The Regulatory Framework for Disaster Response Established within the EU

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The Regulatory Framework for Disaster Response
Established within the EU

• A Focus on Humanitarian and Civil Protection

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1. Introduction

• EU 3 Pillars (Disaster Response EC)
• Binding instruments
• Regulations, directives, decisions
• Three decision making bodies
• Parliament, Council, Commission
• Disaster response
• Humanitarian Aid Civil Protection
• Distinction

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2. Legal basis and Institutional Mechanisms

• 2.1 Development cooperation for humanitarian aid
  outside the EU
• Legal basis within EU Treaties
• Regulatory and institutional framework
• 1996 Council Regulation concerning Humanitarian
  Aid
• ECHO (Directorate for Humanitarian Aid)

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• 2.2 Civil protection
• Absence of specific legal basis in EU treaties
• Regulatory and institutional framework
• 1999 Council Decision on Civil Protection Action
  Programme
• 2001 Council Decision establishing a Community
  Mechanism to facilitate reinforced cooperation in
  civil protection assistance interventions
• Institutional instrument MIC ( IT application
  CECIS)

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3. IDRL Analysis
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• 3.1 Humanitarian Assistance
• 1996 Council Regulation
• Framework partnership agreements
• IDRL Significance
• Regulation through the setting of fundamental
  principles
• Clear obligations on coordination
• No reference to facilitation

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Regulation through the setting of fundamental
principles

• Principle of non-discrimination
• Principles of impartiality, independence,
  humanity
• Quality
• Participation of beneficiaries
• Cultural adequacy
• Observance of the fundamental rights of the
  person
• Basis in local capacities
• Linking relief, rehabilitation and development

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Additional conditions for NGOs

• Voluntary codes of good practices or charters
• Provide fair working conditions
• Promote understanding of humanitarian values
• Picture victims as dignified human beings

Clear obligations on coordination

• EC aid Member States
• EC aid receiving State
• EC aid international actors

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• 4.2 Civil Protection
• 2001 Council Decision Establishing the Mechanism
• IDRL Significance
• Requests for assistance
• Coordination
• Facilitation (to a minor extent)
• Costs of assistance
• Compensation for damage