EU Civil Protection Mechanism: Commissioner Stylianides joins local leaders in debate on region's role in disaster management
On Tuesday 5 May the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) Commission for Natural Resources (NAT) will hold a debate on the role of local and regional authorities in disaster prevention, preparedness and response. New opportunities for cities and regions to engage with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism - launched to enable coordinated assistance from the participating states to victims of natural and man-made disasters in Europe and elsewhere - will be highlighted. During the NAT Commission meeting, CoR members will also hold an exchange of views on the future of European Aquaculture, led by rapporteur Jesús Gamallo Aller (ES/EPP).
With disasters responsible for more than 80,000 deaths and costing around €95bn in the EU alone, preparation and management is of utmost importance which is why the EU is stepping up its efforts to engage regional and local authorities to support civil protection systems and increase citizens' awareness. Hosted by José Luis Carneiro (PT/PES), Leader of Baião Town Council and Chair of the NAT Commission and Christos Stylianides i, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management, the event " European Regions at the Forefront of Disaster Management?" will present resilience-building best practice from the local and regional level and discuss how public authorities can access EU Funds and other instruments to boost their capabilities.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism was launched in 2001 to improve the coordination between states hit by natural and man-made disasters in Europe and further afield. The role of local and regional authorities, the CoR argues, is central to managing the impact of disasters, a message recently shared at a UN conference. Building resilience and improving cooperation between regions, national governments, the EU, civil society and the private sector must be therefore carefully planned. The debate therefore aims to identify possible areas of cooperation among authorities in preventing, preparing for and responding to disasters. Participants will include CoR members in charge of natural resources and disaster management, national civil protection authorities, regional and local authorities and EU funding programmes and representatives of the EU institutions.
The future of Aquaculture in Europe
The CoR is producing an opinion on the Future of Aquaculture, a sector the EU considers as having enormous potential for growth and which must become more sustainable in the long-term. Gamallo Aller (EPP) from the Spanish region of Galicia and whom is responsible for producing the opinion, will lead an initial discussion considering the obstacles hindering the development of European aquaculture and recommend possible solutions. The exchange of views will focus on analysing areas such as access to space and reducing red tape; competitiveness and quality control; environmental sustainability; and the market and supply chain.