BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsmeddelelsen)

In the wake of a disaster, civil protection 1  is the lifeline for affected populations. When a crisis overwhelms the capacity of a single country, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (‘UCPM’) 2  stands as the operational backbone, facilitating Europe’s collective response, both within and beyond its borders.

While more than 500 activations of the UCPM were triggered in the evaluated period 2017-2022, the UCPM was called into action on over 320 3 occasions in the period between 2020 and 2022 alone, marking a five-time increase compared to the previous decade’s average. This uptrend underscores the growing importance of the UCPM in bolstering the Union’s emergency readiness at all levels.

In 2021, the European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration recognized the exceptional contributions of DG ECHO and the EEAS, whose extraordinary efforts facilitated the repatriation of over a half million EU citizens stranded worldwide during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This exemplifies the pivotal role played by EU institutions and agencies within the UCPM in supporting and complementing the action of Member States in times of crisis. In essence, safeguarding our society, nature, and cultural heritage hinges on our ability to prevent and prepare for future disasters. Civil protection does not operate in isolation; it demands collaborative efforts, breaking down silos, and working together as a cohesive Union to fortify our collective resilience and readiness.

This Communication outlines the evolving needs and challenges confronting the civil protection landscape in Europe and formulates recommendations to enhance the effectiveness across the UCPM prevention-preparedness-response contiguum in diaster management.

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