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EC calls for proposals 2010: projects on prevention and preparedness
The European Commission has published a new call for proposals covering the field of civil protection. It tackles two different sections, concretely prevention and preparedness with their own objectives and budgets.
The European Commission has published a new call for proposals covering the field of civil protection. It tackles two different sections, concretely prevention and preparedness with their own objectives and budgets. The new call proposals are as a result of the increasingly wide range of disasters being faced in the EU. The floods in Romania in 2008 resulted in the loss of lives and caused widespread damage. Most recently, the forest fires in the summer of 2009 burnt tens of thousands of hectares of vegetation and woodland in various Southern European countries. Fires were burning simultaneously in different Member States, leading to increased civil protection response challenges. The earthquake in Italy in 2009 claimed many lives. Hundreds were injured and cultural heritage buildings were destroyed.
One way to strengthen the EU response to such disasters is to enhance preparedness in European civil protection. This call for proposals will help to fund activities aimed at awareness-raising and closer cooperation in civil protection. The legal framework for this call is Council Decision No 2007/162/EC, Euratom1, establishing a Civil Protection Financial Instrument.
The purpose of the Civil Protection Financial Instrument is to support the efforts of Member States to protect primarily people, but also the environment and property, including cultural heritage, in the event of natural and man-made disasters, acts of terrorism and technological, radiological or environmental accidents. It also aims to encourage more cooperation between the Member States on civil protection.
The objectives of prevention projects are :
- l Developing knowledge-based disaster prevention policies
- l Linking the relevant actors and policies through the disaster management cycle
- l Improving the effectiveness of existing policy instruments for disaster prevention
The objectives of preparedness projects are:
- l Improve the effectiveness of emergency response by enhancing the preparedness and awareness of civil protection professionals and volunteers
- l Support and complement the efforts of the participating countries for the protection of citizens, environment and property in the event of natural and man-made disasters
- l Facilitate reinforced cooperation between the participating countries in preparedness for civil protection and marine pollution
Proposals should not only demonstrate technical/operational capacities in civil protection; their objectives and expected results should also be particularly relevant to the field as described in Council Decision 2007/162 establishing the Civil Protection Financial Instrument.
The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 March 2010. For more information click here
