Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME IN THE FIELD OF CIVIL PROTECTION
Date: 1995-05-04
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, European Commission, action programme, civil defence, cooperation policy

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  04.05.1995 
COM(95)155  final 

95/0098  (CNS) 

Proposal  for  a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 
ESTABLISHING  A  COMMUNITY  ACTION  PROGRAMME 

IN  THE  FIELD  OF  CIVIL  PROTECTION 

(presented  by  the  Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1. 

In recent decades Community  Member  States  have suffered  major  disasters,  both 
natural  and  technological. 

Southern Europe has suffered  mainly  from  natural  disasters,  such  as the series of 
tragic earthquakes in Italy and Greece, including the earthquake in Irpinia in  1979 
which  alone  caused  4  500  deaths,  and  the  dramatic  floods  in  Barcelona  and 
Murcia  (Spain). 

Northern  Europe  has  also  been  hit  by  major  natural  disasters,  such  as  the  tragic 
floods  in  the  Netherlands  and  Germany,  and  has  witnessed  numerous  industrial 
accidents  and  man-made  disasters  such  as the  Sandoz  accident  which  resulted  in 
serious  pollution  of  the  Rhine,  not  to  mention  the  series  of  serious  fires  and 
transport  accidents  such  as ferry  tragedies. 

The number and scale of these disasters can be seen,  above all, from  the  frequent 
need  for  the Commission  to  resort to  emergency  aid  for  the victims  of this  wide 
variety  of  disasters  striking European  society  and  their  families;  in  the  last  eight 
years the  Commission  has granted  aid  of this type  sixty  times. 

More  detailed  analysis  of  this  toll  reveals  that  the  range  of  risks  to  which  the 
Community  is exposed  is extremely  wide, extending  from  natural  disasters,  such 
as  cold  spells,  storms,  cyclones,  forest  fires,  floods  and  earthquakes, 
to 
"technological"  disasters,  such  as explosions  in  mines  or  on  oil  rigs,  air  crashes, 
shipping  accidents,  etc., not to mention  outbreaks  of  human  violence  in  the  form 
of  attacks  and  violence  at  mass gatherings. 

Of all these hazards, flooding  is the most common  in Europe. For this reason,  the 
Commission  has  decided  to  tackle  this  problem.  To  this  end,  in  January  1995  it 
set up a special interdepartmental  working party to report to it on the issues raised 
in  order to  put the  Commission  in  a position  to make  appropriate  proposals. 

2, 

The Member  States have responded  by taking  steps to prevent disasters  and to be 
prepared  for  those  which  do  occur,  and,  in  particular,  have  drawn  up  disaster 

•  relief  plans  to  enable them  to  manage  such  emergencies. 

As  some problems  are  common  to  all  Member  States,  or  similar,  cooperation  in 
the  field  of  civil  protection  has been  developed  at  Community  level. 

3. 

In  1985, a first ministerial-level  meeting laid the foundations for such cooperation 
Since then,  the Council  of Ministers  responsible  for  civil  protection  has  met,  and 
six  resolutions  have  been  adopted  by  the  Council  and  the  representatives  of  the 
Governments  of  the  Member  States,  meeting  within  the  Council.1  These 

OJ  No  C  176,  4.7.1987,  p.  1;  OJ  No  C  44,  23.2.1989,  p.  3;  OJ  No  C  315, 
14.12.1990,  p.  1; O J N o C 3 1 5,  14.12.1990, p. 3; OJ No  C  198,27.7.1991, p.  1; 
O J N o C 3 1 3,  10.11.1994,  p.  1. 

resolutions have resulted in the establishment  of cooperation  in the field of  civil 
protection  at Community  level. 

4. 

The general  objective  of  Community  action  in the  field  of  civil  protection  is  to 
help  provide  better  protection  for  people,  the  environment  and  property  in  the 
event of  natural  and technological  disasters. 

More specifically,  this action  has the three following  objectives: 

to  support  and  back  up  the  efforts  made  at  national,  regional  and  local 
level  to  increase  the  degree  of  preparedness  of  those  involved  in  civil 
protection; 
to establish  a framework  for  effective  and rapid cooperation  between  the 
national  civil  protection  departments when  needed; 
to create conditions enabling civil protection action by the Community and 
its Member  States in countries  outside the European  Union  to be carried 
out even  more effectively  and visibly. 

