The Commission adopted a report on the ex-post evaluation of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism and Civil Protection Financial Instrument for the period 2007-2013.

The European Civil Protection Mechanism was established in 2001 to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions. Council Decision 2007/779/EC, Euratom (the Mechanism Decision), was designed to deal with the increase in frequency and seriousness of natural and man-made disasters.

The total amount for the actions and measures to be financed by the CPFI Decision was set at €189.8 million for the period 1 January 2007 – 31 December 2013 . The Mechanism Decision and the CPFI Decision were repealed as of entry into force on 1 January 2014 of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism Decision .

In accordance with the CPFI Decision, the Commission is required to submit to the European Parliament and the Council an ex-post evaluation report of Mechanism actions in the field of civil protection that received financial assistance in the period 2007-2013.

It should be recalled that the Mechanism supports the mobilisation of emergency assistance in the event of major disasters – any type of natural or man-made – inside and outside EU. At the end of 2013 , 32 countries participated in the Mechanism: all 28 Member States of the European Union plus the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (hereafter together the Participating States).

Effectiveness of the mechanism actions : the Commission's overall conclusion is that the Mechanism actions that received financial assistance in the period 2007-2013 have performed very satisfactory and achieved their objectives. The CPFI financing used for this purpose has generated substantial EU value added:

a total of some €20 million was allocated in the 2007-2013 annual work programmes to fund the different functions of the Monitoring and Information Centre ( MIC ), the operational heart of the Mechanism and as of 15 May 2013 was replaced by the Emergency Response Coordination Centre ( ERCC ); a total of some €29 million was allocated to training courses in the 2007-2013 annual work programmes. Between 2009 and 2010, the number of offered training courses doubled from six to twelve, between 2010 and 2013 the training courses witnessed a steady increase of participants, while the amount of financial resources invested remained constant ; the overall size of the budget allocated to simulation exercises in the 2007-2013 annual work programmes was over €20 million; the total amount dedicated to the exchange of experts programme in the 2007-2013 annual work programmes amounted to €1.75 million; more than €13 million was allocated to modules exercises; the overall budget available for prevention projects was about €14 million and for preparedness projects some €10.5 million; a total of €62.9 million was allocated to transport assistance , resulting in Commission’s net contribution to transport assistance of around €11 million during this period; the EU Budgetary Authority earmarked a total of €22.5 million for pilot project and preparatory actions for the period 2008-2010; actions with third countries were funded through different financial instruments. The IPA Civil Protection Cooperation Programme I was funded under the Instrument for pre-accession Assistance (IPA) for the period 2010-2012. PPRD South ran between 2009 and 2012 with a budget of €5 million, whereas PPRD East covered the period 2010-2014 with a budget of €6 million.

Conclusions and perspectives : overall, the Commission agreed with the results of the external evaluation that Mechanism actions were designed to be cost-effective (e.g. in the case of training courses, the budget remained stable in the period 2010-2013 yet the number of participants benefiting from the courses increased) and were broadly implemented efficiently. The Commission concluded that European cooperation and coordination in the field of civil protection made substantial progress since 2007 and established a good basis for continuing these positive developments .

It agrees that in a number of areas there is scope to further enhance and develop the Mechanism and welcomes the external evaluation recommendations. The 2013 Decision provides the legal foundation for further significant progress in prevention, preparedness and response, and specifically addresses many of the issues identified in the external evaluation (e.g. the 2013 Decision calls for a strategic framework for simulation exercises).

The Commission will therefore aim to take the majority of these recommendations into account in the already ongoing implementation of the 2013 Decision.

COM(2015)0061
EUR-Lex

The Commission presents a report on the evaluation of the application of the Civil Protection Mechanism and the Civil Protection Financial Instrument for the years 2007-2009. It has carried out an evaluation of the following actions in the field of civil protection for the period 2007-2009:

Council Decision 2007/162/EC establishing a Civil Protection Financial Instrument ('CPFI' or 'Financial Instrument'); Council Decision 2007/779/EC, Euratom establishing a Community Civil Protection Mechanism (recast) ('Civil Protection Mechanism' or 'Mechanism Decision’); a preparatory action on a EU rapid response capability in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 budgets; pilot projects on cross border cooperation in combating natural disasters and on forest fires, in the 2006 and 2008 budgets respectively.

