The Center participated in the 8th European Civil Protection Forum
In the period from 4 to 5 June 2024, the delegation of the Center consisting of Director Mr. Serik Aubakirov and Chief Expert Mr. Bakhtiyar Ospanov participated in the 8th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels at the invitation of the organizers of the Forum - the Directorate General of European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
The Forum was held under the slogan "Shaping a Disaster Resilient Union: Charting the Way for the Future of European Civil Protection" and was attended by more than 1,500 representatives of public authorities, institutions and civil society organizations from 70 countries in Europe and around the world.
Established in 2001 by the European Commission, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism functions to strengthen cooperation between EU countries and the 10 member states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) in the field of civil protection to improve prevention, preparedness and response to disasters. Thus, in case of an emergency on the territory of one of the countries, it has the possibility to request assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism through a coordinating body - the Emergenc Response Coordination Center.
The Commissioner for Crisis Management in the EU, Mr. Lenarčič in his welcome speech noted that "with disasters becoming more frequent, intense and complex, it is time to look at how the European disaster management system works and how it can be strengthened. Unprecedented hazards require unprecedented action, such as the introduction of innovative technologies in disaster prevention and response".
Mr. Lenarčič also recalled the importance of implementing the five EU objectives aimed at building resilience to natural disasters:
- Anticipate - Improve risk assessment, forecasting and disaster risk management planning.
- Prepare - Increase public awareness of and preparedness for risks.
- Notify - Strengthen early warning.
- Respond - Strengthen the response capacity of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
- Ensure safety - Ensure a robust civil protection system.
The EU countries have established a reserve of forces and means (rescEU) to protect EU citizens from emergencies, with more than 500 firefighters, as well as various types of equipment" - emphasized in his speech the Commissioner for Crisis Management in the EU.
The newly appointed Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Kamal Kishore, in his speech emphasized the importance of implementing activities and programs in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, focusing more on local communities, which are the most vulnerable groups of population.
Ms. Bilotaite, Minister of the Interior of Lithuania, noted the effectiveness of the EU approach in preparing mmedical stockpiles in advance on the territory of the Member States in case of emergencies, and stressed the importance of preparedness for new challenges, such as cyber risks.
On the margins of the European Forum, the Director of the Center Mr. S. Aubakirov held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, which was also attended by Ms. Alonso Cano, Head of the UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, and Mr. Damir Akhmetov, Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium. During the meeting, Mr. Kishore noted the achievements of the Center in promoting the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Central Asia and the implementation of the program "Making Cities Resilient". Mr. Kishore also highly appreciated the work carried out by the Center on the implementation of the Roadmap for implementation of the Strategy for Development of Cooperation of Central Asian Countries in the field of disaster risk reduction for 2023-2024.
In conclusion, the parties confirmed their intention to develop mutual cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
Information about the meeting can be found on the Instagram of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Kingdom of Belgium - https://www.instagram.com/p/C7zFtJKqgMB/
Also, on the margins of the Forum, a working meeting was held with the representative of DG ECHO Mr. Tristan Simonart, where the agenda of the upcoming meeting of DG ECHO management with the Center in Almaty was discussed, as well as the prospects for further cooperation between the Center and the International Science and Technology Center with the participation of DG ECHO.
In general, the priorities and measures on disaster preparedness in the context of climate change, such as introduction of innovative information and communication technologies for disaster management, strengthening of emergency response capacity, and raising public awareness of risks, noted by the speakers, are fully correlated with the Goals and Objectives reflected in the Central Asian Strategy for Cooperation on DRR.