» 

5. 

These objectives are attained mainly by establishing a technical network of those 
responsible for civil protection in the Member States and by the extensive sharing 
of  experience  among them. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

In practical terms, technical instruments are being developed (operational manual 
and pilot projects)  as well  as initiatives  aimed  directly  at those involved  in  civil 
protection which help to increase their degree of preparedness (training, exchanges 
of  experts and  simulation  exercises). 

A  fuller  understanding  of  the  causes  of  natural  disasters  and  of  the  reasons  for 
accidental  spills  of  products  is  essential  in  order  to  develop  effective  alert, 
prevention  and intervention systems.  For this reason,  research to predict, prevent, 
reduce and 'study the behaviour  of  natural  disasters such  as earthquakes,  volcano 
eruptions,  forest  fires,  landslides  and  floods  was  included  in  the  Community 
research programmes on environmental  protection and on climatology  and natural 
hazards. 

As  part of the fourth framework  programme,2 on  1 December  1994 the Council 
adopted  a  specific  research  programme  on  the  environment  and  climate  to 
continue  and extend these activities. 

At  its  meeting  on  21  April  1994,  the  Council  of  Ministers  responsible  for  civil 
protection  emphasized  the  importance  of  cooperating  in  this  field  in  order  to 
increase  solidarity  between  Member  States.  In  a  resolution  on  strengthening 
Community  cooperation  on  civil  protection,  the  Ministers  welcomed  the  active 
role played  by the Commission  in developing  such cooperation  and  called  for  it 
to be stepped up. 

OJNoL  126,  18.5.1994,  p.l. 

This resolution,  formally  adopted  on  31 October  1994, is a political  endorsement 
of  all  that  has  been  done  at  administrative  level  in  recent  years.  It  stresses  the 
importance  of  training  and  calls  for  the  mechanism  for  mutual  assistance  in  the 
event  of  a disaster  to be  strengthened.  It  also  calls for  further  steps to  be  taken. 
The  new  fields  identified  include: 

prevention  of  natural  and  technological  disasters; 
cooperation  between  national  civil  protection  schools; 
regular  meetings  of the Directors-General  for  Civil  Protection; 
awareness,  education  and  information  campaigns  to  help  people  protect 
themselves  more  effectively; 
new  technical 
teleconferencing). 

instruments  (trans-European 

telematic  networks  and 

Finally,  the  resolution  recalls  that  Article  3(t)  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Community  states  that  the  activities  of  the  Community  shall  include 
measures in the sphere of civil protection. A declaration  appended  to the Final  Act 
of the  Treaty  on European  Union  states that the  question  of  introducing  into  the 
Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community  a  Title  relating  to  civil  protection 
will  be  examined  on  the  basis  of  a  report  which  the  Commission  will  submit  to 
the  Council  by  1996  at the  latest. 

An  action  programme  will  permit  the  requested  consolidation  and  strengthening 
of Community  cooperation  on civil  protection,  without  prejudice  to the form  this 
cooperation will take following the revision of the Treaty in  1996. To that end the 
proposal  for  a  Decision  defines  the  priority  action  to  be  taken  in  the  next  few 
years. It  also  sets out the criteria  and financing  arrangements'for  this  action.  The 
1995 budget  for  Community  cooperation  is ECU  1.5  million  (item  B4-3300). 

The Community  action  proposed  in the programme  is not intended  to replace the 
Member  States'  efforts  in  the  field  of  civil  protection.  In  accordance  with  the 
principle of subsidiarity, the aim is to back them up and supplement them  in order 
to  make  them  more  effective.  In  particular,  the  programme  allows  extensive 
pooling  of  experience  at  national  level  and  mutual  assistance  in  case  of  need 
Transfer  of  know-how  and  mutual  assistance  help  reduce  loss  of  life,  and 
economic  damage  throughout  the  Community. 

