Second Community action programme

This programme is designed to support and supplement the Member States' efforts at national, regional and local level to protect people, property and the environment in the event of natural and technological disasters. The aim is also to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experience and mutual assistance between Member States in this field.

ACT

Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999 establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

On 19 December 1997 the Community launched the first Community action programme to promote civil protection, covering the years 1998 and 1999. This Decision outlines the way the Community action programme is to be pursued during the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004. Decision 2005/12/EC prolongs the action programme until 31 December 2006.

The new programme will be implemented by a three-year rolling plan, to be reviewed annually, specifying the various actions to be undertaken in close cooperation with the national, regional and local authorities.

The programme should contribute to five aims:

• preventing risks and damage to persons, the environment and property in the event of natural and technological disasters;
• increasing the degree of preparedness of those involved in civil protection in the Member States;
• detecting and studying causes of disasters;
• improving methods of response and rehabilitation after emergencies;
• public information, education and awareness.

The Decision provides for the setting up of an advisory committee composed of representatives of the Member States and chaired by the Commission to assist the Commission in the implementation of the programme.

The Community's contribution to the various projects and the annual budget planned for the various categories of actions (EUR 7.5 million in total) are set out in the Annex to the Decision.

The Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of the programme by 30 September 2002 and 31 March 2004 at the latest.

RELATED ACTS

Communication from the Commission entitled "Reinforcing the Civil Protection Capacity of the European Union" [COM(2004) 200 - Not published in the Official Journal]

This communication examines the EU's capacity for civil protection intervention, both inside and outside the EU, and proposes improvements where necessary. The Commission reports that, two years after its entry into force, the Community intervention mechanism has shown that it can work to the benefit of participating countries. However, it notes that a number of issues require special attention:

• information gaps, in respect of which the Commission proposes defining the types of emergency most likely to trigger the Community mechanism and the available response capabilities in terms of personnel and equipment;
• a need for more training and a focus on interoperability, notably by means of further development of a programme of training and joint exercises;
• a need for better communication and improved coordination, notably between the various instruments available to the EU and by requiring Member States to inform the Monitoring and Information Centre when a major disaster occurs and/or whether they call for assistance or respond to such calls;
• financial issues, both inside and outside the EU, in respect of which the Commission proposes to review and possibly extend the possibility of Community funding for transport costs, for operations both inside and outside the EU, and to examine the feasibility of providing immediate funding to Member States where the costs associated with additional emergency measures overwhelm their immediate financial capacities.

Decision 2001/792/EC - Official Journal L 297 of 15.11.2001

This Decision supplements the Community action programme in the field of civil protection (2000-2004). The aim is to improve the coordination of assistance intervention in the event of natural, technological, radiological, ecological or environmental disasters, including serious marine pollution, occurring inside or outside the Community.

Decision 2000/354/PESC - Official Journal L 127 of 27.05.2000

Council Decision of 22 May 2000 setting up a Committee for civilian aspects of crisis management.

Last updated: 03.11.2004