Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-04-08-Speech-2-220"
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"en.20030408.6.2-220"2
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". – Questions on European civil protection corps, or ideas for similar initiatives in specific areas, such as a European coastguard, have been raised at different times in the past and also recently. However, to my knowledge, there is no specific proposal on the table. We must be aware that, according to the Treaties, civil protection measures fall under the competence of the Member States. Therefore, any such measures at Community level must strictly respect the principle of subsidiarity.
Furthermore, many different sectors are involved in civil protection. The ways in which they cooperate are organised differently in different Member States. Therefore the practical implications of establishing an EU-wide civil protection corps would require thorough analysis. However, the idea of creating such a corps is certainly interesting and I shall follow with interest the discussions on this issue in the European Convention.
Independently from these discussions, I can inform you that the Commission is already active in this field, although this seems to be little known. At the Commission's initiative, a Community mechanism to facilitate and reinforce cooperation in the field of civil protection has been set up. At present, all Member States, eleven candidate countries and the three EEA countries participate in this EU framework, which can provide a method for better civil protection coordination inside as well as outside the European Union.
One of the key elements in this context has been the establishment, within the Commission, of the EU Civil Protection Response Centre. This centre has been in place since 1 January 2002 and is available on a permanent basis, 24 hours a day. Once activated by a request from one of the participating countries, the centre can immediately call upon Member States' civil protection resources, as already pre-identified for all types of major emergencies. If you wish, I can also mention when this response centre has been used and where we have intervened.
The Commission considers that the EU Response Centre, which builds on all available national capacities, represents an effective tool that responds to the concerns expressed by the honourable Member."@en1
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