The results of the evaluation will:

provide key findings on and lessons to be drawn from the experience gained in the implementation of the above-mentioned actions in the field of civil protection. These will help the Commission in the continued effective implementation of the Mechanism and the Financial Instrument; inform the preparation of a comprehensive policy package under preparation in 2011, which will review EU disaster management cooperation with particular regard to two key themes: (1) the responsibility of all actors to take adequate preventive and protection measures, and (2) solidarity and assistance within the EU and among the Participating States in times of need; inform the preparation of the communication on the continuation of the Financial Instrument to be presented no later than 31 December 2011, which in practice will be part of the proposal for a new Civil Protection Financial Instrument.

Findings of the evaluation : the Commission notes that the conclusions of the external evaluators are positive overall, in that they recognise and emphasise the usefulness and relevance of EU Civil Protection activities during the period under review.

Monitoring and Information Centre : it has been widely acknowledged that the Monitoring and Information Centre provides useful services that are relevant to Participating States when civil protection assistance interventions are deployed within or outside the EU. The Commission has started to look at how to improve the functioning of the MIC. The Communication on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity advocates the following: building up of the MIC so that it can play the role of operational centre for European civil protection intervention. This requires a qualitative shift from information sharing/reacting to emergencies towards proactive anticipation/real time monitoring of emergencies and operational engagement/coordination. The Commission also noted the ad hoc nature of the current EU disaster response and the need to move to a system where advance planning allows core assets to be available for immediate deployment. The planning of EU civil protection operations will be improved by developing reference scenarios, mapping Member States' assets and drawing up contingency plans, establishing a pool of Member States' assets pre- committed on a voluntary basis to the EU operations, streamlining and reinforcing provisions on transport support, as well as other measures outlined in the October 2010 Communication on disaster response.

Training programme : the training courses have proved to be a valuable asset in terms of preparing national experts for civil protection assistance interventions, thus improving the overall response capability of the Mechanism. Nonetheless, the evaluation also showed that the further evolution of the training arrangements is limited due to the lack of an overall policy framework. Similar conclusions have been drawn in respect of the exercises programme, which has received overall support but has been affected by the lack of a general policy framework. To better serve their ultimate purpose, i.e. the improvement of operations, the establishment of an integrated training and exercises policy will need to be considered.

The review of the Civil Protection legislation in 2011 will provide an opportunity to consider these various aspects further. It will also raise the question of whether larger amounts can be provided for training actions under the new Financial Instrument, or whether other ways must be found to further enhance the benefits of closer EU co- operation on disaster preparedness.

Transport assistance : the evaluation found that the transport provisions have contributed to an overall improvement in the delivery of assistance and led to a more effective disaster response. The transport provisions also provide a valuable contribution by allowing for the presence and visibility of all Participating States in international disaster situations. Overall the transport arrangements have proved to be useful both in terms of supporting Participating States in pooling and sharing their transport assets and enabling additional offers by tackling the transport deficit problem. The procedures put in place in order to manage the financial assistance via direct grants awarded to Participating States have proved to be useful by contributing to closing a major gap. At the same time it is universally acknowledged that the procedures are complicated and burdensome and should be streamlined; plus, there needs to be more flexibility. Beyond the mere simplification of rules and administrative procedures, important considerations arising from the evaluation lead to a need to investigate different levels of co- financing depending on the urgency or priority of delivery for certain relief resources, as well as improving access to transport assets/options.

Modules: the modular approach is now firmly established in the European civil protection world as a means of enhancing the interoperability, the speed of deployment, the predictability of response, the support that is needed from the affected state (for the module to be able to perform its tasks), and the overall quality and effectiveness of European civil protection interventions. It has met with great success among Participating States, and should be further developed, through specialised exercises and the development of standard operating procedures.

