SLOVENIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU– CIVIL PROTECTION

Abstract

In the first half of 2008, during the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council, the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief carried out activities in the field of civil protection. The general plan of work was outlined in the 18- month Programme of the German, Portuguese and Slovenian Presidencies. In the six-month period of the Slovenian Presidency, activities in the field of civil protection were focused on three areas, namely: – reinforcing response of the EU to disasters, – cooperation with the third countries, with an emphasis on the cooperation with the Western Balkan countries, – cooperation with international organisations. One of the key tasks of Slovenia in the field of civil protection was also political coordination of interventions of the Civil Protection Mechanism in third countries, whereby the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had the central role and the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief provided expert support. In Slovenia, two events were organised during the Presidency, namely the Directors-General Meeting for Civil Protection and the Seminar on Strengthening Cooperation with the Candidate Countries and Western Balkan Countries in the Field of Civil Protection. During the Presidency within regular activities and during larger events in the frame of increased capabilities, the protection, rescue and relief units participated as well, which were responsible, in particular, for fire safety.