The 8th European Civil Protection Forum took place in Brussels on 4-5 June 2024. This significant event was organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). The forum took place near the end of the Commission's current mandate, marking a pivotal moment for the future of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
In collaboration with its Member States and other partners, the European Union has spearheaded efforts to build a more disaster-resilient Union that is equipped to confront an increasingly complex and evolving risk landscape now, and in the years to come.
Over two days, more than 1,500 individuals from 70+ countries engaged in discussions, exchange of knowledge and good practices, networking, and community building.
They represented various sectors, including civil protection and disaster risk management authorities at different governance levels, first responders, civil society organisations, the private sector, science and academia, EU institutions, and partner international organisations.
Attendees voiced the perspectives of the European Civil Protection community to critically reflect on past experiences, recognising successes and identifying areas for improvement.
This collective reflection aimed to develop a shared understanding and the necessary knowledge for action needed to make future efforts efficient and sustainable. The goal was contributing to stronger communities at local, regional, national, and European levels, and to guide the future of European civil protection.
“Unprecedented dangers call for unprecedented action. Let us use this Forum to come together and innovate, collaborate, and share good practices. It is only by responding together that we can contribute to make a difference”.
The 8th edition of the EU Civil Protection Forum was held over the course of two days, on the 4th and 5th of June.
The event was hosted at the historic site of Tour & Taxis, which is located in Brussels, Belgium. Sheds of Tour & Taxis were the venue for the main part of the event while Gare Maritime was the veues for the networking dinner and concert taking place on the evening of 4 June.
This year's forum was organised under a significant and forward-looking theme:
The European Civil Protection Forum 2024 strived to provide a space to present a diversity of ideas and perspectives, policies, and practices.
Two high-level plenary sessions set the scene for the event, celebrating our common achievements, and exploring challenges and opportunities laying ahead.
They were enriched with over 30 different breakout sessions, discussion panels and participatory workshops alike, outdoor demonstrations and networking activities.
The Civil Protection Village (an exhibition space) was the beating heart of the entire event and a stage for the very first UCPM Foosball Championship, with 24 countries represented. Its winners were engraved in the common memory alongside the second cohort of the UCPM medal recipients.
Event Guide
(5.52 MB - PDF)