Cooperation projects : these projects co-financed by the CPF in the field of prevention and preparedness would seem to have reached their intended objectives. The completed projects under the 2007 call resulted in a number of interesting guidelines, conferences and reports. An increase in the number of proposals and number of projects receiving financial support over the years can also be noted, which tends to suggest that there are needs to be met. Although many of the projects cannot be assessed with simple financial indicators, much like research and development projects in general, each of the projects is nevertheless considered a useful addition to European prevention and preparedness efforts, which may suddenly have to rely on the developed projects in the event of a major emergency. The Commission concludes that the prevention and preparedness projects have contributed significantly to a number of improvements in the EU civil protection and disaster management system, and the funding possibility should also be maintained in the future.

Pilot projects : innovative arrangements seeking to enhance the availability of key relief assets tested through pilot projects and preparatory actions proved to be viable and should be built upon. It is to be noted, however, that pilot projects and preparatory actions are time-limited by their very nature and cannot be a substitute for a more permanent policy and regulatory framework. The experience gained in the design and implementation of these projects is informing the preparation of the 2011 legislative review.

The Commission concludes that European cooperation and coordination in the field of civil protection has made substantial progress, but there is still also unused potential. One important area, which has attracted increasing awareness, is the policy need in the field of disaster prevention and disaster management. An enhanced EU prevention policy framework would be able to address the various prevention aspects in different EU policy fields (environment, security, health and regional policies) and facilitate further co-operation among Participating States.

The Commission invites the European Parliament and the Council to take note of these evaluation findings.

COM(2011)0696
EUR-Lex

SEC(2011)1311
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to establish a Civil Protection Financial Instrument.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2007/162/EC, Euratom establishing a Civil Protection Financial Instrument.

BACKGROUND: with the adoption of the new financial perspectives 2007-2013 , a series of new instruments have been adopted and replace the instruments from the previous financial perspectives. The funding provided under the new instrument will increase the effectiveness of rapid response and preparedness measures for major emergencies, particularly measures taken by way of the cooperation between Member States established by Council Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom on an assistance intervention mechanism (see CNS/2000/0248 ). This Decision aims to replace the previous instrument.

Overall, the new instrument will establish a civil protection financial instrument under which financial assistance may be given, both as a contribution to improving the effectiveness of response to major emergencies, in particular in the context of Decision 2001/792/EC, Euratom, and to enhancing preventive and preparedness measures for all kinds of emergencies such as natural and man-made disasters, acts of terrorism including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism, and technological, radiological or environmental accidents.

However, to avoid duplication of effort and funding, certain areas are not eligible for funding with this instrument, e.g. the actions and measures included in the action programme "Health and consumer protection 2007-2013" or the action programme in the field of consumer policy ( COD/2005/0042A and COD/2005/0042B ), those implemented outside the EU through the stability instrument ( COD/2004/0223 ) and those provided for by the specific programme on terrorism or relating to the maintenance of order and internal security. Moreover, funding is excluded where the proposed action or measure is already funded by another European financial instrument.

CONTENT: this Decision establishes a Civil Protection Financial Instrument to support and complement the efforts of the Member States for the protection, primarily of people but also of the environment and property, including cultural heritage, in the event of natural and man-made disasters, acts of terrorism and technological, radiological or environmental accidents and to facilitate reinforced cooperation between the Member States in the field of civil protection.

The Instrument will cover the period from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

The financial reference amount for the implementation of the Instrument for the period 2007 to 2013 shall be EUR 189 800 000.

Actions receiving financial assistance under the Instrument shall not receive assistance from other Community financial instruments.

It lays down the rules for the provision of financial assistance for:

actions in the field of the Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions (the Mechanism); measures to prevent or reduce the effects of an emergency including the response to accidental marine pollution, emergencies through the Mechanism, inside or outside the Community, where a request is made for assistance in accordance with the Mechanism; and actions designed to enhance the Community's state of preparedness for responses to emergencies, including actions enhancing EU citizens' awareness.

