2019/0070(COD) | [ParlTrack]

Proposal for a decision
Recital 2 a (new)

(2a) The escalation in forest fires, particularly in primary forests, poses a serious threat to biodiversity over and above the immediate consequences in terms of human lives and material damage. The Union must be in a position to make a rapid, proportionate and effective contribution towards efforts to address these natural disasters throughout the world. However, rescEU operations outside EU territory must be restricted to cases where action is objectively justified and will provide concrete, objective and verifiable added value for the third country concerned, since they are chiefly intended for EU territory.

Amendment 12 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 3

(3) Enhanced Union financing is necessary to be able to further develop the European Civil Protection Pool and cover additional costs stemming from adaptation grants and the operation of capacities committed to the European Civil Protection Pool. However, no expenditure may be incurred for the purposes of communication on the part of the EU institutions.

Amendment 13 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 4

(4) Adequate financial appropriations are required in order to establish, deploy and operate rescEU capacities. No expenditure may be incurred or deducted from rescEU appropriations for the purposes of communication on the part of the EU institutions.

Amendment 14 #

Martin HORWOOD

Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 a (new)

(9 a) In order to maximise transparency and accountability for Union citizens, including as regards measurement of progress by the European Union towards the 0,7% Official Development Aid (ODA) target , the Commission should bring forward guidance on the proportion of spending that it would recommend to be carried out through the modified Union civil protection mechanism and that should qualify as ODA. Such guidance should accurately reflect and fully comply with OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) rules on ODA, and state whether methodologies such as the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) standard should be used;

Amendment 15 #

Martin HORWOOD

Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 b (new)

(9 b) The Union, being a member of the OECD DAC, should maintain its commitment to, and compliance with, OECD DAC rules on ODA, including in the relevant activities carried out through the Union civil protection mechanism;

Amendment 16 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 20 a – paragraph 1

1. The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ~~ensure the~~ visibility of the Union funding ~~(in particular when promoting the actions and their results)~~ by providing coherent, effective and proportionate targeted information ~~to multiple audiences, including the media and the public. Any assistance or funding provided under this Decision shall also give appropriate visibility to the Union, including promi~~in cases where this is strictly nence ~~to the Union emblem~~ ssary to fully inform th~~ose capacities referred to under Article 11, 12 and point (c) of Article 21(2)~~e public.

Amendment 17 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 20 a – paragraph 2 – point 1

The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to this Decision, and its actions and results. Financial resources allocated to this Decision shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Article 3(1).deleted

Amendment 18 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 20 a – paragraph 2 – point 2

~~A communication strategy shall be developed by the Commission in order to make the tangible results of the actions taken under the Union Mechanism visible to citizens.~~deleted

Amendment 19 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 20 a – paragraph 1 a (new)

1a. No expenditure may be incurred for the purposes of communication on the part of the EU institutions under the rescEU mechanism or Decision No 1313/2013/EU in general.

Amendment 20 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point a

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 20 a – paragraph 3

3. The Commission recognises the courage and exceptional contribution to the safety of the Member States' citizens made by civil protection staff in the EU and shall promote and publicise their commitment by all available means. In particular, the Commission shall award medals in order to recognise and honour ~~long-standing~~ commitments and extraordinary contributions to Union Civil Protection.

Amendment 21 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b

Decision 1313/2013/EU
Article 30 – paragraph 4

4. The delegation of power referred to in Article 21(3) shall be for a fixed period and, what is more, may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the Ddecision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Amendment 6 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 1

(1) TIn response to certain frequent, acute natural disasters that had hit some Member States, on 23 November 2017, the Commission adopted a proposal9 for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism on 23 November 201710. _________________ 9Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism on 23 November 2017 (COM(2017)772 final) 10Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924).

Amendment 7 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) The growing number of natural disasters is largely attributable to climate change, and developing countries and the least developed countries are particularly vulnerable due to their lack of resilience and limited response capacities. Some Member States have limited capacities themselves, owing to such factors as restricted financial leeway due to large- scale austerity policies, as in Greece.

Amendment 8 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 1 b (new)

(1b) Despite the Member States' obligations to limit public spending, the human and material resources allocated in each Member State to the prevention and management of natural disasters must absolutely not be significantly affected by public budget restrictions. These services must, in all cases, be able to fulfil their public service and public interest mission under optimal conditions.

