Bosnia and Herzegovina’s disaster response services will join the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism – the first institutions in the country to join any EU-level mechanism.
Members of the Civil Protection of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during a joint training of specialised units. Photo: FUCZ
The Civil Protection Services of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska and the Brcko District will join the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism from September, when an agreement is due to be signed after an almost six-year-long project to improve capacities that cost 2.5 million euros.
“In practice, this will ensure that we will accept EU-level standards in forming and training our teams,” Milan Novitovic, director of the Republika Srpska Civil Protection Service, told BIRN.
With the implementation of EU standards, in emergencies of any kind, teams will be able to work together and in the same way, no matter where they have been trained.
As a member of the EU body, Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to ask for, or be asked for, international assistance in natural or man-made catastrophies, but also to cooperate with other member countries in training courses and other projects.
“The Federal Unit Civil Protection through state mechanisms, in this case the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will also have the opportunity to apply for prevention and preparedness projects,” a spokesperson for the Federal Unit of Civil Protection, Majda Kovac, told BIRN.
“We will have access to the Expert Exchange Programme, and through participation in various projects we will be able to achieve benefits in the form of equipping, training and equipping protection and rescue structures,” she added.
The entire process was coordinated by the state-level Security Ministry’s Protection and Rescue Sector. The Council of Ministers will be responsible for requesting or participating in international assistance.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism currently has 27 EU states as members, with Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Turkey as participating members.
It was established in October 2001 and aims to strengthen cooperation between participating countries to improve disaster prevention, preparedness and response capabilities.
Since its inception, the Civil Protection Mechanism has responded to over 600 requests for the assistance inside and outside the EU.
Source: European Commission.
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