20th directors-general meeting for civil protection, ljubljana, 19 may 2008 20th directors-general...

20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008

20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection

Joint Session of the Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic

Area, the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans

Branko Dervodel, Deputy Director General, Administration of the Republic of Slovenia

for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief


Priorities in the field of civil protection in the first half of 2008

One of the priorities: Cooperation with the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans

Joint effort of the European Commission and the Presidency, supported by all EU Member States

High interest in participation by the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans


Cooperation with the Western Balkans - Background

Countries in the Western Balkans are candidate and potential candidate countries - closer integration and gradual association with the EU civil protection instruments/activities is needed

Devastating wild fires and floods in South-Eastern Europe in 2007 Need for further development of national disaster management

systems Enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation (DPPI – Disaster

Preparedness and Prevention Initiative)


Relevant documents (1)

Civil Protection Financial Instrument (2007/162/EC, Euratom)

Recast of the Civil Protection Mechanism (2007/779/EC, Euratom) Possibilities for participation and cooperation with candidate countries and

third countries (potential candidate countries)

Commission Communication: Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008 (COM [2007]663), 6 Nov 2007)

Commission Communication: Western Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective, (COM(2008)127), 5 March 2008



General Framework for EU Cooperation with candidate countries and Western Balkan countries in the field of civil protection: Roadmap of activities under the Slovenian Presidency; Information Note

Presidency/Commission Note - Outcomes of the Seminar Strengthening cooperation with Candidate countries and Western Balkan Countries in the field of Civil Protection ("Bled Initiative”)

Brdo Presidency Statement: New focus on the Western Balkans, 29 March 2008

Council Conclusions (GAERC) on Western Balkans, 28 April – disaster prevention, preparedness and response included



Council Conclusions on cooperation with the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans in the field of Civil Protection – to be adopted in June 2008 (doc. 9199/08)


Main events

Seminar on Strengthening Cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of Civil Protection 24-26 February 2008, Bled, Slovenia

Joint session of the Directors-General for Civil Protection from EU Member States, EEA Countries, the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans 19 May 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia


Regional cooperation

Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Preparedness and Prevention in the South-Eastern Europe, 9 April 2008, Sofia, Bulgaria Joint Ministerial Statement

Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative from South Eastern Europe (from 2000 on ) – MOU signed in 2007, Secretariat in Sarajevo Disaster Management Training Programme Projects (hydromed, trilateral fire-figting unit etc.)


Seminar on Strengthening Cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of

Civil Protection - Aims

Facilitate closer integration of the candidate countries into the Community Civil Protection Mechanism and Financial Instrument

Strengthen cooperation with the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans in the field of civil protection


Seminar - General information90 participants from:

- 16 EU Member States

- 3 Candidate Countries (Croatia,

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey )

- 3 potential candidate countries

(Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro)

- observing countries

- EU institutions

- international organizations (UN ISDR, WMO, Red

Cross)

- regional initiatives (Stability Pact for SEE, DPPI SEE)

- other (World Bank)


Seminar impact

Platform to gather for the first time EU Member States and the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans to discuss civil protection issues

Underlined importance of closer cooperation with the candidate and potential candidate countries in the field of civil protection

Enhanced knowledge about EU civil protection instruments in candidate and potential candidate countries

Forum to identify possible areas for further cooperation to the benefit of all EU Member States, Candidate Countries and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans


General conclusions and recommendations“BLED Initiative"

The cooperation with the candidate countries and potential candidate countriesof the Western Balkans should be further elaborated and supported by the EU

Increased cooperation will help the countries: - to improve national disaster management

systems- to gradually adhere to European standards of quality

Taking into account existing bilateral, regional and international cooperation activities - to promote coordination and complementarities


1. Cooperation in EU Civil Protection instruments

(Civil Protection Mechanism and Financial Instrument)

2. Facilitating the provision of mutual assistance

3. Training, exercises, exchange of experts

4. Early warning systems and emergency call number 112

5. Supporting the candidate and potential candidate

countries and regional capacity development

6. Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA)

7. Comprehensive Programme

Identified priority areas


Further activities

Comprehensive EU programme on cooperation with the candidate and potential candidate countries in the field of civil protection

Support to regional cooperation (through the DPPI SEE) - Advisory Board - Seminar on Civil Protection in the EU, autumn 2008, jointly organized by the European Commission and Slovenia

Cooperation with international actors, bilateral activities - synergies and complementarities in the development of capacities across the region


THANK YOU!

More information available at: http://www.sos112.si/eng/eu.php

20th directors-general meeting for civil protection, ljubljana, 19 may 2008 20th directors-general...

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