Some large-scale emergencies may require cooperation with neighbouring countries. This session looks at how to foster efficient cross-border cooperation between emergency services. Peter Billing, Head of Emergency Preparedness and Security Unit, EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, European Commission

1. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre
and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
EENA Conference 2018
27 April 2018
Peter Billing
Head of Unit
DG ECHO (Unit A.2: Emergency Preparedness and Security)

2. EU Civil Protection Mechanism
• Prevention
• Preparedness
• Response

3. Emergency Response Coordination Centre

4. Types of hazards
Overview of activations 2014-17
EU & worldwide

5. ERCC
Disaster
stricken
country
Request for assistance
Acceptance / rejection of
assistance offered
Information update
Offer of assistance
Activation of the Mechanism
Deployment of UCP Teams
Coordination of Transport

6. Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC)| DG ECHO Daily Map| 25/01/2018
EU Civil Protection Mechanism - Requests for Assistance in 2017
Total number of
activations:
32
Italy (4)
July
August (2)
October
Greece (2)
Septembe
r
August
Albania (2)
December
AugustMontenegro (2)
July
August
Portugal (4)
June
July
August
October
Bangladesh (2)
IraqTunisia
Jordan
December
October
August November
Georgia (3)
August (2)
Septembe
r
August
Bhutan
March
Uganda
November
Tropical Cyclone
Flood
Earthquake
Forest Fire
Request type
Consular Support
Environmental Accident
Epidemic
People Displacement
Disaster Preparedness Mission
Requesting Country
USA (request by Germany)
Septembe
r
Armenia
(1) Septembe
r
France
July
Mexico
Septembe
r
Chile
Peru
March
January
Sint-Maarten (request by
the Netherlands)
Septembe
r
Dominica
Septembe
r
Internal
assistance
External
assistance
Requests for Assistance
inside/outside EU
21
11

7. European Emergency Response Capacity | DG ECHO Analytical Team| 10/04/2018
Modules registered in CECIS - Overview
Copyright, European Union, 2018. Map created by
ERCC Analytical Team. Sources: ECHO, ESRI. The
boundaries and names shown on this map do not
imply official endorsement or acceptance by the
European Union.
Registered Modules in CECIS: 212
Participating States with Modules: 28
60
36
116

8. • Caribbean: TC Irma & TC Maria (2017)
• Satellite Re-entr (2018)
Recent emergencies
under the UCPM

9. 2017- TC IRMA
Caribbean
EU Response
ERCC proactive:
• Information sharing
• EUCP Team of 15 experts was selected and placed
on Stand-by during 7 - 11 September.
Relation with MS:
Coordinated meetings / VTC with Participating States
where needs and capabilities were discussed.
DE and NL activated for consular assistance
The Kingdom of NL requested assistance on behalf of
St Maarten - transport co-financing for their biggest
navy vessel Karel Doorman.
The ERCC activated Copernicus EMS: 65 satellite
maps were produced and shared.
EC net contribution requested for transport co-
financing to date: EUR 2 670 000

10. 2017 - TC MARIA –
Caribbean, Dominica
EU Response
An EU Civil Protection Team (EUCPT) of 9 experts has
been deployed to Dominica from 26 September to
5 October: Team leader (NO), coordination (FR), water
and sanitation (BE), logistician (SE), water purification
(DE), 3 TAST ICT/Admin (FI) and ERCC liaison officer.
BE, FR, UK and NL have offered in-kind assistance
to Dominica through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
1 EUCPM disaster waste management expert (RO) has
been selected to reinforce the UN Disaster Assessment
and Coordination Team in Dominica.
2 ECHO Humanitarian Expert deployed – received hand
over from EUCPT
Copernicus Emergency Management Service has
produced 22 maps.
EC net contribution requested for transport co-financing
to date: EUR 780 000

11. 2017 - TC MARIA –
Caribbean, Dominica
EU Response - Offers
FR: solar lights, chainsaws, tarpaulins, blankets, medical
supplies, aqua tabs.
The DOORMAN in Roseau (Dominica) waiting the offload of 11 tonnes
of French assistance that will be distributed by IOM and PAHO
BE:
B-FAST water purification module was providing water to the local
population between 27 September and 4 October. Staff from the water
company have been trained and continue to maintain operations.
UK:
Hygiene kits, shelter kits, tents, boxes of ration, Water purification cubes,
aqua tabs, water filtration system, Hygiene kits, and 16 tonnes of lumber.
NL:
Strategic sea transport – 2 vessels : operated from 27 September and 3
October. HNLMS Pelikaan transported around 350 tons of relief items to
Roseau, delivered more than 40 000L of drinking water, supported
distribution of food, water and medicine to distant villages by smaller.
On 7 October: WFP requested the possibility of transport assistance in
order to move food assistance from the Dominican Republic to Dominica –
possible use of the Karel Doorman.

12. 2018 - Satellite Re-entry –
TIANGONG 1
ERCC is monitoring with European Space
Agency (ESA), DG GROW and EU Space
Surveillance & Tracking (EUSST).
ERCC in contact with PS – info sharing
Latest Report from EU Sat Centre:
• Re-entry Epoch: 2 April 2018 +/- 2 days

13. Strengthening the European Civil
Protection Mechanism
Revision of Decision 1313/2013

14. Consequences of natural disasters (2014-2017)
Source: EM-DAT, consulted 14.12.2017

15. Concrete example from 2017
On a number of occasions
assets were not available to
respond to disasters. Why?
- Low incentives
- Limited availability of assets
UCPM activations during 2017
forest fire season.
7
10

16. 7
10

17. This proposal in a nutshell

18. Keeping the principles of the Mechanism

19. Article 5(a)
Article 5(c)
Article 5(b)
Current Proposed set-up
Article 5(e)
Ad hoc specific
consultation mechanisms
Summary Risk Management
Planning (every 3 years)
Summary Risk Assessment
(every 3 years)
Risk Management Capability
(every 3 years)
Article 5(a)
Full Risk Assessment
(every 3 years)
Article 5(c)
Risk Management Capability
(every 3 years)
+

20. National
Capacities
European Civil
Protection Pool rescEU
Reserve of civil protection
capacities:
- Aerial Firefighting means
- High Capacity Pumping
- Urban Search and Rescue
- Field hospital and
emergency medical teams
NB: Delegated act to revise
composition of rescEU

22. EUCPM Knowledge Network
course
1
course
3
course
X
course
2
Exercises
Certification
Training
Host Nation
Support
(HNS)
Training
Certification
Exercises
Advanced
trainingExchangeofExperts/Erasmus
EUCPMExercises
DisasterManagementMaster
EU Civil Protection Mechanism training
Modules EUCPT
Specialised
expertise
course

23. Budget

24. Conclusion
This proposal represents a
unique opportunity to be
better prepared for the future
- A political proposal firmly based on
operational reality.
- A proposal to support Member States.
Additional means will find their way into
Member States.
- A proposal with reinforced prevention at
its heart.

25. Thank you for your attention
Peter Billing, Head of Unit
DG ECHO (Unit A.2: Emergency
Preparedness and Security)
Peter.Billing@ec.europa.eu