EU MODEX Denmark 2026: European Capacities Training for the Next Disaster

On site were specialised response units representing a broad range of civil protection capabilities:

• HUNOR HUN-01 HUSAR – Hungary’s heavy urban search and rescue team
• PL MUSAR – Poland’s USAR module
• MUSAR FRA 11 (NAP) – France’s USAR capacity
• LT LUSAR – Lithuania’s light USAR team
• ES STC – Spain’s Structural Assessment capacity
• HR RPAS – Croatia’s Drone module

In addition, observers from all over Europe and neighbouring countries followed the exercise closely, while trainers from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Greece, Denmark, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Türkiye supported the evaluation and learning process.

Together, the teams operated in a demanding and dynamic environment, replicating the challenges of an international emergency response after a major earthquake, including collapsed structures, coordination constraints and rapidly evolving operational needs.

The exercise objectives went far beyond technical performance. EU MODEX Denmark 2026 aimed to test the fulfilment of UCPM quality requirements, including cooperation, coordination, interoperability, self-sufficiency, communication, reporting, safety and security across all phases of the mission cycle – from mobilisation to demobilisation.

At the same time, the exercise provided a valuable learning opportunity for all actors involved, strengthening operational cooperation between modules and other response capacities, and testing established coordination structures such as the Reception and Departure Centre (RDC) and USAR Coordination Cell (UCC).

A series of realistic and sometimes unexpected “injects” challenged the teams’ adaptability and situational awareness. One of the more memorable moments involved an unusual encounter with a group of nuns and a priest, reminding participants that real deployments often come with surprises far beyond standard operating procedures.

A key milestone of the exercise was the certification of HR RPAS (Croatia) and ES STC (Spain) for the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP). The complex scenario and structured evaluation process offered ideal conditions to demonstrate operational readiness, technical competence and full alignment with EU standards for international deployment.

EU MODEX Denmark 2026 was hosted by the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) in Tinglev, whose support played a crucial role in the success of the exercise. From high-quality accommodation and catering for the staff to well-prepared training grounds and constant practical assistance, the Danish hosts created an environment that enabled participants to fully focus on training, learning and cooperation.