In addition, it makes special provisions to fund certain transport resources in the event of a major emergency.

Actions eligible for financial assistance under the Instrument in the field of prevention and preparedness include the following:

studies, surveys, modelling and scenario building; training, exercises, workshops, exchange of staff and experts, creation of networks, demonstration projects and technology transfer to enhance prevention, preparedness and effective response; public information, education and awareness raising and associated dissemination actions, so as to minimise the effects of emergencies on EU citizens and to help EU citizens to protect themselves more effectively; maintaining the functions provided by the Monitoring and Information Centre of the Mechanism (MIC) to facilitate a rapid response in the event of a major emergency; communication measures to promote the visibility of the Community's response; contributing to the development of detection and early warning systems for disasters which may affect the territory of the Member States; establishment and maintenance of a secure common emergency communication and information system (CECIS) and tools; monitoring, assessment and evaluation activities; establishment of a programme of lessons learnt from interventions and exercises in the context of the Mechanism.

Actions eligible for financial assistance under the Instrument in the field of response under the Mechanism :

dispatching assessment and coordination experts along with their supporting equipment; supporting Member States in obtaining access to equipment and transport resources; complementing the transport provided by Member States by financing additional transport resources necessary for ensuring a rapid response to major emergencies falling in the scope of the Decision. Such actions will be eligible for financial assistance under the Instrument only if certain criteria are met.

Member States requesting financial support for the transportation of their assistance shall reimburse at least 50 % of the Community funds received, not later than 180 days after the intervention.

Evaluation : actions receiving financial assistance under the Instrument shall be monitored regularly in order to follow their implementation. The Commission shall submit the following to the European Parliament and to the Council:

- no later than 31 December 2008, a first evaluation report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this Decision;

- no later than 30 June 2010, an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this Decision;

- no later than 31 December 2011, a communication on the continuation of this Decision;

- no later than 31 December 2014, an ex post evaluation report.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision shall apply from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

Decision 2007/162
OJ L 071 10.03.2007, p. 0009

2768

The Council examined a proposal establishing a civil protection financial instrument, in particular its main outstanding question: whether a part of the Community budget foreseen for EU civil protection activities could, under certain conditions, be used for the hiring of transport and equipment.

The Council, while confirming its willingness to conclude an agreement by December 2006, instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) to prepare a compromise on all outstanding questions. In particular, Coreper is tasked to conclude the discussion on transport and equipment financing taking into account the ideas expressed in the Council:

§ Article 4(2)(b) of the draft Decision [supporting Member States in obtaining access to equipment and transport resources] will remain in the text without amendments;

§ Financial assistance from the Community budget for major civil protection emergencies as foreseen in Article 4(2)(c) and (a) [financing additional resources for transport and equipment] will be available for interventions in third countries;

§ Financial assistance for major emergencies within the European Union will, as a rule, be reimbursed by the accepting Member State . The reimbursement may be waived, taking account the nature of the emergency and the extent of the damage;

§ The Commission will submit a first evaluation (Article 14) of the implementation of the relevant provisions in Article 4(2)(c) and (d) already by mid-2008;

§ The first evaluation report, to be submitted by the Commission in accordance with Article 14 as mentioned above, will take into account the results of an analysis conducted jointly by the Commission and the Member States, by 31 December 2007, on the transport and equipment needs experienced in major civil protection interventions and the measures taken under this Decision to address these needs;

§ Depending on the results of this evaluation, the Council may request the Commission to present a proposal for an amended Decision to be agreed before the end of 2008.

For the purpose of establishing the analysis, the Commission undertakes to establish a group composed of experts appointed by the Commission and the Member States before the end of 2006.

Background

The aim of the proposal is to establish, during the period of validity of the Financial Framework 2007-2013, the financial basis for Community action in the field of civil protection. The indicative amounts made available under the Financial Framework 2007-2013 are annually EUR 17 million for actions inside the EU and EUR 8 million for actions in third countries. Since the current Civil Protection Action Programme will expire on 31 December 2006, and since the present proposal includes the financing for the Civil Protection Mechanism, a failure to formally adopt the present financial instrument before January 2007 would lead to difficulties in financing after that date civil protection activities currently covered by that programme, as well as the operation of the Mechanism.

