Prevention and Preparedness for Cross-Border Risks

Priority 1: Developing cross-border risk assessments

Project activities and outputs should lead to the achievement of up to two (2) of the following outcomes:

1.1 Cross-border risk assessments for identified cross-border risks are developed;

1.2 Joint data/information-sharing tools or platforms are established;

1.3 A network of competent authorities at national and sub-national level for specific risks is established;

1.4 Cross-border risk management plans or action plans for one or more risks, (identified in a cross-border risk assessment) are developed.

Examples of project outputs to be funded include, among others:

• Risk assessment report including, where appropriate, analytical products preparatory to a risk assessment, such as cross-border hazard assessments, cross-border risk scenarios, cross-border vulnerability analysis, risk mapping, etc., including for risk assessment addressing critical infrastructure or cultural heritage assets;
• Agreements, working procedures, methodologies, etc., required to establish a functioning cross-border network of competent authorities at national and sub-national level for specific risks;
• Open source IT platforms for data/information-sharing, including, where relevant, common methodologies on disaster loss data collection across borders;
• Specific cross-border action plans for the management of cross-border risks identified in joint risk assessments, including risks to critical infrastructure and cultural heritage assets.

Priority 2: Enhancing cross-border emergency management

Project activities and outputs should lead to the achievement of up to two (2) of the following outcomes:

2.1 The understanding of the institutional and legislative context of emergency management in neighbouring country/ies is enhanced;

2.2 Existing gaps to cross-border emergency response are identified;

2.3 Cross-border interoperability (e.g. of civil protection modules or other response capacities) is strengthened;

2.4 Cross-border response plans are developed/improved, taking into account host nation support;

2.5 Cross-border operational collaboration in disaster response is tested and strengthened.

Examples of project outputs to be funded include, among others:

• Analysis of legal/institutional aspects of cross-border cooperation and mutual assistance;
• Gap and needs analyses for cross-border preparedness, including for select critical infrastructure and cultural heritage assets;
• Host nation support guidelines with specific cross-border aspects;
• Risk management capability assessments for cross-border areas, including for specific critical infrastructure and cultural heritage assets;
• Cross-border training programmes tailored to local/regional needs;
• Agreements and memoranda of understanding regarding cooperation and mutual assistance in emergency management;
• Technical specifications for development or enhancement of cross-border communication tools (e.g. radio communication).

Topic: Prevention and Preparedness for Cross-border Risks

Disasters know no borders. The risks posed by natural and man-made hazards are cross-border due to their spatial dimension (earthquakes, fires, severe weather, floods and space weather), as well as the volatility and scale of their impacts (pandemics, livestock epidemics, nuclear/industrial accidents). The human, economic and environmental impacts - including the impact on cultural heritage – triggered by these hazards, as well as their likelihood of occurrence exist irrespective of national borders. In fact, the EU can benefit from tackling cross-border risks beyond its borders, particularly in IPA beneficiaries and in the Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods^[1].

The increasing occurence and inter-dependence of new threats require a strong cross-sectoral and cross-border cooperation in prevention, preparedness and response.

Various EU legislative acts already call for a collaborative approach to disaster risk assessment and disaster management: for example, for flood risks or cross-border threats in the health sector. The revised UCPM legislation also aims at stepping up the collaboration at cross-border level and between Member States and Participating States prone to the same types of disasters.

While cross-border cooperation is relatively well-established in the area of emergency response, cross-border cooperation during the prevention and preparedness phases can be further enhanced. Notwithstanding, the response phase could also benefit from streamlined communication protocols and interoperable systems that overcome language barriers in emergency situations.

By focussing on countries that share a border, this Call for Proposals aims to foster a more sustained cooperation in cross-border regions.

This topic aims to enhance cross-border disaster risk management through prevention and preparedness in Europe, IPA beneficiaries and EU Neighbourhood countries.

Applicants are invited to focus on one of the following call priorities (specific objectives):

Priority 1: Developing cross-border risk assessments

Without an assessment that takes into account cross-border risks, disaster risk management strategies will only partially address the risks a country faces. An analysis of national risk assessments submitted to the European Commission in 2018/2019 revealed that, while cross-sectoral interdependencies of risks are tackled to some extent in risk assessments, a cross-border (ie. regional/international) dimension is still mostly missing. A few good practices exist: the joint cross-border Benelux risk assessment, the Baltic Sea Region risk assessment or the Nordic Forum for Risk Analysis and Strategic Foresight.

Priority 2: Enhancing cross-border emergency management

The need for cross-border collaboration in disaster management arises when the response capacity of an affected region is surpassed and assistance from bordering communities is required.

Mutual understanding of civil protection and emergency management structures, work procedures and culture is essential for effective cross-border collaborations. Such cooperation can be of particular value when preparing for risks with a potential high impact but a low likelihood of occurrence (Hi-Lo risks). In these cases a joint preparation with neighbouring regions using one common planning instead of several separate plans is often more efficient.

Some regions have a long tradition of cross-border collaboration in disaster risk management and this has led to a structured exchange of knowledge and good practices over the years. This wealth of knowledge provides a solid base for cross-border collaboration that the UCPM can help disseminate and apply in other regions across Europe and its Neighbours.

Activities that can be funded

Under Priority 1, this Call for Proposals will co-finance activities that aim to assess/quantify risks with cross-border impacts, either building on/expanding existing cross-border risk assessments or developing one through the project. End-users will be civil protection authorities and stakeholders in Member States, Participating States, IPA beneficiaries not participating in the Mechanism, and/or European Neighbourhood Policy countries that share a border.

Under Priority 2, this Call for Proposals will co-finance activities that aim to enhance cross-border disaster preparedness. End-users will be civil protection authorities and stakeholders in Member States, Participating States, IPA beneficiaries not participating in the Mechanism, and/or European Neighbourhood Policy countries that share a border.

Projects may include a broad range of activities, for example:

• Testing, demonstration and / or implementation of innovative practices to enhance prevention of, and preparedness for disasters
• Activities to develop methods and tools to support decision-making in disaster risk management
• Activities to develop methods and tools to measure and/or enhance the understanding of the impact of disasters
• Activities to promote harmonised cross-border approaches for assessing and communicating risks
• Activities to strengthen disaster preparedness protocols and response capacities

[1] 2017 Overview of Risks, SWD (2017) 176 final