The EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) was set up in 2013 as a voluntary system to help member states deal with increasingly frequent natural disasters. Since 2019, when rescEU was created, the EU can jointly procure resources to assist countries hit by disasters when national capacity is overstretched.

During the current COVID-19 crisis, the UCPM facilitated the repatriation of over 90,000 EU citizens from all over the world. Over 1.3 million protective masks, along with ventilators, personal protective equipment, therapeutics and other supplies have been procured and deployed through rescEU to support national health services. A new strategic rescEU medical reserve, currently hosted by nine EU countries, allows the EU to react to crises more quickly.&nbsp;

During the April plenary the&nbsp; European Parliament&nbsp; adopted a strengthened EU legal framework for civil protection, in response to the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mechanism aims to ensure the EU and its member states will be better prepared to respond to large-scale disasters, especially when these affect several countries simultaneously. In order to deploy crisis relief more swiftly, the Commission will be able to acquire directly, under specific conditions, the necessary resources via the rescEU reserve. 1.263 billion EUR will be allocated to the Mechanism for 2021-2027, supplemented by 2.056 billion EUR from the EU Recovery Instrument (approximately five times more than the previous seven-year budget).

Civil protection mechanism

High Level Conference - 24 May 2022 - Shaping civilian CSDP for the future

EP Plenary session - Union Civil Protection Mechanism

Civil Protection training

Plenary session - Union Civil Protection Mechanism

Plenary session Week 50 2017 in Strasbourg - EU civil protection mechanism with own operational capacities

Plenary Session week 50 2013 - Civil protection mechanism

The Commission, on 24 February 2021, adopted the new EU strategy on climate change adaptation which aims at enhancing the EU’s and the world’s capacity to adapt to and minimise the impacts of climate change and at the same time further develop and accelerate actions across the economy and society. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Climate adaptation: how can we build resilience?

In the beginning of July, heavy rainfall and mass flooding in southern Belgium (Wallonia) resulted in multiple deaths and thousands of houses being damaged or collapsing. Belgium activated the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism to ask for help. This infoclip shows the consequences of the floods in Chaudfontaine (Liège Province): flooded roads, devastated homes, cleaning operations,...

Infoclip: Floods in Belgium

European Parliament debated and adopted during the plenary session a strengthened EU legal framework for civil protection, in response to the unprecedented experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracts from the debate (26/04) with Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), Rapporteur, Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Jytte GUTELAND (S&D, SE), Pietro FIOCCHI (ECR, IT), Kateřina KONEČNÁ (The Left, CZ), Radan KANEV (EPP, BG) and announcement of the result of the vote (28/04).

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: extracts from the debate (26/04) and from the vote

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: MEPs debate

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Union Civil Protection Mechanism: opening statements by Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), rapporteur, and by Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: opening statements by Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), rapporteur and by Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner

During the plenary session (26-29 April 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, MEPs debate on Union Civil Protection Mechanism: closing statement statements by Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: closing statement by Mariya GABRIEL, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

The objective of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism is to strengthen cooperation between the EU Member States. This infoclip illustrates: French Civil Protection call center in Strasbourg, Preparation of an ambulance and medical truck, intervention exercises, uses of drones for emergency situations, warehouse in Belgium housing the strategic RescEU stockpile and the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in Brussels.

Infoclip: Union Civil Protection Mechanism / RescEU

Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), rapporteur, on the trilogue on protection mechanism - RescUE makes a statement in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Trilogue on Protection Mechanism - RescEU statement by Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL), rapporteur

This infoclip illustrates the help from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism which was activated to assist Croatia in the aftermath of a 6.4 magnitude earthquake, following a request for assistance from Croatian authorities on 29 December. On 30 December, Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner, visited Petrinja, one of the most affected towns.

Infoclip: EU assistance to Croatia after earthquake

During the plenary session (11-14 February 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs vote an upgrade of the EU’s civil defence mechanism, tested to its limits in 2017 and 2018 by forest fires, storms and floods. The new law will help member states to respond faster and more effectively to natural and man-made disasters, by sharing civil protection assets more efficiently. Statements by Elisabetta GARDINI (EPP, IT), rapporteur, Christos STYLIANIDES, Member of the EC in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, and José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT).

Union Civil Protection Mechanism: extracts from the debate

Antonio TAJANI, EP President and António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, speak to the press about the future of Europe, during the EP plenary session (12 - 15 March 2018) in Strasbourg.

Press conference by Antonio TAJANI, EP President and António COSTA, Portuguese Prime Minister, on the future of Europe

This stockshot provides images of forest fires and EU coordination of fire fighters and assistance on the ground in Chile in 2016. It also has images from inside the ERCC filmed in December 2016. Source: EC - Audiovisual Service

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