Amendment 9 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 2

(2) The Commission proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU seeks to enhance the collective ability to prepare and respond to disasters by bolstering the possibilities offered by the European Civil Protection Pool. This involves establishing a reserve of civil protection capacities for use in Union operations (‘rescEU’) on EU territory and, under the circumstances set out in this Decision, outside EU territory and strengthening the measures applicable in the field of ~~prevention~~natural disaster prevention and resilience.

source: 646.907

2020/01/29 ENVI 34 amendments...

Amendment 23 #

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 6 a (new)

- having regard to its resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency,

Amendment 24 #

Draft legislative resolution
Citation 6 b (new)

- having regard to the Sendai Framework for disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030,

Amendment 25 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 2

(2) The Commission proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU seeks to enhance the collective ability to prepare and respond to disasters by bolstering the possibilities offered by the European Civil Protection Pool. This involves establishing a reserve of civil protection capacities for use in Union operations (‘rescEU’) and strengthening the measures applicable in the fields of prevention, preparedness and response in the event of natural and man- made disasters and humanitarian crises.

Amendment 26 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 2 a (new)

(2a) Every year, Europe is ravaged by forest fires that destroy thousands of hectares of forest and lives. In 2017, the mechanism was activated 18 times in response to forest fire emergencies in Europe. Portugal, Italy, Montenegro, France and Albania received assistance with tackling forest fires through the mechanism. It was also activated following a request from the Chilean Government. The European Union is able to help Chile to tackle one of the worst forest fires in its history through support from Portugal, Spain and France, along with an EU civil protection team made up of nine experts. In 2019, the mechanism was activated five times to combat forest fires in Europe. Two requests came from Sweden and one each from Portugal, Greece and Latvia. In total, the EU’s response included 5 planes, 6 helicopters, more than 400 firefighters and crew members and 69 vehicles.

Amendment 27 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)

(3a) Stresses the need to step up prevention and preparation efforts by participating states, including through the incentive to improve research on preventing disasters and preparing for them and to improve the quality of information available on disasters and the accessibility of that information.

Amendment 28 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)

(3a) The security of water resources is essential for climate resilience. Member States should map existing water resources in order to facilitate their adaptation to climate change and to increase the resilience of their population as regards facing climate-related threats such as droughts, fires or floods.

Amendment 29 #

Marco DREOSTO

Proposal for a decision
Recital 3 a (new)

(3a) The Union and its Member States should be able to provide assistance whenever it is needed in order to protect human lives and natural resources in the event of natural or anthropogenic disasters.

Amendment 30 #

Sara CERDAS

Proposal for a decision
Recital 4

(4) Adequate financial appropriations are required in order to establish, deploy and operate rescEU capacities. With reference to Article 349 on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and given the territorial limitations of the EU’s outermost regions, special attentions should be paid to the amount of rescEU financial commitments earmarked for these regions to help them to buy equipment.

Amendment 31 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 4 a (new)

(4a) The establishment of a specific reserve of response capacities brings together a number of emergency teams, experts and equipment that the Member States always keep on standby for EU civil protection missions. These teams must meet demanding quality and reliability criteria, which enable interoperability.

Amendment 32 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 5 a (new)

(5a) The Union should be allowed to strengthen its ability to manage the threats from the increase in the frequency of extreme weather events forecast by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in its report: ‘The European environment – state and outlook 2020’ (SOER 2020). It is essential that financial resources be used in an optimal and transparent manner.

Amendment 33 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 6

(6) To make it possible to continue financing the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for the period covered by the next multiannual financial framework, the financial envelope set out in Article 19 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU ~~needs to~~shall be updated and replaced by the new figures provided for in the Commission’s proposal for the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework11. _________________ 11 COM(2018) 321 final.

Amendment 34 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 a (new)

(7a) In order to increase flexibility as well as to achieve optimal budget implementation, this Decision should provide for indirect management as a method of budget execution to be used , where justified by the nature and content of the action concerned.

Amendment 35 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 7 b (new)

(7b) The Union should be able to support Member States by co-financing the development of rescEU capacities, including their rental, leasing or acquisition. This would substantially increase the effectiveness of the Union Mechanism by ensuring availability of capacities in cases where an effective response to disasters would not otherwise be guaranteed, in particular for disasters with a wide-ranging impact affecting a significant number of Member States. Joint procurement of capacities should make it possible to obtain economies of scale and better coordination when responding to disasters. When organising and conducting a joint procurement procedure for the benefit of the Member States, the Commission itself does not acquire legal ownership of the capacities that are being jointly procured.

