Civil protection: Community action programme 1998-1999

OBJECTIVE: to establish an action programme in the field of civil protection which seeks, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, to help protect persons, the environment and property in the event of natural or man-made disasters. COMMUNITY MEASURE: Council Decision 98/22/EC establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection. CONTENT: this two-year programme (1998-1999) seeks to support and supplement the efforts made by Member States at national, regional or local level to promote civil protection and to encourage cooperation in this field. It explicitly excludes any harmonization of the legislation and regulations of the Member States in this area or the organization of the level of preparation at national level. The programme has a budget of ECU 3 million for the period in question and seeks specifically to: - help increase the level of preparation of those responsible for civil protection (training, exchanges of experts, Community simulation exercises); - use pilot projects to help improve intervention techniques and methods; - help promote information, education and sensitization of the public in order to improve their self-protection (exchanges of experience, distribution of information, travelling exhibitions); - mobilize experts in an emergency. An Annex to the decision details the type of action financed and gives an indication of the allocation of resources to each action. Actions are to be carried out in close cooperation with the competent national authorities and coordinated with other compatible Community action. The Commission will be responsible for implementing the programme, with the help of a committee of representatives from the Member States. An annual report on the progress and implementation of the programme will be drawn up. ENTRY INTO FORCE: 1 January 1998.