Active Participation of ICCSS at the EU Civil Protection Forum: Shaping a Disaster-Resilient Union

The International Centre for Chemical Safety and Security (ICCSS) actively participated in the eighth edition of the European Civil Protection Forum, held on June 4-5, 2024, in Brussels, Belgium. ICCSS brought core issues to the forefront, including societal resilience, regional cooperation, and the alignment of EU neighboring countries with the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).

The forum, organized by the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), serves as a leading EU platform for the civil protection community. With over 1,500 stakeholders in attendance, including governments, civil protection authorities, first responders, EU institutions, the scientific community, and the private sector, the forum was a hub for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and networking.

The 2024 forum centered around the theme “Shaping a disaster-resilient Union: charting a path for the future of European civil protection.” It provided a crucial opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the UCPM and to explore innovative ideas and collaborative opportunities for future disaster risk management.

ICCSS has been a regular participant at past Civil Protection Forums and played a significant role in this year's event. ICCSS presented its core international projects conducted between 2022 and 2024, funded by the EU within DG ECHO, including the EURO-MED-REACT project. These projects have significantly enhanced regional cooperation and the alignment of EU neighboring countries, namely Moldova and Ukraine, with the UCPM.

ICCSS shared its extensive experience in implementing societal resilience within civil protection projects in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The organization's efforts have been instrumental in fostering cooperation and strengthening civil protection frameworks in these regions.

ICCSS President actively engaged in high-level meetings with senior EU and national officials on civil protection. He met with Maciej Popowski, Director General of DG ECHO, and Hans DAS, Deputy Director-General, to discuss ICCSS's successful initiatives in assisting Moldova and Ukraine in aligning with the UCPM. The President also presented ICCSS's role as the Commission’s contractor for the conduct and evaluation of the 2022 EU/NATO PACE Exercise.

Further, during a meeting with Adrian Efros, Minister of Interior of Moldova, it was agreed to continue the cooperation based on the ICCSS/Moldova Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and to conduct comprehensive country-wide training on UCPM implementation. Additionally, in a meeting with Raed Arafat, Secretary of State and Head of Romania Emergency Operations, both parties agreed to organize a joint event in Warsaw focused on enhancing societal resilience within the UCPM framework. With the meeting with Roman Prymush, Deputy Head of Ukraine State Emergency Service it was agreed to continue cooperation on UCPM implementation and civil protection development in Ukraine and the region.

ICCSS's participation in the 2024 Civil Protection Forum highlighted the organization's ongoing commitment to advancing civil protection and societal resilience, fostering international cooperation, and promoting best practices across Europe and beyond. Through these efforts, ICCSS continues to play a leading role in shaping a disaster-resilient Union, ensuring that communities are better prepared to face future challenges.

For more information on ICCSS's initiatives and projects, please visit our website at www.iccss.eu and follow us on social media.