Amendment 36 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 9 a (new)

(9a) The Union Civil Protection Mechanism is anchored in the promotion of solidarity between Member States. When unpredictable climate change- related disasters take place, the mechanism provides for the administration of means to tackle operational challenges and requirements. The new specific reserve of response capacities will therefore need to be decentralised and its operational bases in different Member States, according to their needs and the disasters to which they are most exposed. In other words, the Member States that are most affected by climate change and, therefore, by the increase in the frequency and intensity of disasters should be at the forefront of considerations when decisions are made regarding where to locate these reserves, thus ensuring a more effective and quicker response.

Amendment 37 #

Proposal for a decision
Recital 10 a (new)

(10a) The Member States should strengthen the common pool of resources, organised in the framework of European Medical Corps, for dealing with mass burn casualties.

Amendment 38 #

Pietro FIOCCHI

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)

(-1) In Article 3(1), the following point is inserted: “(da) to optimise activities during the attention, pre-alarm, alarm and emergency phases in accordance with best risk management practice;”

Amendment 39 #

Pietro FIOCCHI

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 a (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point 10 a (new)

(-1a) In Article 4, the following point is inserted: “10a. ‘resilience’ means the set of means, tools and resources which systems, communities and individuals exploit when reacting to catastrophes in order to guarantee socio-economic growth in the future in a manner that is sustainable;”

Amendment 40 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – paragraph 10 a (new)

(-1) In Article 4, the following paragraph is added: "10a. ‘first responders’ means the professionals who are the first to enter the area of a disaster in order to provide immediate support services during response and recovery operations, and covers, but is not limited to emergency management, public health public safety personnel, firefighters and public workers;"

Amendment 41 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 a (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 9 – paragraph 10 a (new)

(-1a) In Article 9, the following paragraph is added: "10a. Member States shall take appropriate actions in order to ensure that the first responders are properly equipped and prepared to respond to any kind of disaster situation as referred to in Article 1. Such action shall include protection against biological threats through immunisations."

Amendment 42 #

Radan KANEV

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 11 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1

(-1) in Article 11, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1 is replaced by the following: "On the basis of identified risks, overall capacities and gaps, the Commission shall define, by means of implementing acts adopted under point (f) of Article 32 (1), the types and the number of key response capacities required for the European Civil Protection Pool (“capacity goals”) , taking into account the existing capacities of humanitarian actors in particular in their areas of expertise, such as emergency health." Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580311666123&uri=CELEX:02013D1313-20190321)

Amendment 43 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 b (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 12 – paragraph 2 a (new)

(-1b) in Article 12, the following paragraph is inserted: “2a. The Commission shall establish a Strategic European Union Stockpile under rescEU with expert assistance from the European Medicines Agency.”

Amendment 44 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 c (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1

(-1c) in Article 12(3), subparagraph 1 is replaced by the following: “rescEU capacities shall be acquired, rented or leased by Member States. For that purpose, direct grants may be awarded by the Commission to Member States without a call for proposals. Where the Commission procures rescEU capacities on behalf of Member States, the joint procurement procedure shall apply. Union financial assistance shall be awarded in accordance with the Union's financial rules.Union financial assistance shall be awarded in accordance with the Union's financial rules. In view of the Commission’s right of decision on the deployment and demobilisation of rescEU capacities pursuant to paragraph 6, the provisions on joint procurement procedures of Article 165 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 shall apply by analogy.”

Amendment 45 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 d (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 a (new)

(-1d) in Article 12(3), after subparagraph 1 a new subparagraph is inserted: “When applying the joint procurement procedure, the Commission itself is not required to acquire, rent or lease the capacities being jointly procured.”

Amendment 46 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 e (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 12 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2

(-1e) in Article 12(3), subparagraph 2 is replaced by the following: “rescEU capacities shall be hosted by the Member States that acquire, rent or lease those capacities. ~~In the case of~~Where the joint procurement procedure is applied, rescEU capacities shall be hosted by the Member States ~~on behalf~~for the benefit of which they are procured.”