The Treaty  makes no specific  provision  for  action  in the field of civil  protection. 
The  proposal  for  a Decision  is therefore  based  on  Article  235  of  the EC  Treaty 

In view of the importance of such an action programme both to the regions, which 
bear  heavy  responsibility  for  civil  protection,  and  to  various  circles  in  economic 
life  and  society, this proposal  will  be submitted  to the Committee  of the  Regions 
and  to the Economic  and  Social  Committee  for  their  opinions. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

PROPOSAL  FOR  A COUNCIL  DECISION 

ESTABLISHING  A  COMMUNITY  ACTION  PROGRAMME 

IN  THE FIELD  OF CIVIL  PROTECTION 

THE COUNCIL  OF THE EUROPEAN  UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 

Article 235  thereof, 

Having  regard to the proposal  from  the  Commission,3 

Having  regard to the  opinion  of the European Parliament,4 

Having  regard  to the opinion  of  the Economic  and  Social  Committee,5 

Having  regard to the  opinion  of the  Committee  of  the Regions,6 

Whereas the action taken by the Community in this field since  1985 has made it possible 

progressively to develop cooperation between the Member States; whereas the resolutions 
adopted  since  19877  constitute the basis for this cooperation; 

Whereas Community cooperation in the field of civil protection (including environmental 

emergencies)  helps  to  achieve  the  objectives  of  the  Treaty  by  promoting  solidarity 

between  the  Member  States  and  contributing  to  preserving  and  protecting  the 

environment; whereas, in order to attain these objectives,  Article 3(t)  of the Treaty  calls 

on the Community  to adopt appropriate  measures  in  the sphere  of  civil  protection. 

OJ  No  C  176,  4.7.1987,  p.  1;  OJ  No  C  44,  23.2.1989,  p.  3;  OJ  No  C  315, 
14.12.1990,  p.  1; OJNo  C 315,  14.12.1990,  p. 3; OJ No  C  198, 27.7.1991, p.  1; 
OJNoC313,  10.11.1994,  p.  1. 

Whereas the Community programme of policy  and action in relation to the environment 
and sustainable development8  states that the Community's  activity  will  be stepped  up in 

the  fields  of  civil  protection  and  environmental  emergencies;  whereas  the  same 

programme  calls  for  these  activities  to  take  account  of  scientific  research  and 

technological  development; 

Whereas  the  establishment  of  a  Community  action  programme  will  help  to  develop 

cooperation  in  this  field  even  more  effectively;  whereas  such  a  programme  should  be 

based to a large extent on experience already gained  in this field; 

Whereas action to prepare those responsible for and involved in civil protection and other 

environmental  emergencies in the Member States is important, in order to increase their 

degree of preparedness; 

Whereas it is  also important  to undertake  action  targeted  at the general  public  so  as to 

help European citizens to protect themselves  more  effectively; 

Whereas  an  advisory  committee  on  civil  protection  will  assist  the  Commission  in 

managing  the  action  programme;  whereas  the  Commission  may  also  refer  any  matter 

relating to civil  protection  to this committee; 

Whereas,  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of  subsidiarity,  Community  cooperation 

supplements  national  policies  in  the  field  of  civil  protection  and  environmental 

emergencies  in  order to make them  more effective;  whereas pooling  of  experience and 

mutual  assistance  will  help  to  reduce  the  loss  of  human  life  and  economic  and 

environmental  damage throughout ttye Community; 

Whereas  the  Treaty  contains  no  legal  basis  for  adoption  of  this  Decision  other  than 

Article 235, 

HAS DECIDED  AS FOLLOWS: 

OJNoC  138,  17.5.1993,  p. 5. 

Article J 

A Community action programme in the field of civil  protection, including environmental 

emergencies,  is  hereby  established.  The  action  making  up  the  programme  and  the 

arrangements for granting Community financial support are set out in the Annex. 

Article  2 

The  Commission  shall  implement  the  action  programme.  In  so  doing  it  may  where 

necessary arrange additional  ad hoc action not listed in the Annex.  Such additional  action 

shall  be assessed  in the light of the priorities  set and the financial  resources available 

Article  3 

1. 

