Ukrainian Parliament Ratifies Agreement on its participation in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Parliament, has officially ratified the Agreement on Ukraine's participation in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This significant step was taken on 8 November when the Verkhovna Rada adopted the law (bill No. 0226) ratifying this Agreement.
With the ratification of this Agreement, Ukraine has become a fully-fledged participant to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, benefitting from the same rights and obligations as other EU countries. The Agreement enables Ukraine to collaborate seamlessly with the EU in the realm of civil protection and disaster risk management, allowing for enhanced coordination and response in times of emergencies. The Agreement is expected to facilitate the mobilisation of assistance to Ukraine under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As a fully-fledged Participating State, Ukraine can now also offer assistance via the Mechanism to affected populations in various crises and benefit from EU co-financing for transport and operational costs. Ukraine can also benefit from other tools via a more structured cooperation in disasters prevention and preparedness, such as via training and exercises under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová stated "I highly welcome the Verkhovna Rada’s ratification of the Agreement on Ukraine's participation in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Mechanism has played an essential part in our support to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion – and before. Ukraine’s full-fledged participation is another testament to our ever-closer relations.”
The EU's Civil Protection Mechanism is recognized as the world's largest system of coordinated international assistance during emergency situations. Comprising EU Member States and ten close EU partners as Participating States, including Ukraine, the Mechanism stands as a testament to the commitment to collective action and support in times of crisis.
Background
When an emergency overwhelms the response capabilities of a country in Europe and beyond, it can request assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
The European Commission through its Emergency Response Coordination Center plays a key role in coordinating the disaster response worldwide. Since its inception in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated for more than 600 emergencies and crises inside and outside the EU.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism aims to strengthen cooperation between the 27 EU countries and now 10 Participating States (Iceland, Norway, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Ukraine and most recently Moldova) on civil protection to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters.
A joint approach further helps pool expertise and capacities of first responders, avoids duplication of relief efforts, and ensures that assistance meets the needs of those affected. Pooling together civil protection capacities and capabilities allows for a stronger and more coherent collective response.
The Mechanism also helps coordinate disaster preparedness and prevention activities of national authorities and contributes to the exchange of best practices. This facilitates the continuous development of higher common standards enabling teams to understand different approaches better and work interchangeably when a disaster strikes.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, participants of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism have provided so far over 97 000 tons of items to Ukraine, worth some €796 million including the evacuation of over 2 700 critically ill patients to medical facilities in European countries.
The Agreement for Ukraine to join the EU Civil Protection was signed on 20 April 2023 in Kyiv by Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko, and European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič. The Agreement has now fully entered into force after its ratification.