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Strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

By Knowledge Network – Staff memberPublished on

The EU has proposed to update the Regulation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), integrating financing for health emergency preparedness and response, in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated EU response to crises.

The new Regulation proposes to allocate around EUR 11 billion in common funding for civil protection and health emergency preparedness threats. It also introduces an enhanced civil protection framework to improve coordination across various sectors, including strengthened civil-military cooperation. It also allocates funding to address health threats, focusing on areas such as improved availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures. 

The proposed Regulation also includes three key innovations: 

  1. Establishing a Crisis Coordination Hub building on the existing Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) to improve anticipation, monitoring and response to complex crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. 
  2. Strengthening health emergency preparedness and response to boost the Union’s capacity to detect, monitor, and combat cross-border health threats, including pandemics and non-communicable diseases. This is also achieved by reinforcing funding, for example for surveillance, medical stockpiles and procurement, stepping up EU-level capabilities in times of crises, in close coordination with Member States. 
  3. Reinforcing national capacity building and stakeholder engagement. As part of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network, engagement and closer cooperation with key stakeholders such as population, volunteers, private and military sectors will be fostered, ensuring a more inclusive approach to crisis management through joint training and exercises. 

The proposals are part of the package for the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will run from 2028 to 2034. To find out more, go to Enhanced preparedness and emergency response: Strengthening the EU Civil Protection Mechanism combined with ambitious health funding - European Commission

 

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