Each individual  action undertaken within the framework  of the action programme 

shall  be aimed  at supporting,  backing  up and supplementing  the  civil  protection 

activities undertaken in the Member States. 

2. 

This  individual  action  shall  be  selected  primarily  on  the basis  of  the  following 

criteria: 

(a) 

contribution to increasing the degree of preparedness of those involved in 

civil  protection  in  the Member  States,  in order to increase  their ability  to 

respond  to an emergency; 

(b) 

contribution  to  improving  techniques  and  methods  of  response:  pilot 

projects; 

(c) 

contribution to public information,  education and awareness, so as to help 

citizens to protect themselves  more  effectively. 

3. 

Each  individual  action  shall  be  implemented  in  close  cooperation  with  the 

national,  regional  or local  authorities concerned. 

4. 

Each  action  shall  take  account  of  the  results  of  the  Community  and  national 

research  in  the  relevant  fields. 

5. 

The Commission and the Member States shall encourage complementary operation 

of  this  programme  and  of  the  European  Community  action  programme  for  the 

implementation  of  a vocational  training  policy. 

Article  4 

For  the  purposes  of  implementing  the  programme,  the  Commission  shall  be  assisted  by 

an  advisory  committee  on  civil  protection  composed  of  representatives  of  the  Member 

States  and  chaired  by  the  representative  of  the  Commission. 

The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  committee  a  draft  of  the 

measures to be taken.  The committee  shall  deliver  its opinion  on  the draft,  within  a time 

limit  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down  according  to  the  urgency  of  the  matter,  if 

necessary  by  taking  a vote. 

The  opinion  shall be recorded  in the minutes; in addition,  each Member  State shall  have 

the  right  to  ask to  have  its  position  recorded  in  the  minutes. 

The Commission  shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee 

and  shall  inform  the  committee  of  the  manner  in  which  its  opinion  has  been  taken  into 

account. 

The  Commission  may  also  refer  any  other  matter  relating  to  civil  protection  to  the 

advisory  committee  on  civil  protection. 

Article  5 

Every three years the Commission shall evaluate implementation of the action  programme 

and  shall  inform  the  committee  referred  to  in  Article  4  accordingly. 

ANNEX9 

FINANCING 

ARRANGEMENTS 

ACTION 

CIVIL  PROTECTION,  INCLUDING  ENVIRONMENTAL 

EMERGENCIES 

A.  Action  contributing  to  increasing  the  degree  of  preparedness  of 

those  involved  in  civil  protection 

1.  Training 

Organization  of  (mainly  self-tuition)  workshops  bringing 

Maximum  Community 

together  high-level  experts  from  the Member  States  permitting, 

financial  contribution:  75% of 

within  each  discipline,  the  mutual  sharing  of  experience  by 

the total  cost  of  the  action, 

means  of  in-depth  discussions  of  their  methods,  techniques  and 

with  a ceiling  of  ECU  62  500 

means  with  a  view  to: 

per  action. 

-  increasing  their  degree  of  preparedness; 

-  creating  the  conditions  for  the  establishment  of  a  human 

network  permitting  more  effective  operational  cooperation 

between  Member  States  in  case  of  emergency. 

Research  and  technological  development  activities  are  excluded  from 
programme. 

this 

2.  Exchange  of  experts 

Organization  of  exchanges  of Member  State experts enabling 

100% of the  experts' travel 

them to follow  short training courses in another Member State 

and subsistence  expenses and 

run by  a training body  or another civil  protection  department. 

the costs  of  coordinating the 

system  for an initial  period  of 

Organization  of the secondment to another Member  State of one 

two years (1995-1996). 

or more trainers who  are particularly  qualified  to present certain 

Thereafter,  the  financing  of 

training  courses  or modules. 

3.  Community  simulation  exercises 

experts' travel  and  subsistence 

expenses  will  be  limited  to 

75%. 

These  exercises  are intended to compare  methods  and to back up 

Maximum  Community 

progress in national  civil  protection  systems. 

financial contribution:  50% of 

the participation  costs  of 

observers  from  the other 

Member  States invited  by the 

organizing  State,  the  cost  of 

organizing  the  associated 

workshops,  preparing  the 

exercise,  the  final  report,  etc 

10 

B.  Projects  contributing  to  improving  techniques  and  methods  of 

response: 

Pilot projects 

Projects  designed  to increase the Member  States' response capacity. 

