Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Carlos MendesPortuguese National Authority for Civil Protection

25 FEB 2008

Seminar on Strenghtning Cooperation with Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of Civil Protection

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Main topics

• Background

• State of the art in the EU

• Recent activities on Early Warning Systems

• Principles for further work

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Early warning system is “the provision of timely and effective information,

through identified institutions, that allows individuals exposed to a hazard to take action to avoid or reduce their risk

and prepare for effective response”

(International Strategy for Disaster Reduction)

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, January 2005) identified early warning

systems as a key factor for building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters.

In fact, early warning systems can significantly reduce the costs of disasters, both in terms of human life and property.

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

State of the art in the EU

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

• All EU countries have a national strategy for risk assessment and early warning.

• Each country is however different, because:

- Hazards are different: volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis are important in the south; wind storms in the north; floods are a common hazard.

- Responsibility lies at different levels: central, regional, even local (municipality). In some cases the region has a completely autonomous policy to the central authority.

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Both MS and EC have undertaken significant efforts to establish EWS to protect their citizens. Most hazards are covered by EWS.

Ex:Floods - EFASWind storms - MeteoalarmForest fires - EFFISEarthquakes - EMSCRadiological emergencies - ECURIE

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Preliminary gap analysis revealed specific shortcomings to be addressed by MS and appropriate EC instruments.

Ex:TsunamisTourists Common alarm signalsHandicappedEducation

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Recent activities on EWS

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

2007 – A key year

• European Commission launched a Group of Experts on EWS (April)

• Seminar on EWS (Portugal, July)

• Commission staff working paper on EWS (October)

• Adoption of Council Conclusions on the “establishment and development of EWS in the EU” and on the “establishment of an EWS for tsunamis in the NEAM region” (December)

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Council Conclusions on EWS (although primarily addressed to MS, are relevant also for candidate

countries and potential candidate countries in Western Balkans, in terms of need for bilateral/regional cooperation in the field of EWS)

• “Encourages neighbouring Member States to develop close cooperation in order to facilitate the interoperability and the possible interlinkage of early warning systems for emergencies with cross-border effects and to explore ways of establishing commonly agreed methods of warning population in the border areas”

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Council Conclusions on EWS

• “Invites the Commission to explore possibilities to the development and establishment of EWS by:

- contributing to identification of high risk areas;

- promoting real time data sharing;

- upgrading IT equipment to enable more rapid

dissemination and sharing of alert messages;

- exploring possibilities for the mainstreaming of disaster

risk reduction measures into its bilateral cooperation

programmes with third countries”

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Council Conclusions on EWS

• “Encourages the Commission and the Member States to further explore possibilities for the enhancement of cooperation in this field with third countries, in order to strengthen sharing of essential data and to create an alert dissemination network amongst civil protection authorities”

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Principles for further work

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

Key principles

• Cross-sectoral• Multi hazards• Be complementary and avoid duplications• Fit into on-going initiatives (e.g. UNESCO/IOC)• Explore 4 different areas:

- risk assessment; - detection; - dissemination of alerts; - preparedness, education and awareness raising

Establishment of Early Warning Systems in the EU

A comprehensive European Multi-risk Early Warning System will only be possible

with the involvement of neighbouring third countries in the Western Balkan area.

In order to bridge the gap, further activities supporting bilateral cooperation

should be promoted.