Amendment 47 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 f (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 13 – paragraph 1 – point f a (new)

(-1f) In Article 13(1), point (fa) is added: “(fa) create capabilities of specific response expertise which can be used in the case of disasters affecting cultural heritage.”

Amendment 48 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point -1 g (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 13 a (new)

(-1g) Article 13a is inserted: "Article 13a Strategic European Union Stockpile 1. The Union Civil Protection Mechanism shall establish inventories of stockpiles of essential medical countermeasures, laboratory equipment and other capacities and regularly map the availability of those stockpiles across the Union to increase the access and rapid deployment in case of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attacks or medical emergencies. (2) The stockpiles should be placed strategically in undisclosed locations across the Union’s territory. (3) The capacity of national institutes for medical research located in the European Union to produce vaccines, mobile laboratories and other medical supplies shall be reinforced and treated as part of the preparedness budget. (4) Vaccines, mobile laboratories and other medical supplies deemed necessary for the Strategic European Union Stockpile shall be procured jointly by the member states with regards to the scientific guidelines established by the European Medicines Agency. (5) The European medical industry shall be incentivised to produce medical supplies for the Strategic European Union Stockpile that meet the scientific guidelines established by the European Medicine Agency. (6) The national institutes for medical research shall be regarded as a capacity of rescEU.”

Amendment 49 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 –point -1 h (new) Decision No 1313/2013/EU

(-1h) in Article 18, the following paragraph is added: "2 a. The Member States shall ensure capabilities for transporting injured people from one Member State to another in the event that treatment cannot be provided in the vicinity of a disaster."

Amendment 50 #

Marco DREOSTO

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 19 – paragraph 3

(aa) paragraph 3 is amended as follows: ‘3. The financial allocation referred to in paragraph 1 may also cover expenses pertaining to preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities, which are required for the management of the Union Mechanism and the achievement of its objectives. If such resources are under indirect management, where that is permitted under the laws of the Member States, their management will have to be subject to impact assessment.’ Such expenditure may, in particular, cover studies, meetings of experts, information and communication actions, including corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the general objectives of the Union Mechanism, expenses linked to IT networks focusing on information processing and exchange, including their interconnection with existing or future systems designed to promote cross-sectoral data exchange and related equipment, together with all other technical and administrative assistance expenses incurred by the Commission for the management of the programme.

Amendment 51 #

Sara CERDAS

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 20a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2

A communication strategy shall be developed by the Commission in order to make the tangible results of the actions taken under the Union Mechanism visible to citizens. The Commission shall also develop measures together with local authorities, taking into account the collection of input to improve Union Mechanism activities.

Amendment 52 #

Sara CERDAS

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 2 – point a Decision No 1313/2013/EU

(2a) The Commission, in partnership with the Member States and in coordination with local authorities, shall take awareness-raising and prevention measures for the benefit of local populations. These activities should be carried out on a regular basis with a view to enabling populations to respond immediately in the event of a disaster.

Amendment 53 #

Esther DE LANGE

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 23 – paragraph 2

(2 a) in Article 23, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following: “2. The amount of Union financial assistance for capacities pre- committed to the European Civil Protection Pool shall not exceed 75 % of the costs of operating the capacities, including transport, in the event of a disaster or imminent disaster within the Union or a participating state~~. content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580311666123&uri=CELEX:02013D1313-20190321)~~, including Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).” Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-

Amendment 54 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 25 – paragraph 1

(2 a) in Article 25, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following: "1. The Commission shall implement the Union's financial ~~assistance~~support in direct management in accordance with the Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) ~~No 966/2012.~~ 2018/1046 or in indirect management with bodies referred to in Article 62(1)(c) of the Financial Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. When choosing the mode of implementation of financial support, priority shall be given to direct management. Where justified by the nature and content of the action concerned, the Commission may use indirect management. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 30 in order to set out actions carried out under the Union Mechanism which may be implemented in indirect management." Or. en (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- content/EN/TXT/?qid=1580311666123&uri=CELEX:02013D1313-20190321)

Amendment 55 #

Proposal for a decision
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b

Decision No 1313/2013/EU
Article 30 – paragraph 4

4. The delegation of power referred to in Article ~~21(3~~19 (5) and (6), Article 21(3) and Article 25 (1) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the Decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Amendment 56 #