Maximum  Community 

These projects are aimed mainly  at improving means, techniques 

financial contribution:  50% of 

and procedures.  Their scope should be  such as to interest all or 

the total  cost of each project. 

several Member States. 

C.  Action  contributing  to  improving  public  information,  education 

and  awareness,  so  as to  help  citizens  to  protect  themselves  more 

effectively10 

Action  encouraging  exchanges  of  experience  between  Member 

Maximum  Community 

States, regions  and local  authorities  in the field of  initiatives to 

financial  contribution:  50% of 

improve public information,  education  and awareness,  so as to help 

the total  cost  of  the action 

citizens to protect themselves more effectively.  The idea is to build 

on the work  done by the Member States and to enable the 

authorities and other organizations concerned  to benefit  from 

similar experience in other Member States. The target group is the 

general  public,  focusing  in particular on schoolchildren  and young 

people receiving  initial  vocational  training. 

Distribution  of information  and travelling exhibitions. 

100%  financing. 

D.  Other  action 

Action to promote  civil  protection  activities  in  one  or more 

Maximum  Community 

Member  States,  particularly  those which  have a direct impact in 

financial  contribution.  50% of 

other Member States. 

the total  cost  of  the action 

10  The Community action in the field of public health is excluded from this programme 
(cf.  in  particular  the  Commission  communication  and  proposal  for  a  European 
Parliament  and  Council  Decision  adopting  a  programme  of  Community  action  on 
health  promotion,  information,  education  and training within  the  framework  of  the 
action in the field of public health, OJ No  C 252, 9.9.1994,  p.3). 

11 

Conferences  and  other  civil  protection  events  open  to  large 

Maximum  Community 

audiences,  especially  those  involving  several  Member  States. 

financial  contribution:  30%, 

with  a ceiling  of  ECU  25  000 

E.  Mobilization  of  expertise 

Mobilization,  as provided  for  in  the civil  protection  operational 

Community  financial 

manual,  of  expertise to  reinforce  the  arrangements  made  in  the 

contribution:  100%  of  costs  of 

Member  States  or  in third  countries  by  authorities  facing 

experts'  missions. 

emergencies  resulting  from  natural,  technological  and 

environmental  disasters. 

12 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

SECTION  I  -  OPERATIONAL  EXPENDITURE  fPART  B^ 

1.  TITLE  OF  OPERATION 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  establishing  a  Community  action  programme  in  the  field  of  civil  protection 

2.  BUDGET  HEADING  INVOLVED 

B4-3300 

3.  LEGAL  BASIS 

-  Article 235. 

Resolutions  of the Council  and  the representatives  of the  Governments  of  the Member  States,  meeting 
within the Council, of 23 November  1990 on Community  cooperation on civil  protection  (OJ No C 315, 
14.12.1990, p.  1) and on improving mutual  aid between Member  States in the event of a natural  or man-
made  disaster  (OJ No  C 315,  14.12.1990,  p. 3). 

-  Resolution  of the Council  and of the representatives of the Governments  of the Member  States, meeting 
within  the  Council,  of  8 July  1991  on  improving  mutual  aid  between  Member  States  in  the  event  of 
natural  or  technological  disaster  (OJ No  C  198, 27.7.1991, p.  1). 

-  Resolution  of  the  Council  and  the  representatives  of  the  Governments  of  the Member  States,  meeting 
within  the Council,  of  1 February  1993 on  a Community  programme  of  policy  and  action  in  relation  to 
the  environment  and  sustainable  development  (OJ  No  C  138,  17.5.1993,  p.  1). 

-  Resolution  of the Council  and of the representatives  of the Governments  of the Member  States, meeting 
within the Council, of 31 October  1994 on strengthening Community  cooperation  on civil  protection (0.1 
No  C  313,  10.11.1994,  p.l). 

