assets will be managed on site by the participating states. EU experts from participating states and the Commission (the European Union Civil Protection Team - EUCPT) will facilitate the coordination between the different civil protection modules and teams on the ground, and, where relevant, their integration into the overall UN coordination, in particular the cluster system. EUCPTs will be deployed by the ERCC. To ensure effective coordination on the ground, education, training and exercises are the interlinked and inextricable elements of preparing the civil protection modules, technical assistance and support teams (TAST) and EUCPTs to maximize assistance to the affected country. The European Commission financially supports a general training programme and several large exercises per year. The exercises on civil protection modules, TAST and EUCPT shall fit into this training programme framework. Civil Protection modules ("modules") are task and needs driven pre-defined arrangements of resources and teams from one or more participating states set-up on a voluntary basis. Modules have to be self-sufficient, interoperable and can be dispatched at very short notice. Participating states register modules and TAST with the Commission in the CECIS (Common Emergency Communication and Information System) database.

THE STAKEHOLDERS MEETING - Bucharest, 14-16 may 2018

The   exercise   held   in   Arles,   Bouche   du   Rhone   Region,   France between    24 th     and    27 th     April    was    the    last    exercise    of    the modules   field   exercises   cycle   2017-2018,   LOT   II   –   exercises   for the   flood   related   modules,   medical   capabilities,   civil   protection   experts ad TAST.   The   exercise   consisted   of   a   4-days   field   operation   and   focused   mainly   on   operational   cooperation of   all    involved   participants   within   the   framework   of   the   Union   Civil   Protection   Mechanism.   Based on   a   scenario    in   a   third   country   –   Modulistan   -   affected   by   a   large-scale   flood,   the   exercise represented    a    good     opportunity    to    test    the    coordination,    interoperability,    internal    working procedures   and   the   self-    sufficiency   of   participating   modules   in   a   situation   as   close   as   possible   to reality.   Different   types   of   modules   from   France   -   Flood   Rescue   Using    Boats    and   Emergency   Remotely Piloted   Aerial   Systems ,   Germany   -   High   Capacity   Pumping,   Italy   -   High   Capacity   Pumping   took part in the exercise. The   activities   of   the   modules   in   the   field   were   coordinated   by   an   international   team   of   experts         - European   Civil   Protection   Team,   being   composed   with   members   from   five   countries   –   DE,   FR,   SE, LV,   NL   and   a   Liaison   Officer   from   European    Response   and   Coordination   Center   (ERCC)   from Brussels.   The   activity   of   this   team   was   supported    by   a   Technical   Support   and   Assistance   Team from Italy.   The   exercise   was   organized   by   CN   APELL-RO,   as   leading   partner,   together   with   the   French Partners   -   Direction   Générale   de   la   Sécurité   Civile   et   de   la   Gestion   des   Crises   and   ENSOSP   - Ecole    Nationale    Supérieure    des    Officiers    de    Sapeurs-Pompiers    and    a    consistent    corps    of volunteers   in   compliance   with   the   service   contract T2/NOECHO/SER/2016/738038   signed   with   the European Commission. The   exercise   was   attended   by   163   participants   -   modules,   EUCPT,   observers   and   staff   members.     The   modules   operated   on   a   24/7   basis   receiving,   both   day   and   night,   tasks   and   being   requested   to provide   interventions   in   various   locations   of   the   affected   region.   The   French   colleagues   have mobilized   more   than   200   professionals   and   volunteers   as   role-players   and   an   important   number   of vehicles   and   equipment.   We   would   like   to   take    the   opportunity   to   thank   to   our   French   colleagues for the effort they invested for the success of the exercise .

Between 13 th  and 16 th  March in Alessandria Piemonte Region, Italy took place the third exercise of the cycle 2017-2018, LOT II – exercises for the flood related modules, medical capabilities, civil protection experts ad TAST. The exercise consisted of a 4-days field operations and focused mainly on operational cooperation of all involved participants within the framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Based on a scenario in a third country – Modulistan - affected by a large-scale flood, the exercise represented a good opportunity to test the coordination, interoperability, internal working procedures and the self-sufficiency of participating modules in a situation as close as possible to reality. It was the first time that in an exercise three modules of the same kind were used -  Flood Rescue Using Boats from Czech Republic, a civil protection military based module from Spain and a joint module from Belgium and Luxembourg. The activities of the modules in the field was coordinated by an international team of experts – European Civil Protection Team from five countries – UK, RO, FR, SK, PT and a Liaison Officer from European Response and Coordination Center (ERCC) from Brussels. The activity of this team was supported by a Technical Support and Assistance Team from Finland. The exercise was organized by CN APELL-RO, as leading partner, together with the Italian Partner – Piemonte Regional Civil Protection Department and its structures and volunteers, in   compliance   with   the   service   contract   T2/N°ECHO/SER/2016/738038   signed   with the European Commission. The exercise was attended by 170 participants - modules, EUCPT, observers and staff members. The modules operated on a 24/7 basis receiving both day and night tasks and being requested to save people from various locations. Italian colleagues have mobilized important human and material resources to this exercise - over 500 volunteers as role-players and 50 vehicles. We would like to take the opportunity to thank to our Italian colleague for the effort they invested for the success of the exercise. 

” FRAMODEX-RHODANOS 2018”

” PIEMODEX 2018”