1. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection Joint Session of the Member States of the European Union, of the European Economic Area, the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans Branko Dervodel, Deputy Director General, Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief

2. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Priorities in the field of civil protection in the first half of 2008 One of the priorities: Cooperation with the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans Joint effort of the European Commission and the Presidency, supported by all EU Member States High interest in participation by the candidate countries and the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans

3. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Cooperation with the Western Balkans - Background Countries in the Western Balkans are candidate and potential candidate countries - closer integration and gradual association with the EU civil protection instruments/activities is needed Devastating wild fires and floods in South-Eastern Europe in 2007  Need for further development of national disaster management systems  Enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation (DPPI – Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative)

4. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Relevant documents (1) Civil Protection Financial Instrument (2007/162/EC, Euratom) Recast of the Civil Protection Mechanism (2007/779/EC, Euratom)  Possibilities for participation and cooperation with candidate countries and third countries (potential candidate countries) Commission Communication: Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2007-2008 (COM [2007]663), 6 Nov 2007) Commission Communication: Western Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective, (COM(2008)127), 5 March 2008

5. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Relevant documents (2) General Framework for EU Cooperation with candidate countries and Western Balkan countries in the field of civil protection: Roadmap of activities under the Slovenian Presidency; Information Note Presidency/Commission Note - Outcomes of the Seminar Strengthening cooperation with Candidate countries and Western Balkan Countries in the field of Civil Protection ("Bled Initiative”) Brdo Presidency Statement: New focus on the Western Balkans, 29 March 2008 Council Conclusions (GAERC) on Western Balkans, 28 April – disaster prevention, preparedness and response included

6. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Relevant documents (3) Council Conclusions on cooperation with the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans in the field of Civil Protection – to be adopted in June 2008 (doc. 9199/08)

7. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Main events Seminar on Strengthening Cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of Civil Protection  24-26 February 2008, Bled, Slovenia Joint session of the Directors-General for Civil Protection from EU Member States, EEA Countries, the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans  19 May 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia

8. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Regional cooperation Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Preparedness and Prevention in the South-Eastern Europe, 9 April 2008, Sofia, Bulgaria  Joint Ministerial Statement Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative from South Eastern Europe (from 2000 on ) – MOU signed in 2007, Secretariat in Sarajevo  Disaster Management Training Programme  Projects (hydromed, trilateral fire-figting unit etc.)

9. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Seminar on Strengthening Cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of Civil Protection - Aims Facilitate closer integration of the candidate countries into the Community Civil Protection Mechanism and Financial Instrument Strengthen cooperation with the potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans in the field of civil protection

10. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Seminar - General information 90 participants from: - 16 EU Member States - 3 Candidate Countries (Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey ) - 3 potential candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro) - observing countries - EU institutions - international organizations (UN ISDR, WMO, Red Cross) - regional initiatives (Stability Pact for SEE, DPPI SEE) - other (World Bank)

11. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Seminar impact Platform to gather for the first time EU Member States and the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans to discuss civil protection issues Underlined importance of closer cooperation with the candidate and potential candidate countries in the field of civil protection Enhanced knowledge about EU civil protection instruments in candidate and potential candidate countries Forum to identify possible areas for further cooperation to the benefit of all EU Member States, Candidate Countries and potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans

12. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 General conclusions and recommendations “BLED Initiative" The cooperation with the candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans should be further elaborated and supported by the EU Increased cooperation will help the countries: - to improve national disaster management systems - to gradually adhere to European standards of quality Taking into account existing bilateral, regional and international cooperation activities - to promote coordination and complementarities

13. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 1. Cooperation in EU Civil Protection instruments (Civil Protection Mechanism and Financial Instrument) 2. Facilitating the provision of mutual assistance 3. Training, exercises, exchange of experts 4. Early warning systems and emergency call number 112 5. Supporting the candidate and potential candidate countries and regional capacity development 6. Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 7. Comprehensive Programme Identified priority areas

14. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 Further activities Comprehensive EU programme on cooperation with the candidate and potential candidate countries in the field of civil protection Support to regional cooperation (through the DPPI SEE) - Advisory Board - Seminar on Civil Protection in the EU, autumn 2008, jointly organized by the European Commission and Slovenia Cooperation with international actors, bilateral activities - synergies and complementarities in the development of capacities across the region

15. 20th Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection, Ljubljana, 19 May 2008 THANK YOU! More information available at: http://www.sos112.si/eng/eu.php