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European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

Legal framework

Legal Framework
© Cruz Roja Holandesa

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

26/05/2021
Regulation (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)

02/06/2020
The legislative proposal to amend Decision No 1313/2013/EU on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism

21/03/2019
Decision (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

23/11/2017
Communication 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

15/03/2016
Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 on the provision of emergency support within the Union

03/04/2014
Regulation No 375/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council on establishing the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps (‘EU Aid Volunteers initiative’)

17/12/2013
Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Civil Protection Mechanism

20/06/1996
Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 concerning humanitarian aid

Implementing rules

15/03/2022
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/461 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU transport and logistics capacities

22/02/2022
Commission 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

11/11/2021
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1956 of 10 November 2021 on the establishment and organisation of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network

29/10/2021
Commission 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.

26/01/2021
Commission 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

26/03/2020
Commission 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

19/03/2020
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/414 of 19 March 2020 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards medical stockpiling rescEU capacities

18/11/2019
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1930 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/570 as regards rescEU capacities

02/08/2019
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1310 of 31 July 2019 laying down rules on the operation of the European Civil Protection Pool and rescEU

10/04/2019
Commission 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

15/01/2018
Commission 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

16/10/2014
Commission 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

09/06/2011
Council conclusions on the development of the external dimension of the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection

12/05/2011
Council conclusions on Integrated Flood Management within the European Union

11/04/2011
Council conclusions on Further Developing Risk Assessment for Disaster Management within the European Union

02/12/2010
Council Conclusions on Host Nation Support

08/11/2010
Conclusions on Innovative Solutions for Financing Disaster Prevention

21/05/2010
Council conclusion on Psychosocial support

30/11/2009
Council Conclusions on a Community framework on disaster prevention within the EU

28/11/2008
Council Conclusions calling for civil protection capabilities to be enhanced by a European mutual assistance system building on the civil protection modular approach (16474/08)

16/06/2008
Council Conclusions on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity – towards an integrated approach to managing disasters

06/12/2007
Council Conclusions on the establishment of an Early Warning System for tsunamis in the North East Atlantic and the Mediterranean region

06/12/2007
Council Conclusions on Early Warning System in the EU

 

European Parliament resolutions

21/09/2010
EP resolution on Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters

19/06/2008
European Parliament resolution on stepping up the Union's disaster response capacity

Other documents

10/03/2021
COM(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

01/06/2012
Commission Staff Working Document on EU Host Nation Support Guidelines

21/12/2010
Commission Staff Working Paper on Risk Assessment and Mapping Guidelines for Disaster Management

26/10/2010
COM(2010)600 Communication Towards a stronger European disaster response: the role of civil protection and humanitarian assistance

23/02/2009
COM(2009)82 Communication on a Community approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters

05/03/2008
COM(2008)130 Communication on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity

30/01/2008
Joint Statement (2008/C 25/01) - The European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid

14/12/2007
Commission Staff Working Document SEC(2007)1721 Towards Better Protecting Citizens against Disaster Risks: Strengthening Early Warning Systems in Europe