Article 1 
1. A Community action programme in the field of civil protection (hereinafter called this ‘programme’) is hereby established for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006 . 2. This programme is intended to support and supplement Member States' efforts at national, regional and local levels for the protection of persons, property and in so doing environment, in the event of natural and technological disasters, without prejudice to the internal division of competence in Member States. The aim is also to facilitate cooperation, exchange of experience and mutual assistance between Member States in this field. 3. This programme excludes any measures aimed at the harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States or of the organising of the national preparedness of the Member States.
Article 2 
1. The Commission shall implement the actions under this programme. 2. A three-year rolling plan to implement this programme, to be reviewed annually, shall be adopted, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 4(2). 3. The financial reference amount for the implementation of the programme shall be EUR 7,5 million for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004 and EUR 4,0 million for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2006. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. 4. Actions under this programme and financial arrangements for Community contribution are set out in the Annex.
Article 3 
1. The rolling plan to implement this programme shall contain the individual actions to be undertaken. 2. Individual actions shall be selected primarily on the basis of the following criteria: (a) contribution to preventing the risks and damage to persons, property and in so doing environment, in the event of natural and technological disasters; (b) 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; (c) contribution to detecting and studying causes of disasters; (d) contribution to improving the means and methods of forecasting, techniques and methods of response and immediate aftercare after emergencies; (e) 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 Member States. 4. Where relevant, actions under this programme should aim to contribute — to the integration of civil protection objectives in other Community and Member States policies and actions, in particular including risk evaluation when assessing the impact of installations and activities, — as well as to the consistency of this programme with other Community actions. 5. Each action shall take account of the results of the Community and national research in the relevant fields.
Article 4 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at three months. 3. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.
Article 5 
The Commission shall evaluate the implementation of this programme at mid-term and before its end, and report by 30 September 2002 and 31 March 2004 to the European Parliament and the Council.
Article 6 
This Decision shall apply with effect from 1 January 2000.
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.