2752

SP(2006)1725

Results of vote in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (EUL/NGL, EL) and made some amendments to the proposal:

- the main purpose of the regulation was the protection of human health and the environment, and the legal basis should therefore be Article 175 of the EC Treaty, involving the codecision procedure, rather than Article 308 as proposed by the Commission (involving the consultation procedure);

- scope: whereas the original proposal did not address prevention, Parliament felt that preventive measures were essential in this field and amended the title and objectives accordingly. It also extended the scope of the proposal in other ways, so as to include a rapid response to emergencies, not only inside but also outside the Community, which have or may have "adverse impact on people, public health and safety, property, cultural heritage or the environment caused by natural, industrial or technological disasters, including marine pollution, or acts of terrorism". Special attention should also be given to isolated and outermost regions which are not easily accessible;

- duration and budgetary resources: the Regulation will apply from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013. The indicative financial framework for the implementation of the Instrument is set at EUR 278 000 000 for the seven year period. T he budget initially proposed by the Commission (EUR 173 million for the period 2007-2013) was increased by EUR 105 million, bringing it up to EUR 278 m;

- new actions will be eligible for funding, including: special training for emergency operations personnel to enable them to deal better with the particular needs of the disabled; the transfer not only of technology but also of knowledge and expertise and the sharing of experience and best practices; networking of alert, early warning and response systems; the integration of civil protection measures into teaching programmes and awareness campaigns; and special training for volunteers, under the control and supervision of a local statutory authority;

- the Commission will ensure that the Instrument and the alert, early warning and response systems are effective and linked to other Community warning systems;

- a new article on volunteers states that volunteers' preparedness for and response to major man-made or natural disasters shall always be under the control and supervision of a local statutory authority and volunteers shall receive special training that enhances their ability to identify, respond to and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation;

- the interim evaluation report must, in particular, contain information relating to applications submitted, grant decisions taken and the winding-up of financial assistance granted.

Lastly, MEPs said that, when actions are implemented outside the EU borders, they should be coordinated with the United Nations. And they introduced a new article providing as a general rule for closer links and "enhanced, structured and continued cooperation" with international organisations.

T6-0075/2006

Debate in Parliament

A6-0027/2006

A6-0027/2006

The committee adopted the report by Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS (EUL/NGL, EL) amending the proposal in three main areas - the legal basis, the scope and the budget:

- legal basis: MEPs argued that the main purpose of the regulation was the protection of human health and the environment, and that the legal basis should therefore be Article 175 of the EC Treaty, involving the codecision procedure, rather than Article 308 as proposed by the Commission (involving the consultation procedure);

- scope: whereas the original proposal did not address prevention, the committee felt that preventive measures were essential in this field and amended the title and objectives accordingly. It also extended the scope of the proposal in other ways, so as to include a rapid response to emergencies, not only inside but also outside the Community, which have or may have "adverse impact on people, public health and safety, property, cultural heritage or the environment caused by natural, industrial or technological disasters, including marine pollution, or acts of terrorism". Special attention should also be given to isolated and outermost regions which are not easily accessible;

- budget: as a result of the amendments extending the scope to include prevention and financing of actions outside the Community, the committee called for the budget initially proposed by the Commission (EUR 173 million for the period 2007-2013) to be increased by EUR 105 million, bringing it up to EUR 278 m.

Other amendments introduced new actions which would be eligible for funding, including: special training for emergency operations personnel to enable them to deal better with the particular needs of the disabled; the transfer not only of technology but also of knowledge and expertise and the sharing of experience and best practices; networking of alert, early warning and response systems; the integration of civil protection measures into teaching programmes and awareness campaigns; and special training for volunteers, under the control and supervision of a local statutory authority. Lastly, MEPs said that, when actions are implemented outside the EU borders, they should be coordinated with the United Nations. And they introduced a new article providing as a general rule for closer links and "enhanced, structured and continued cooperation" with international organisations.

