Stavros Dimas, EU Commissioner for the Environment met Volodymyr Shandra, the Ukrainian Minister for Emergency Services this week to discuss further cooperation between the EU and Ukraine on disaster response.

The European Commission and Ukraine signed an arrangement in 2007 providing for the exchange of information during emergencies. The Commissioner and the Minister were discussing the possibility of broadening this arrangement to include wider cooperation in civil protection in areas such as collaboration on environmental assessment, mutual assistance during emergencies and training opportunities.

The arrangement was first tested in November 2007 when assistance was provided to Ukraine through the Community Civil Protection Mechanism. A severe storm in the Kerch Strait resulted in the spillage of 1300 tons of black oil and 6800 tons of industrial sulphur. The European Commission's Civil Protection Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) deployed a number of experts through the Mechanism. This expert team, which also included a UN representative, assisted the Ukrainian authorities in the preparation of an environmental impact assessment.

During his visit to Brussels, the Ukrainian Minister attended a lessons learnt meeting on the above disaster.

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/civil

•Date: 20th March 2008• Region: Various •Type: Article •Topic: Emergency planning
Rate this article or make a comment - click here