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Civil protection personnel training open water rescue in Austria. Staff are wearing protection gear and transferring people from a ship to a dinghy

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism

In October 2001, the European Commission established the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Mechanism aims to strengthen cooperation between the EU Member States and 8 Participating States on civil protection to improve prevention, preparedness and response to disasters.

By pooling together civil protection capacities and capabilities, it allows for a stronger and more coherent collective response. In addition to the EU Member States, there are currently eight Participating States to the Mechanism (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye). The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 420 requests for assistance inside and outside the EU since it began in 2001.

EU solidarity to combat wildfires across the continent

Emergencies

Since 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated more than 650 times to respond to emergencies.
European Civil Protection delivering vital assistance to Ukraine.jpg

Response capacities

The Mechanism pools response capacities from all EU Member States and 9 Participating States.
European Civil Protection delivering vital assistance to Ukraine

Deployment

The Mechanism can be deployed inside the EU and around the world.