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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Civil protection

Civil protection assistance consists of governmental aid delivered in preparation for or immediate aftermath of a disaster in Europe and worldwide.

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European Union Civil Protection exercise in Austria: rescue teams looking for survivors of the disaster.
© European Union

Aid takes the form of in-kind assistance, deployment of specially-equipped teams, or experts assessing and coordinating support right in the field. When a disaster overwhelms a country’s ability to contain it, other participating states step in and provide assistance.

All EU Member States, as well as 9 participating states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine), are taking part in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.