Project Implementation of the EU Host Nation Support Guidelines, No ECHO/SUB/2012/638451
Leading coordination partner: Icelandic Red Cross
Partners, associated beneficiaries: Latvian Red Cross, Irish Red Cross, Polish Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Project implementation period: February 2013 – March 2015
Background:
In 2009-10, the National Red Cross Societies of Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) undertook a study with support from the EU Civil Protection Financial Instrument of laws and procedures in their countries and at the EU level. The aim was to understand the management of international disaster assistance, drawing on the recommendations of the “Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance” (also known as the “IDRL Guidelines”) that had been adopted by the state parties to the Geneva Conventions in 2007.
Drawing in part on the results of this project, in 2010, the European Council adopted its “Council Conclusions on Host Nation Support” calling on EU Member states to strengthen their procedures, regulations and preparations for managing incoming assistance when needed in the case of a major disaster. The Council Conclusions also called for the European Commission to lead the development of EU level “Host Nation Support Guidelines,” which were completed in 2012.
In 2013-14, with renewed support from the European Civil Protection Financial Instrument, the National Red Cross Societies of Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, and Poland, the IFRC and a university consortium from Italy cooperated with their civil protection officials in a follow-up study. This project, led by the Icelandic Red Cross, looked at the degree to which host nation support procedures have been integrated into the laws, procedures and practise of their countries and at the EU level.
Aims and objectives:
- to improve the effectiveness of host nation support among Civil Protection Mechanism Participating States through a detailed analysis of existing domestic legislation and regulationin Finland , Iceland, Ireland, Latvia and Poland;
- to have regional table top exercises and a regional workshop, based on the recently agreed EU Guidelines, adopted by EU member states at the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent;
- to examine law and regulationsin the above-mentioned five European countries in order to see how they promote or hinder the speedy and effective flow of cross- border assistance in disaster situations in areas including customs, tax, transport and telecommunications, coordination and quality control.
Main Activities:
- Country level studies – please see the report Legal Framework for Receipt of Disaster Relief in Latvia;
- Mid-term meeting;
- Country-level workshops on domestic and EU disaster law in each country;
- Regional-level workshop.
Funding:
- Co-financed by European Commision/ DG ECHO/ Civil Protection Financoal Instrument;
- Total Budget: 276.743 EUR, 74.22% co-financed by EC
Contact person for the Latvian Red Cross: Ms. Inese Vintisa, e-mail: inese.vintisa@redcross.lv, Tel. +371 67336650