1. A training programme, an exercises programme and an exchange of experts programme shall be established to strengthen cooperation and coordination between Member States and with the Commission in the field of civil protection and disaster management in the framework of the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network set up pursuant to Article 13(1) of Decision No 1313/2013/EU.
2. The Commission shall be responsible for the coordination and organisation of the programmes referred to in paragraph 1.
3. For the development, implementation, strategic orientation and priorities of the programmes referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall closely collaborate with Member States through the working group set up pursuant to Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1956 ( 7 ) . The working group may take into account any Commission Recommendation adopted in accordance with Article 6(5) of Decision No 1313/2013/EU and the work undertaken by the Commission and the Member States on scenario-building in accordance with Article 10 of Decision No 1313/2013/EU.
4. Member States shall nominate national training coordinators with the responsibility of coordinating at national level the identification and management of experts and stakeholders participating in the training, exercises and exchange of experts programmes. The national training coordinators shall act in close consultation with the relevant national and regional authorities and other entities, as appropriate.
5. The Commission shall monitor the programmes referred to in paragraph 1 and ensure that an appropriate evaluation system is in place.
In line with the Member States’ primary responsibility, as set out in Article 1(3) of Decision No 1313/2013/EU, to provide their disaster management systems with sufficient capabilities, the training programme shall supplement the training for civil protection and disaster management personnel that is conducted at the appropriate national level.
1. The target participants of the training programme shall be:
(a)
Member States’ civil protection and disaster management personnel directly involved in operations set out in Chapters II, III, and IV of Decision No 1313/2013/EU and staff of relevant national or regional competent authorities or entities with a function related to the Union Civil Protection Mechanism;
(b)
Commission staff, in particular ERCC liaison officers.
2. Participation in the training programme shall also be open, as appropriate, to selected experts from:
(a)
Union institutions, bodies and agencies;
(b)
the United Nations and its agencies;
(c)
the international organisations listed in Annex VI;
(d)
third countries;
(e)
other relevant entities.
Content, format and curricula of the training courses
The Commission shall, in cooperation with the working group set pursuant to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1956, determine the, content, format and curricula of courses, including the selection requirements and allocation of places in the training courses.
1. The exercises programme shall consist of:
(a)
modules table-top and field exercises;
(b)
full-scale exercises;
(c)
other types of exercises, based on identified needs.
Those exercises may be conducted outside the Union.
2. The exercise programme shall in particular aim at:
(a)
enhancing the level of preparedness of civil protection and disaster management systems;
(b)
ensuring the effective and rapid response of Member States to disasters, in particular with regard to experts, teams and other assets provided in assistance interventions under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism;
(c)
verifying and improving the quality requirements for deployments under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, in order to enhance the coordination of civil protection assistance;
(d)
enhancing cooperation between the civil protection and other relevant services of Member States and the Commission including in the conduct of cross-border exercises referred to in Article 20(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2557 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 8 ) ;
(e)
identifying and sharing lessons learnt;
(f)
testing the implementation of lessons learnt.
The exchange of experts programme shall support civil protection and disaster management personnel in:
(a)
gaining and sharing specific experience and direct knowledge;
(b)
becoming acquainted with techniques and operational procedures;
(c)
studying approaches followed by other participating emergency services and institutions;
(d)
attending and drawing lessons as observers in simulation exercises in other Member States;
(e)
attending courses for acquiring specific expert knowledge not available in their home organisation.
The exchange of experts programme shall be open to Member States’ civil protection and disaster management entities, experts and volunteers, as well as those from EU candidate and potential candidate countries and Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood countries.