PE364.808

PE367.693

PE365.136

PE364.878

PE362.700

PURPOSE: to establish, from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, a Preparedness and Rapid Response Instrument for major emergencies, which should contribute to the development and implementation of Community civil protection measures, as a contribution to help improving the effectiveness of systems for preparing for and responding to major emergencies.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT: in its Communication on the Financial Perspectives adopted on 14 July 2004, the Commission called for action at European level to provide a common response to emergency situations of different origin in an efficient and coordinated way. Action would cover both solidarity and rapid reaction, with measures allowing for immediate response and providing assistance in the aftermath of a major crisis.

The objective of the present proposal is to develop the rapid reaction strand of the Commission’s integrated approach, in order to provide for Community financial assistance to support and complement the efforts of Member States for the protection of people, the environment and property by contributing to the effectiveness of systems for the preparedness for and response to major emergencies regardless of

their origin as well as to prepare for and respond to public health effects arising from major emergencies.

The solidarity strand is developed through a complementary proposal of a “European Union Solidarity Fund” (please refer to COD/2005/0033).

This proposal will constitute, once adopted, the new legal basis for granting Community financial support to civil protection actions and measures in the field of preparedness and rapid response.

To that effect, the proposal build sup on the existing instruments while widening and setting out in more detail the actions eligible for funding. The range of actions that could potentially be financed under the proposal, in terms of preparedness and rapid response, is wide since the Instrument to be established could finance actions ranging from capacity building assistance, demonstration projects, awareness and dissemination actions to training and exercises, dispatching and sending out of experts and mobilisation on short notice of adequate means and equipment. Particular attention has also been given to identify logistical support actions, such as secure communication systems and tools, which are necessary for the proper achievement of rapid response interventions.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

- Budget lines:

07 03 06 01: Community action programme in the field of civil protection. This also includes expenditure actions in the framework of the Community civil protection Mechanism.

07 03 09: Community cooperation in the field of marine pollution.

- Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 2007-2013.

The proposed instrument aims at financing civil protection activities in the field of preparedness and rapid response.

As far as the preparedness is concerned, the following actions should be financed:

- training, exercises, workshops, exchange of staff and experts estimated at EUR 8.665 to 12.915 million per year;

- establishment and maintenance of secure communication system and tools estimated at EUR 1 million per year;

- as well as studies, surveys, modelling, scenario building and contingency planning; capacity building assistance; demonstration projects; technology transfer; awareness and dissemination actions; communication actions; provision of adequate means and equipment and monitoring assessment and

evaluation, estimated at EUR 2.635 to 3.875 million per year;

The annual estimation in the field of preparedness sums up to EUR 12.3 to 17.79 million per year. The estimations are based on the cost of the actions realized in 2004 and 2005 in this field.

Concerning the rapid response, the following actions should be financed by the proposed Instrument:

- transportation and associated logistical support for experts, liaison officers, observers, intervention teams, equipment and mobile facilities; estimated at EUR 2.4 to 6 million per year;

- dispatching and sending out of experts, liaison officers and observers;

estimated EUR 0.3 to 0.4 million per year

- mobilisation on short notice of adequate means and equipment, estimated at up to EUR 4.81 million per year.

The annual estimation in the field disaster response sums up to EUR 2.7 to 11.21 million. The estimations are based on the cost of the actions realized in 2004 and 2005 in this field.

The overall annual budget for this instrument is therefore estimated at EUR 15 to 29 million per year.

Moreover, it is appropriate to earmark an amount of EUR 1 million per year to finance the technical assistance actions foreseen by the proposed instrument.

Therefore the total amount is estimated to be EUR 173 million for the period of seven years.

COM(2005)0113
EUR-Lex

COMMISSION’S IMPACT ASSESSMENT

For further information regarding the context of this issue, please refer to the summary of the Commission’s initial proposal (COM(2005)0113) for a Regulation Establishing a Rapid Response and Preparedness Instrument for Major Emergencies.

