Latest news and events

An empty stage during the last Civil Protection Forum.

SAVE THE DATE- 9th European Civil Protection Forum

Shaping a disaster-resilient Union: Charting a path for the future of European civil protection. Preparations are already under way for the 9th edition of the Civil Protection Forum, which will take place on 3-4 November 2026, in Tour & Taxis, Brussels.

Event3 - 4 November 2026European Civil Protection Forum

Mr Soichiro Yasukawa during his keynote speech, standing in front of two microphones, behind him a screen.

UNESCO's Soichiro Yasukawa on AI for Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

Soichiro Yasukawa, Chief Disaster Risk Reduction at UNESCO, highlights the vital role artificial intelligence can play in inclusive disaster risk reduction, provided the gap between science, policy and implementation is bridged. He points to practical applications such as AI chatbots for first responders and digital twins of infrastructure, while stressing that technology must remain people-centred and ethically guided to ensure no community is left behind.

Interview17 February 2026AI for Disaster Risk Reduction

Celebrating European 112 Day: Lessons from Estonia’s PwinPLan project

European 112 Day, held annually on 11/2, celebrates the EU-wide emergency number 112. Since 1991, the number has enabled anyone in need to reach emergency services free of charge, wherever they are in the EU.

News11 February 2026Risk awareness

A woman during a workshop talking with another participant.

Youth Volunteering & Preparedness: what we learned - and what’s next

A recent webinar explored how youth volunteering can turn preparedness from policy into action, sharing key insights, with next session coming soon.

News10 February 2026Preparedness

A woman and a man during one of the workshops at the Summer School.

Call for Participants - Summer School in Evidence for Policy in DRM 2026

A chance for UCPM and Horizon Europe researchers to join the Evidence for Policy in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Summer School 2026 in Tallinn!

News6 February 2026Disaster Risk Management

Online Debate on Preparedness now open

Citizens encouraged to have their say on making preparedness more inclusive and practical. A new Citizens’ Engagement Platform, designed to enable EU citizens to give their views on population preparedness, has just opened. The contributions published on the Platform will feed into the Citizens Panel, which takes place between March and May.

News 27 January 2026Preparedness

Civil Protection in the Media

A round up of media stories on civil protection matters which are relevant to our community.

Some of the helicopters involved in the wildfire response in Bulgaria – those mobilised from Czechia, Slovakia and France - are part of the EU’s joint firefighting fleet, rescEU – the EU’s strong tool in the face of disasters.

Capacity Development

The Knowledge Network Capacity Development pillar aims to connect, promote and strengthen capacity development initiatives relevant to civil protection and disaster management.

Science & Research

Through the Knowledge Network, the scientific community and operational stakeholders in disaster management have a new space to connect and share knowledge.

Civil protection exercises

The exercise programme of the Knowledge Network offers a variety of civil protection exercises to enhance prevention, preparedness and disaster response.