Aligning European Neighbourhood Policy countries with Union Civil Protection Mechanism and EU tools through series of exercises

ended

EURO-MED-REACT provides for series of exercises to align civil protection preparedness and response to disasters in European Neighbourhood Policy countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East with UCPM and EU tools. The project has originated in an increased need to international cooperation and coordination of assistance to mitigate growing pollution and man-made and natural disasters and emergencies. EURO-MED-REACT membership and partnership represents a broad multi-stakeholder and whole-government approach combining capacities of local authorities, government institutions, academia, industries and civil society organisations from Czech Republic, Georgia, Jordan, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, UN OCHA, WHO, OPCW, INTERPOL, WCO. The exercises, conducted in block approach, with Table Top Exercise (TTX) in Ukraine and one Full Scale Field Exercise (FSX), as main event, in Moldova, are built on a assessment of risks which guided the scenario development. The scenario provides for UCPM activation, EUCP Team deployment, module’s deployment, use of CECIS, and participation of national operational structures, to respond to simultaneous chemical disasters, floods and health emergencies in Moldova and Ukraine. The exercises planning concentrated, from the beginning, on promoting the holistic strategy for preparedness within UCPM which encompass all relevant elements of the UCPM as listed in chapter III of Decision 1313/2013, which combines trainings and exercises, prevention, preparedness, exchange of experts, scenario planning. The implementation will result in improvement both in-country and international coordination - with an emphasis on UCPM and EU tools - of preparedness for and response to natural and man-made disasters. The project promotes UCPM as comprehensive framework for European cooperation in disaster prevention, preparedness and response, Knowledge Network and implements UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.