Key Quotes: Opening of the Emergency Response Centre and 4th European Civil Protection Forum

15 May 2013, Emergency Response Centre inauguration

‘Ten thousand people in Europe are tragically killed by natural and man-made disasters each year. We need to do everything we can do to reduce this terrible toll.’

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, speaking at the opening of the new Emergency Response Centre (ERC) during the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

1/12

2/12

‘The new EU Civil Protection Mechanism makes a very impressive difference in terms of coordinated action.’‘Even the best prepared country can be brought to its knees [by natural disasters].’

Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response opening the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

15 May 2013, 4th European Civil Protection ForumOpening session Keynote Speech

3/12

First Plenary session: The European and international framework for disaster management: Prospects for the future

‘Prevention, preparation and mitigation are the areas we need to work towards: looking at needs rather than resources.’

Rudolf Müller, Deputy Director and Chief, Emergency Services Branch, UN OCHA Geneva speaking during the plenary session ‘The European and international framework for disaster management: Prospects for the future’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

4/12

‘”Preparedness” for us means managing the pool of resources …and that we have continuous monitoring …’

Klaus Rösler, Director of Operations Division, FRONTEX speaking during the panel ‘Better disaster response coordination – Support from the Union’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 1: Better Disaster Response Coordination – Support from the Union

5/12

‘Risk assessment is key: we can’t prioritise properly if we don’t know what the risks are.’

Jack Radisch, Risk Policy Analyst, OECD Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial Development speaking during the panel ‘Disaster management finance – Available funding in times of economic crisis’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 2: Disaster management finance – Available funding in times of economic crisis

6/12

‘The most significant result of disaster is death and injury. Information on this will make programmes more efficient.’

Debarati Guha-Sapir, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), University of Louvain, Belgium speaking during the panel ‘Risk management – Enhancing our capability to understand risks at all levels’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 3: Risk management – Enhancing our capability to understand risks at all levels

7/12

‘We are not very good at being inspired by one another in Europe. Sharing good experiences is very important.’

Special address by Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action: ‘The Adaptation Strategy as a Contribution to Risk Management in Europe’. Given at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013.

16 May 2013, 4th European Civil Protection ForumCommissioners’ special addresses

8/12

‘”Readiness is all” – some of you may recognise the quote from Shakespeare; it really captures the vision for disaster management.’

Helena Lindberg, Director General of the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB), Sweden speaking during the panel ‘Disaster response planning – Procedures, plans, people, practice’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 4: Disaster response planning – Procedures, plans, people, practice

9/12

‘I think that, at different levels, we need to think about the financing issue and how resources are conflicting and reinforcing each other. We need to think about the efficient use of resources, especially in the planning phase. There’s a lot of knowledge available but it’s not always being used.’

Dr. Laurens M. Bouwer, Senior Advisor Risk Analysis, Deltares speaking during the panel ‘Solidarity and responsibility in the EU – Tackling costs of disasters’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 5: Solidarity and responsibility in the EU – Tackling costs of disasters

10/12

‘95% of natural disasters in the world are water related.’Tomoo Inoue, Director for Water Management Coordination International, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan speaking during the panel ‘Future Disaster Management – A global responsibility’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Panel 6: Future Disaster Management – A global responsibility

11/12

‘Nothing should be seen as insurmountable when it comes to protecting our citizens.’

Michel Papaud, France speaking during the plenary session ‘The European and international framework for disaster management: Perspectives from the Member States’ at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Final Plenary Session: The European and international framework for disaster management: Perspectives from the Member States: Panel Discussion with Directors-General of Civil Protection

12/12

‘It’s all about people: people as victims but also people as actors. They come in both shapes. Whether it is at the local, national or European level, we need to engage with people. A lot has been said about prevention not being sexy but that is also about engaging with people.’

Claus Sørensen, Director-General of the Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, European Commission speaking at the 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013

Closing remarks of 4th European Civil Protection Forum, 2013