1- POLICY OPTIONS AND IMPACTS

Three options have been considered for achieving the overall objective.

1.1- Option 1 - No policy change: if no action is taken at EU level, no Community financing will be available for civil protection from 2007 onwards. The Commission will not be able to continue to operate the existing instruments in the field of civil protection and the above goals cannot be achieved.

1.2- Option 2 - Promote cooperation between Member States with no financial incentive: in this case, the EU would not be capable of expressing its solidarity with those affected by major disasters. It would not be able to ensure timely transportation of vital assistance, better preparedness or the availability of assistance and equipment necessary to alleviate the immediate consequences of disasters. This would have negative consequences for the image of the Union and our citizens’ perception of European solidarity. Moreover, Member States are likely to revert to purely national interventions, carried out in a bilateral framework with the country affected by a disaster. This would mean that the progress made to date risks being lost. The Union will not be capable of ensuring coherence and effectiveness of the overall assistance and will not be able to live up to its commitment to ensure solidarity with countries affected by major disasters.

1.3- Option 3 - Legislative instrument ensuring funding for civil protection: a legislative instrument is needed to strengthen cooperation and to enhance preparedness. Moreover, from the above it is evident that financial support is necessary at EU level to achieve both the general and specific objectives in this area.

CONCLUSION: it is necessary to establish a Rapid Response and Preparedness Instrument under which financial assistance may be given, as a contribution to improving the effectiveness of systems for preparing for and responding to major emergencies, in particular in the context of the Community Civil Protection Mechanism.

IMPACTS

The specific action proposed will allow the Commission and the Member States to pursue an integrated approach that will provide the optimal level of support to Member States affected by major disasters. It will allow the Commission to address the main weaknesses of existing work on civil protection and ensure that effective assistance is provided immediately to those affected by major disasters. The proposal will allow recent events, new technologies and the lessons learned from disasters to be taken into account and reflected in the future work of the Mechanism. They contribute to the Commission’s overall policy of enhancing security of EU citizens and showing solidarity with those affected by disasters.

- Response to disasters

The specific objectives of civil protection actions in this area are to mobilise expertise, to facilitate transportation and associated logistical support and to mobilise equipment and means. The actions will result in

• The sending of experts in case of disasters to assist the affected country in the assessment of the needs on site and to liaise with the competent authorities of the affected country (estimated number of 10 disasters per year and 10 experts per disaster);

• Transportation of European civil protection assistance in the event of disasters as well as associated logistical support (estimated number of 10 disasters per year and 6 flights per disaster);

• The mobilisation of equipment and means (estimated number of 10 disasters).

Relevant indicators are the delivery of European assistance in case of disasters, its positive impact on the immediate consequences, its timeliness and effectiveness.

- Preparedness

Preparedness actions encompass all activities and measures taken in advance, within the EU and the participating countries, to ensure effective rapid response and to mitigate the adverse consequences of disasters.

They will ensure the following concrete results (per year):

• training courses (including general training courses in the context of the Mechanism as well as training courses focusing on specific issues or for a specialised audience) to provide experts and team leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to participate effectively in Community interventions and to develop a common European intervention culture;

• command post exercises and full-scale exercises to test interoperability, train civil protection

officials and create a common intervention culture;

• the exchange of experts to enhance understanding of European civil protection and to share information and experience;

• workshops to enhance information sharing and promote a common understanding of civil protection issues;

• projects, studies, surveys, modelling, scenario-building and contingency planning, capacity building assistance; demonstration projects; technology transfer; awareness and dissemination actions; communication actions; provision of adequate means and equipment and monitoring assessment and evaluation.

2- FOLLOW-UP

The proposal will be implemented by the Commission. A comprehensive monitoring system is provided by Article 11 of the proposal. This includes: on-the-spot checks, including sample checks, on actions financed under this Regulation; supervision and financial control of grants and contracts by the Commission and audits by the Court of Auditors, including on-the-spot, in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Regulation; obligations on the beneficiary of financial assistance to keep available for the Commission all the supporting documents regarding expenditure on the action; etc.