4.  DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATION 

4.1.  General  objective 

To  ensure  better  protection  for  people,  the  environment  and  property  in  the  event  of  natural  and 
technological  disasters  by: 
-  supporting  and  backing  up  the  efforts  made  at  national,  regional  and  local  level  to  increase  the 
degree  of  preparedness  of  those  involved  in  civil  protection  and  also  to  improve  coordination 
between  all  involved  in  the  light  of  the  various  experience  in  Europe; 

-  establishing  a  framework  for  effective  and  rapid  cooperation  between  the  Member  States  when 

mutual  assistance  is  needed; 

-  supporting preventive and response preparedness operations and Community  assistance in the event 

of  ecological  disasters; 

13 

-  implementing the resolution adopted by the Council of Ministers responsible for civil  protection on 
31  October  1994,  in  particular  by  supporting  public  awareness,  education  and  information 
campaigns aimed at helping  citizens to protect themselves more  effectively. 

4.2.  Period  covered  and arrangements for renewal  or extension 

Annual  operation with legal basis. 

5.  CLASSIFICATION  OF EXPENDITURE OR REVENUE 

Non-compulsory  expenditure/Differentiated  appropriations 

6.  TYPE OF EXPENDITURE 

- 

100% subsidy.. 

Subsidy  for joint financing  with  other sources in the public and/or private sector 

-  Hire  and  purchase  of  equipment,  experts'  travel  and  subsistence  expenses,  cost  of  networking  the 
relevant  departments  in the Community,  costs  of  descriptive  analyses,  financing  of  training schemes, 
exchanges  of  experts,  simulation  exercises,  awareness,  information,  education  and  support  schemes, 
financial  contributions to specific projects ("pilot projects"), expenditure on evaluations before and after 
such action. 

-  Costs  of  the  Task  Force  and groups  of  experts  who  will  be  called  on  to  respond  to  environmental 
emergencies  and/or  natural  or  technological  disasters,  and  costs  of  simulation  exercises,  including 
exercises  outside Community territory.  These costs include expenditure on the 24-hour a day standby 
service. 

7.  FINANCIAL IMPACT 

7.1.  Method  of  calculating total  cost of  operation  (definition  of unit costs) 

The cost of individual  activities varies according to the type of activity,  how it is organized  and the 
number of participants. 

The activities  can be divided  into five categories: 

-  training; 
-  simulation  exercises; 
-  pilot projects; 
-  task force; 
-  information,  public awareness and other activities. 

14 

7.2.  Itemized breakdown of cost 

Breakdown 

1996 
budget 

1997 
budget 

1998 
budget 

1999 
budget 

2000 
budget 

Total 

1200 
200 
500 
50 
150 

1500 
200 
750 
50 
200 

1550 
200 
750 
50 
250 

1650 
200 
800 
50 
300 

1800 
200 
800 
50 
350 

Training* 
Exercises 
Pilot  projects 
Task Force 
Information, 
public 
awareness  and 
other 
activities** 

TOTAL 

2100 

2700 

2800 

3000 

3200 

13800 

The above amounts are in thousands of  current ECU. 

Training includes exchanges of experts. 
Most  of the  costs under this item  are for  public  information  and awareness campaigns;  "other activities" 
means support operations in the interest  of the Community,  conferences  and publications. 

7.3.  Indicative  schedule of  appropriations 

Commitment 
appropriations 

Payment 
appropriations 

n 

n +1 

n + 2 

n + 3 

n + 4 

n 

n + 1 

n + 2 

n + 3 

n + 4 

TOTAL 

2  100 

2  700 

2  800 

3  000 

3  200 

13 800 

1 800 

200 

1700 

100 

600 

1 500 

400 

900 

400 

1  200 

1  000 

1  200 

2  100 

2  700 

2  800 

2  200 

1  200 

TOTAL* 

1 800 

1 900 

.2 200 

2 500 

2  600 

11 000 

The above amounts are in thousands of  current ECU. 

*  This total  takes no account  of  payments  made  from  the  appropriations  for  the years 
before year n. 

15 

8. FRAUD PREVENTION MEASURES; RESULTS OF MEASURES TAKEN 

-  Payments  under  the  contracts  concluded  will  be  made  on  the  basis  of  actual 

expenditure  following  verification. 

