In a context of climate change that is challenging our scientific knowledge and capacity responses, the Union for the Mediterranean Regional Platform for Dialogue on Civil Protection is a space for dialogue and partnership to take on the challenges faced in civil protection.
The first meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform for Dialogue on Civil Protection took place on 12 December 2022. It was attended by twenty national representatives and gave real added value by providing a space for dialogue and partnership between institutions, professionals, experts, civil society, NGOs, private sector, among others.
The launch of the Regional Platform for Dialogue takes on even more meaning in a context of climate change that is challenging our scientific knowledge and capacity responses.
Cooperation and sharing of scientific knowledge, in anticipation, preparation or capability response, but also in terms of the regulatory framework for regional assistance and solidarity, is a common thread in our reflections.
Civil protection contributes to the objectives of peace, stability and security described in the Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean of 2008. The third Civil Protection Directors General meeting in 2019 confirmed the UfM as “a key platform for Euro-Mediterranean dialogue on civil protection, by facilitating links between the political and operational levels.”
The 5th Regional Forum in 2020, which brought together the ministers of foreign affairs of the Euro-Mediterranean region, stated:
“The UfM Platform on Civil Protection should play a key role in the discussion of the common challenges and the concrete actions to develop within the Civil Protection Action Plan for strengthened Euro-Mediterranean cooperation on prevention campaigns, emergency response and crisis management.”
The neighbourhood countries to the south of the EU are involved in the instruments and tools offered by the UCPM and from the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network.
The UfM has supported this wider work on civil protection through three working groups that concluded their work in October 2021, covering:
The proposed methodology was adopted during Regional Platform. This is based on the creation of a space for dialogue and exchange that relies on thematic working groups, led by the Member States and/or civil society, and the participation of platform members in any initiative within the scope of civil protection.
The launch of three working groups on prevention, preparedness and response - part of a Horizon 2030 strategy – was also agreed, as was an action plan based on a roadmap from the working groups that completed their work in 2021. An initial list of stakeholders and donors was identified, which may lead to the emergence of new projects and collaborations.
The development Regional Platform for Dialogue will continue, seeking complementarity with other initiatives wherever possible.
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