In addition, the Commission shall submit to the EP and the Council:

a) an interim evaluation report no later than 31 December 2010;

b) a communication on the continuation of this Regulation no later than 31 December 2011;

c) an ex-post evaluation no later than 31 March 2015.

SEC(2005)0439
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE: to establish, from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, a Preparedness and Rapid Response Instrument for major emergencies, which should contribute to the development and implementation of Community civil protection measures, as a contribution to help improving the effectiveness of systems for preparing for and responding to major emergencies.

PROPOSED ACT : Council Regulation.

CONTENT: in its Communication on the Financial Perspectives adopted on 14 July 2004, the Commission called for action at European level to provide a common response to emergency situations of different origin in an efficient and coordinated way. Action would cover both solidarity and rapid reaction, with measures allowing for immediate response and providing assistance in the aftermath of a major crisis.

The objective of the present proposal is to develop the rapid reaction strand of the Commission’s integrated approach, in order to provide for Community financial assistance to support and complement the efforts of Member States for the protection of people, the environment and property by contributing to the effectiveness of systems for the preparedness for and response to major emergencies regardless of

their origin as well as to prepare for and respond to public health effects arising from major emergencies.

The solidarity strand is developed through a complementary proposal of a “European Union Solidarity Fund” (please refer to COD/2005/0033).

This proposal will constitute, once adopted, the new legal basis for granting Community financial support to civil protection actions and measures in the field of preparedness and rapid response.

To that effect, the proposal build sup on the existing instruments while widening and setting out in more detail the actions eligible for funding. The range of actions that could potentially be financed under the proposal, in terms of preparedness and rapid response, is wide since the Instrument to be established could finance actions ranging from capacity building assistance, demonstration projects, awareness and dissemination actions to training and exercises, dispatching and sending out of experts and mobilisation on short notice of adequate means and equipment. Particular attention has also been given to identify logistical support actions, such as secure communication systems and tools, which are necessary for the proper achievement of rapid response interventions.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

- Budget lines:

07 03 06 01: Community action programme in the field of civil protection. This also includes expenditure actions in the framework of the Community civil protection Mechanism.

07 03 09: Community cooperation in the field of marine pollution.

- Duration of the action and of the financial impact: 2007-2013.

The proposed instrument aims at financing civil protection activities in the field of preparedness and rapid response.

As far as the preparedness is concerned, the following actions should be financed:

- training, exercises, workshops, exchange of staff and experts estimated at EUR 8.665 to 12.915 million per year;

- establishment and maintenance of secure communication system and tools estimated at EUR 1 million per year;

- as well as studies, surveys, modelling, scenario building and contingency planning; capacity building assistance; demonstration projects; technology transfer; awareness and dissemination actions; communication actions; provision of adequate means and equipment and monitoring assessment and

evaluation, estimated at EUR 2.635 to 3.875 million per year;

The annual estimation in the field of preparedness sums up to EUR 12.3 to 17.79 million per year. The estimations are based on the cost of the actions realized in 2004 and 2005 in this field.

Concerning the rapid response, the following actions should be financed by the proposed Instrument:

- transportation and associated logistical support for experts, liaison officers, observers, intervention teams, equipment and mobile facilities; estimated at EUR 2.4 to 6 million per year;

- dispatching and sending out of experts, liaison officers and observers;

estimated EUR 0.3 to 0.4 million per year

- mobilisation on short notice of adequate means and equipment, estimated at up to EUR 4.81 million per year.

The annual estimation in the field disaster response sums up to EUR 2.7 to 11.21 million. The estimations are based on the cost of the actions realized in 2004 and 2005 in this field.

The overall annual budget for this instrument is therefore estimated at EUR 15 to 29 million per year.

Moreover, it is appropriate to earmark an amount of EUR 1 million per year to finance the technical assistance actions foreseen by the proposed instrument.

Therefore the total amount is estimated to be EUR 173 million for the period of seven years.

COM(2005)0113
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