-  Before  the  contract  is signed  an estimate  of expenditure will  be  requested. 
-  Before  payment  is made,  supporting  documents will  be requested  and  checked. 
-  Contracts will  provide for  on-the-spot  inspections. 

SECTION  II - COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.  ELEMENTS  OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

9.1.  Specific  and  quantified  objectives;  target  population 

-  Specific  objectives:  links with  general  objective 

Civil  protection  and  environmental  emergencies 

(a)  Training  courses  and  simulation  exercises 
(b)  Exchanges  of  experts 
(c)  Pilot  projects  aimed  at  improving  techniques  and  means  of  combating 

disasters 

(d)  Development  of technical  instruments  with  the Member  States 
(e)  Public  information,  awareness and  education  campaigns 
(f)  International  cooperation 

Secondment  of  experts 

Experience in the field of marine pollution  has highlighted  the importance of 
a pool of experts being available at Community  level: this "Community  Task 
Force"  is  made  up  of  highly  qualified  government  experts  who  can  be 
mobilized  to  advise  those  responsible  for  dealing  with  emergencies  or 
disasters  in the Member  States. 

In  addition  to  the  Task  Force,  other groups  of  experts  have  been  set  up  to 
cover  various  civil  protection  sectors.  Thus  it  is  now  possible  to  mobilize 
experts  in  the  fields  of  forest  fires,  environmental  issues  (for  liaison  and 
evaluation  missions)  and chemicals. 

The  Commission  can  second  these  experts 24 hours  a day  at the  request  of 
the Member  State  concerned. 

16 

-  Target population: 

Appropriate  public  emergency  relief  departments,  organizations  and 
associations  have been  established to respond to disasters and emergencies. 
These entities form a civil protection system consisting of approximately 5.25 
million  persons  directly  involved  in the  action  funded  here  in the Member 
States.  They include: 

250  000 professional  firemen,  government  experts, etc.; 
5 000  000 volunteers,  charities, NGOs, etc. 

- 

The action is also intended to have an impact on as many citizens as possible 
with the aid of public information,  awareness and education campaigns. 

9.2.  Grounds for the operation 

The  action  programme  to  be  established  by  the  proposed  Decision  will 
consolidate  and  strengthen  Community  cooperation  on  civil  protection,  as 
requested in the resolution  adopted by the Council  of Ministers responsible for 
civil  protection  on 31  October  1994. 

The Community  action  proposed  in the programme is  not intended  to replace 
the Member  States' efforts  in the field of  civil  protection.  In accordance with 
the principle  of subsidiarity,  the aim is to back them up and supplement them 
in  order  to  make  them  more  effective.  In  particular,  the  programme  allows 
pooling of experience ,at national  level  and mutual assistance  in case of need. 
Transfer  of  know-how  and  mutual  assistance  help  reduce  loss  of  life  and 
economic  damage  throughout  the  Community.  The  selection  criteria  for 
intervention  at  European  level  will  ensure  economic,  effective  use  of  the 
resources  available  for  civil  protection.  The  experience  gained  with  the  pilot 
projects and training programmes will  be widely  disseminated. 

9.3.  Monitoring  and evaluation  of the operation 

Consensus  among the Member  States  on the guidelines  for  and  results  of  the 
operation will  be expressed  within the advisory  committee  to be set  up by the 
Decision. 

Meetings  of  technical  experts  will  be  held  for  each  planned  operation  with a 
view to analysing the arrangements, objectives and consequences.  Checks will 
also  be  carried  out  on  each  specific  action  to  ensure  that  the  requisite 
contractual  and financial  obligations  are in line with  the plans and  objectives 
set. 

The  proposed  Decision  provides  for  the  Commission  regularly  to  evaluate 
implementation of the action programme and to inform the advisory committee 
thereof. 

17 

This  evaluation  will  be carried  out every  three years.  It will  cover the  results 
of  the  various  action  taken  as  part  of  this  programme.  The  priorities  and 
detailed  rules for  management  of  the programme  will  be adopted  on the  basis 
of  these  results,  taking  account,  also,  of  the  financial  aspects  of  the  various 
measures. 
DG XTs policy group and resources group will also evaluate the measures taken 
to implement the action programme. 

