Civil protection: mechanism for the coordination of intervention in the event of emergencies

PURPOSE : civil protection assistance interventions in the event of major emergencies. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 792/2001/EC, Euratom establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in civil protection assistance interventions. CONTENT : this mechanism is intended to help ensure better protection, primarily of people, but also of the environment and property, including cultural heritage, in the event of major emergencies, i.e. natural, technological, radiological or environmental accidents occurring inside or outside the community, including accidental marine pollution. The mechanism consists of a series of elements: -The identification of intervention teams and other intervention support available in Member States for assistance intervention in the event of emergencies, - The setting-up and implementation of training programme for intervention teams and other intervention support, and experts for assessment and coordination teams, - Workshops, seminars and pilot projects on major aspects of interventions; - The establishment and dispatch of assessment and coordination teams; - The establishment and management of a monitoring and information centre; - The establishment of a common emergency communication and information system; - Other support action, such as measures to facilitate transport of resources for assistance intervention. To ensure their capability for effective intervention response, Member States are obliged to, inter alia, identify advance intervention teams within their competent services, who could be dispatched within twelve hours following a request for assistance. The Commission must set up the monitoring and information centre and a reliable communication system. It must be able to mobilise teams of experts for assessment and coordination. The Decision shall take effect on 1 January 2002. �