The Treaty of Lisbon underpins the commitment of the EU to provide assistance, relief, and protection to victims of natural or man-made disasters around the world (art. 214 ), and to support and coordinate the civil protection systems of its Member States (art. 196 ). It further mandates the European institutions to define the necessary measures for such actions to be carried out.
The following is an overview of the legal framework which has been established to date:
Legislation
26/05/2021Regulation (EU) 2021/836 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism (Text with EEA relevance)
02/06/2020The legislative proposal to amend Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
21/03/2019Decision (EU) 2019/420 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 March 2019 amending Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
23/11/2017Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the regions: rescEU
Proposal for the European Parliament & of the Council amending Decision 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
15/03/2016Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support within the Union
03/04/2014Regulation No 375/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council on establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (‘EU Aid Volunteers initiative’)
17/12/2013Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
20/06/1996Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid
Implementing rules
15/03/2022Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/461 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU transport and logistics capacities
22/02/2022Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/288 of 22 February 2022 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU shelter capacities and the modification of quality requirements for Emergency Medical Teams Type 3 capacities
11/11/2021Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1956 of 10 November 2021 on the establishment and organisation of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network
29/10/2021Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1886 of 27 October 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards stockpiling rescEU capacities in the area of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.
26/01/2021Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/88 of 26 January 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU capacities in the area of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents
26/03/2020Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/452 of 26 March 2020 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards capacities established to respond to low probability risks with a high impact
19/03/2020Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/414 of 19 March 2020 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards medical stockpiling rescEU capacities
18/11/2019Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1930 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU capacities
02/08/2019Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1310 of 31 July 2019 laying down rules on the operation of the European Civil Protection Pool and rescEU
10/04/2019Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 of 8 April 2019 laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rescEU capacities and amending Commission Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU
15/01/2018Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/142 amending Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism
16/10/2014Commission Decision, laying down rules for the implementation of Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism and repealing Commission Decisions 2004/277/EC, Euratom and 2007/606/EC, Euratom
Council Conclusions
09/06/2011Council conclusions on the development of the external dimension of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection
12/05/2011Council conclusions on Integrated Flood Management within the European Union
11/04/2011Council conclusions on Further Developing Risk Assessment for Disaster Management within the European Union
02/12/2010Council Conclusions on Host Nation Support
08/11/2010Conclusions on Innovative Solutions for Financing Disaster Prevention
21/05/2010Council conclusion on Psychosocial support
30/11/2009Council Conclusions on a Community framework on disaster prevention within the EU
28/11/2008Council Conclusions calling for civil protection capabilities to be enhanced by a European mutual assistance system building on the civil protection modular approach (16474/08)
16/06/2008Council Conclusions on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity – towards an integrated approach to managing disasters
06/12/2007Council Conclusions on the establishment of an Early Warning System for tsunamis in the North East Atlantic and the Mediterranean region
06/12/2007Council Conclusions on Early Warning System in the EU
European Parliament resolutions
21/09/2010EP resolution on Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters
19/06/2008European Parliament resolution on stepping up the Union's disaster response capacity
Other documents
10/03/2021COM(2021) 110 Communication on the EU’s humanitarian action: new challenges, same principles
20/12/2019(2019/C 428/07) Commission Notice Reporting Guidelines on Disaster Risk Management
01/06/2012Commission Staff Working Document on EU Host Nation Support Guidelines
21/12/2010Commission Staff Working Paper on Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management
26/10/2010COM(2010)600 Communication Towards a stronger European disaster response: the role of civil protection and humanitarian assistance
23/02/2009COM(2009)82 Communication on a Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters
05/03/2008COM(2008)130 Communication on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity
30/01/2008Joint Statement (2008/C 25/01) - The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid
14/12/2007Commission Staff Working Document SEC(2007)1721 Towards Better Protecting Citizens against Disaster Risks: Strengthening Early Warning Systems in Europe