SECTION in  - ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE 

10. ADMINISTRATIVE  EXPENDITURE1 
(Part A  of the budget for  1996-2000) 

Expenditure is  set out below  in current ECU. 

10.1  Meetings  of  experts  (A-2500) 

Meetings of senior officials  are needed to prepare the various operations. They 
will  involve  3  to  10  people,  depending  on  the  subject  of  the  meeting.  This 
includes meetings of cooperation officials and technical experts.  Approximately 
50 persons per year will  attend these meetings. 
Ten meetings  per year are planned,  starting in  1996. 

10 x  5 x ECU  825/person  = ECU 41  250/year  from  1996 on. 

An  annual  meeting  of Directors-General  for  Civil  Protection  is  also  planned, 
starting in 1995. This meeting will  involve 30 senior officials  from the Member 
States. 

1 x  30 x ECU 825/person  = ECU 24  750/year from  1995 on. 

10.2.  Publications  (A-3410) 

Publication,  in several  languages,  of the documents drawn  up for the Member 
States  or  third  countries  and,  with  their  assistance,  documents  intended  for 
widespread  dissemination  within  their  national,  regional  or  even  local  civil 
protection departments. 
Total  expenditure: ECU  35  000/year. 

1  Annual expenditure in addition to current expenditure. Expenditure on the committee 
to  be  set  up  is  already  covered  by  the  appropriations  provided  for  the  Permanent 
Network  of National  Correspondents for Civil  Protection  which  it will  replace. 

18 

IMPACT ASSESSMENT  FORM 
THE  IMPACT  OF  THE PROPOSAL  ON 
SMALL  AND MEDIUM-SIZED  ENTERPRISES 

Title  of  proposal: 

Proposal  for  a  Council  Decision  establishing  a  Community  action 

programme  in the  field  of  civil  protection 

Reference  number: 

The  proposal 
To  respond  to  emergencies  caused  by  natural  and  technological  disasters,  the  Member  States 
have taken  steps  to  prevent  disasters  and  to be  better  prepared  for  those  which  do  occur,  and, 
in  particular,  have  drawn  up  disaster  relief  plans to  enable  them  to  manage  such  emergencies 

As some problems are common to all Member States, or similar,  cooperation  in the field of civil 
protection  has been  developed  at Community  level. 

The  general  objective  of  Community  action  in  the  field  of  civil  protection  is to  help  provide 
better  protection  for  people,  the  environment  and  property  in  the  event  of  natural  and 
technological  disasters. 
In  line  with  the  subsidiarity  principle,  these  objectives  are  attained 
mainly  by  establishing  a  technical  network  of  those  responsible  for  civil  protection  in  the 
Member  States  and  by the  extensive  sharing  of  experience  among  them. 

In  practical  terms,  technical  instruments  are  being  developed  (operational  manual  and  pilot 
projects)  as well  as initiatives aimed  directly  at those involved  in civil  protection  which help to 
increase their  degree of preparedness  (training,  exchanges  of  experts and  simulation  exercises). 
The  proposal  aims  in  particular  at  consolidating  and  strengthening  the  development  of  pilot 
projects,  which  will  be  carried  out  primarily  by  small  and  medium-sized  enterprises. 

The  impact  on  business 

Firms in the civil protection equipment and facilities industry could participate in the Community 
action  programme.  Most  Member  States  have  firms  of  this  type,  ranging  from  small  firms  to 
medium-sized  enterprises. 

Generally, businesses of this type respond to calls for proposals in order to qualify  for a financial 
contribution  from  the  Community. 

This  proposal  could,  therefore,  have  an  impact  on  employment  in  the  undertakings  receiving 
funds. 

In  some  cases,  eventual  development  and  fine-tuning  of  prototypes  could  even  culminate  in 
industrial  production  of products or equipment encouraging new investment and even new jobs. 

The  proposal  places  no  specific  requirements  on  small  and  medium-sized  businesses. 

Consultation 
Not  applicable. 

"  < 

A 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(95) 155  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

06 

Catalogue number  : CB-CO-95-178-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-88207-7 

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