Annexes to COM(2017)460 - Interim Evaluation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for the period 2014-2016

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dossier COM(2017)460 - Interim Evaluation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for the period 2014-2016.
document COM(2017)460 EN
date September  1, 2017
agreements (e.g. the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement). The Evaluation highlighted the need for increased coordination between the UCPM and Commission's activities in the Enlargement and Neighbourhood countries. In particular, the yearly Prevention and Preparedness Call for Proposals of the UCPM could take into account the disaster risk management activities financed under the PPRD- East and -South programmes. The IPA programme would benefit from further integration of its multi-countries response modules in the UCPM's Voluntary Pool and from joint efforts to strengthen the governance of the prevention activities (e.g. on the Disaster Risk Assessment and Mapping initiative).


5. The Way Forward

28. The Evaluation provides useful analyses and insights on the implementation of UCPM legislation, including on existing shortcomings and areas for further improvement. The Commission will start a reflection process on the recommendations highlighted above, particularly on those that could be implemented in the short to medium-term, as well as on those aspects that would require a modification of the UCPM framework in the future.

29. The UCPM will need to get closer to regional and local actors while continuing to strengthen, through the national civil protection authorities, the governance for disaster risk management both cross-border and along the European-national-regional-local chain. A new approach based on a 'network of European hubs for civil protection' (and/or 'centres of excellence') could be explored.

30. In addition to the interim evaluation a number of key reports and documents have now been produced assessing different aspects of UCPM performance, including the abovementioned Court of Auditors report, the capacity gaps report and the EU overview of risks. These documents provide useful analysis and insight on implementation of UCPM legislation, on possible ways to strengthen it as well as on existing shortcomings and weaknesses. On that basis, the Commission will assess the appropriateness of making changes to the provisions of Decision 1313/2013/EU with a view to:


a. Strengthening effectiveness by providing realistic incentives, attaining simplifications and reducing administrative burden;

b. Matching current/emerging risks with response capacities;

c. Making full use of Europe's expertise and assets for preparedness and response.

1 EU Member States and Iceland, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey

2 Article 34(2)(a) of Decision No 1313/2013/EU, OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 924

3 Final report available at: https://ec.europa.eu/echo/sites/echo-site/files/ucpm_final_report.pdf

4 The report is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/echo/EUCPM-consult_en

5 European Court of Auditors, Union Civil Protection Mechanism: the coordination of responses to disasters outside the EU has been broadly effective, Special report No 33/2016, January 2017

6 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on progress made and gaps remaining in the European Emergency Response Capacity, COM(2017) 78 final, 17.02.2017

7 Among others, European Parliament Resolution of 1 December 2016 on the situation in Italy after the earthquakes (2016/2988(RSP)).

8 This emerges as the main findings of recent evaluations, including: ROM Review of PPRD-East (2017); Evaluation of PPRD-South (2017); Evaluation of IPA II (2015).

9 Commission Staff Working Document, Overview of Natural and Man-made Disaster Risks the European Union may face, SWD(2017) 176 final, 23.5.2017

10 Commission Staff Working Document, SWD(2017) 176 final

11 This is in line with Article 14(2) of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/762/EU, which requires the Commission to regularly assess and revise the suitability of capacity goals "on the basis of risks identified in national risk assessments or other appropriate national or international source of information".

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