This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Strengthening EU disaster prevention, preparedness and response
Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
Objectives
The mechanism’s main objective is to improve the effectiveness of systems for preventing, preparing for and responding to natural and human-induced disasters of all kinds within and outside the EU. Although its focus is on protecting people, it also covers the environment and property, including natural heritage.
The mechanism’s specific objectives are to:
Risk prevention and management
Disaster prevention is a major focus of the mechanism, with particular emphasis placed on risk assessment and risk-management planning. Decision No 1313/2013/EU as amended by Decision (EU) 2019/420 requires Member States to:
As set out in the amending Regulation (EU) 2021/836, the Commission, together with the Member States, will define and develop EU disaster resilience goals. These non-binding goals will be set out in Commission recommendations and will be based on scenarios using current situations and prospective scenarios, taking into account data on past events and the effects of climate change on disaster risks.
Union civil protection knowledge network
To improve training and knowledge-sharing, the amending Decision (EU) 2019/420 requires the Commission to set up a network of relevant civil protection and disaster management researchers, bodies and institutions, including centres of excellence and universities. These will form, together with the Commission, a Union civil protection knowledge network.
On 10 November 2021, the Commission formally established the knowledge network (Implementing Decision 2021/1956). The implementing decision lays out the governance structure of the knowledge network and its way of operating. The knowledge network governance structure is composed of a board and two pillars of working groups (capacity development and science). The secretariat is provided by the Commission.
The Commission is also required to:
Emergency Response Coordination Centre(ERCC)
To enhance preparedness for and response to disasters at the EU level, there is a 24/7 ERCC managed by the Commission in Brussels. The ERCC is a coordination hub and the operational arm of the mechanism.
Additional tools include:
Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/836 provides the ERCC with enhanced operational, analytical, monitoring, information management and communication capabilities.
rescEU
Amending Decision (EU) 2019/420 also establishes rescEU, an additional pool of resources to provide assistance in situations where the overall existing resources at the national level and the resources previously allocated by Member States to the European civil protection pool are insufficient to ensure an effective response.
The initial composition of rescEU in terms of resources and quality requirements was set out by Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 rescEU initially consisted of resources for:
Its scope has subsequently been expanded to cover stockpiling, decontamination in the area of CBRN incidents and transport and logistics resources (see below).
Amending Regulation (EU) 2021/836 introduced the possibility for the Commission to directly procure rescEU resources in the area of transport and logistics and other resources (only in duly justified cases of urgency). rescEU resources are fully funded by the Commission.
By means of implementing acts, the Commission defines rescEU resources, taking into account:
The Commission has amended Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 eight times.
Further implementing rules for rescEU are laid down in Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1310. This implementing act lays down all the rules needed for a rescEU operation, such as the criteria for deployment and conflicting requests, rules on demobilisation and rules on national use.
Budget
Participation
Participation in the mechanism and the various tools listed above is open to European Economic Area countries, acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries. In addition to the Member States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey participate in the mechanism.
Other
On 5 May 2022, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/706, which lays down the criteria and procedures for awarding medals in order to recognise long-standing commitment and extraordinary contributions to the mechanism. The implementing act envisages two types of medals, one for long-standing commitment and one for extraordinary contribution, while the scope of the award covers the activities of the entire disaster management cycle. The medals will be awarded at the European Civil Protection Forum or at other formal ceremonies on an ad hoc basis.
It has applied since 1 January 2014.
For further information, see:
Decision 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, pp. 924–947).
Successive amendments to Decision No 1313/2013/EU have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/706 of 5 May 2022 laying down rules for the application of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards criteria and procedures for recognising long-standing commitment and extraordinary contributions to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 132, 6.5.2022, pp. 102–106).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1956 of 10 November 2021 on the establishment and organisation of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (OJ L 399, 11.11.2021, pp. 1–7).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1310 of 31 July 2019 laying down rules on the operation of the European Civil Protection Pool and rescEU (OJ L 204, 2.8.2019, pp. 94–99).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 of 8 April 2019 laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rescEU capacities and amending Commission Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU (OJ L 99, 10.4.2019, pp. 41–45).
See consolidated version.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/142 of 15 January 2018 amending Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (OJ L 25, 30.1.2018, pp. 40–48).
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU of 16 October 2014 laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism and repealing Commission Decisions 2004/277/EC, Euratom and 2007/606/EC, Euratom (OJ L 320, 6.11.2014, pp. 1–45).
See consolidated version.
Commission staff working document – Interim Evaluation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (2014–2016) – Accompanying the document – Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Interim Evaluation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for the period 2014–2016 (SWD(2017) 287 final, 30.8.2017).
last update 19.05.2022