EU Exchange of Experts in Civil Protection

“European Exchange of Experts in Civil Protection“ is a programme financed by the European Commission, DG Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO). The German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) has been commissioned as its coordinator since 2006. As part of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the EU Exchange of Experts programme serves to develop the capabilities of EU civil protection services available for deployment in emergency situations, and to increase the effectiveness of joint operations. The programme allows for the secondment of national civil protection experts to administrations of other participating states on all aspects of emergency intervention to the mutual benefit of experts and host organisations. The programme is designed as a complement to the EU training programme and the EU exercises, and is adapted to the needs of interventions within the Civil Protection Mechanism framework. Participation in the programme is open to all civil protection experts, institutions and organisations resident in EU Member States, in candidate countries, and in EEA countries. Exchanges can be initiated either by individuals, groups, or host organizations. Since 2006, already more than 800 experts from 31 European countries made use of the EU Exchange of Experts programme.