Working Group Meeting on Civil Protection
Brussels, 26 November 2019. Following the successful Third meeting of Civil Protection Directors-General of the UfM member states, held on 11 and 12 February 2019 in Barcelona, and its positive Recommendations, the Union for the Mediterranee and the European Commission will be organizing a follow-up Civil Protection Working Group on: “Preparing for efficient mutual assistance in the Euro Mediterranean area”, on 26 November 2019 in Brussels.
The meeting, co-organised by the UfM and the EU Commission, seeks to facilitate the identification of priorities for an action plan for efficient mutual assistance in the Mediterranean area.
The opening speeches and setting the scene will be delivered by Mr. Johannes Luchner, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Prevention at the DG ECHO and Major Thamer Ali Al-Qeban as a representative of the UfM Copresidency.
The UfM Secretariat welcome remarks will be addressed by H.E Marisa Farrugia, Deputy Secretary General for Social and Civil Affairs at the Union for the Mediterranean.
The risk-based approach to disaster management (analysis of hazards, exposure and vulnerability) is essential for reducing risks and facilitates informed decisions by decision-makers when preparing for a rapid and needs-based response. Thus, cooperation between UfM Members States is a priority in the field of Civil Protection.
The discussions during the meeting will be focused on the following areas: host nation support, preparedness for response, risk assessment and situational analysis to support rapid response in case of natural and man-made disasters.
The actions proposed under this working group will be complementary to the work carried out under the two other working groups that will meet at a later stage: engaging citizens in disaster risk management and civil protection volunteers.
Another meeting of the Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to natural and manmade Disasters (PPRD South III) will be held on 27 November for countries that take part in the regional programme.
