Civil protection: Community action programme 2000-2004

PURPOSE : to establish a new Community action programme in the field of civil protection for the period 2000-2004. COMMUNITY MEASURE : Council Decision 1999/847/EC establishing a Community action programme in the field of civil protection. CONTENT : this Decision establishes a Community action programme in favour of civil protection for the period running from 01.01.2000 to 31.12.2004. with a financial reference amount for the implementation of the programme of EUR 7,5 million. This programme seeks to ensure the follow-up of the 2-year which was established in December 1997. Its purpose was to support and supplement Member States' efforts at national, regional and local level for the protection of persons, property and, in so doing , the environment, in the event of natural and technological disasters. The aim of this programme is to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experience and mutual assistance between Member States in this field, without prejudice to the internal division of competence in Member States. The Commission shall implement the actions under this programme ; it shall be assisted in its task by a management committee made up of representatives from Member States. A three-year rolling plan to implement this programme will be adopted for the implementation of this programme ; it will specify the individual actions to be undertaken and it will be re-examined annually. Individual actions shall be selected primarily on the basis of the following criteria : - contribution to preventing risks and damage to persons, property and in so doing, the environment, in the event of natural and technological disasters; - contribution to increasing the degree of preparedness of those involved in civil protection in the Member States, in order to increase their ability to respond to an emergency ; - contribution to detecting and studying causes of disasters ; - contribution to improving the means and methods of forecasting, techniques and methods of response and immediate aftercare after emergencies ; - contribution to public information, education and awareness, so as to help citizens protect themselves more effectively. Each individual action shall be implemented in close cooperation with the Member States (an annex describes precisely what kind of action and the type of funding available to this effect). Where relevant, actions under this programme should aim to contribute to the integration of civil protection objectives in other Community and Member States· policies and actions, including, in particular, the evaluation of risks when assessing the impact of installations and activities. They should also seek to be consistent with other Community actions. The Commission shall evaluate the implementation of this programme at mid-term and before its end, and submit reports by 30.09.2002 and 31.03.2004 to the European Parliament and the Council. ENTRY INTO FORCE : 01.01.2000.