Enrico Marchi University of Florence - Italy enrico.marchi@unifi.it

1. MEFISTO Mediterranean Forest Fire Fighting Training Standardisation GA No. ECHO/SUB/2016/742556/PREP24 Enrico Marchi University of Florence - Italy enrico.marchi@unifi.it Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2017

2. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 1. Project info sheet Activity: Preparedness Duration: 24 months Starting date: 15-1-2017 Total eligible cost:€ 434.309 EC contribution: € 325.732 Financing rate: 75 %

3. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 2.Coordinator and partners Coordinator: CO – UNIFI - UniversitàdegliStudi di Firenze - Dipartimento di GestionedellerisorseAgrarie, Alimentari e Forestali – Italy, www.gesaaf.unifi.it. Wide experience in silviculturalmanagement of forest fuel, forest fire prevention, health and safety in forest firefighting, as well as in forest operator and forest firefighter training. BE1 – ENB - Escola Nacional de Bombeiros– Portugal, http://www.enb.pt. A recognized expertise in forest fire prevention, suppression and training activities. BE2 – CESEFOR - Centro de Servicios y PromociónForestal y de suIndustria de Castilla y León– Spain, www.cesefor.com. Strong experience in international cooperation for projects related to forests and forest fire. BE3– ENTENTE - Entente pour la ForêtMéditerranéenne– France, http://www.entente-valabre.com. A recognized expertise in forest fire prevention, suppression and training activities. BE4– RT – Regione Toscana - Italy, http://www.regione.toscana.it. A recognized expertise in forest fire prevention, suppression and training activities. Partners:

4. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 3. Motivation • Forest fires are civil protection events that yearly affect several EU countries - Mediterranean area. • Increased collaboration among the member States in occasion of severe fire seasons and EU exercises on forest fire fighting were organized (e.g. Sardinia 2008, Prometheus 2014). • The needs for improving networking, collaboration and shared standardization has been highlighted in previous EU projects such as during the Interreg III C "OCR Incendi" and during the Interreg IVC "EUFOFINET". • Needs of a coordination and collaboration improvement on forest fire response capacity at EU level. Common and shared basis for training on forest fire fighting are required in order to increase EU preparedness level. • MEFISTO project aims to develop efficient and standardized training protocols developed by a representative network of Mediterranean stakeholders. • New opportunities regarding interoperability between Mediterranean training centres - establishing training programmes - sessions on the organization, protocols and procedures applied in the neighbouring countries - improve the effectiveness on cross-border fire fighting

5. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 4. Objectives In detail the main objectives of the project are: • to share knowledge on strategies, tactics and methods applied in each of the Mediterranean Countries involved in the project - future involvement of other EU countries; • to include in the training programs specific sessions on the organization, protocols and procedures applied in the neighbouring countries - improve the effectiveness on crossborder fire fighting • to develop a standardised and common terminology to improve the communication efficacy in joint fire fighting operation; • to define standardised operational training skills of Forest Fire Operators • Establishment of an organization of representatives and agencies of different countries (manage and monitor the skills and competence certification methods and processes; define and maintain agreed minimum standards of skills and abilities in forest fire fighting training, applied in all European countries, etc.)

6. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 5. Expected results The main expected results will be: • the redaction of guidelines and reports on the organization, strategies and methods applied in each Country. These documents will contain the main elements to be included in the training sessions addressed to international cooperation; • the definition of standards in fire-fighting training system which can be applied in all partners Countries; • the development of standards for European supranational qualifications of European Forest Fire Operator (FoFO); • the institution of an European organization (Network) with the aims of develop and guarantee the international standard assessment of FoFO skills; • the implementation of an international pilot training course, including test of the skills assessment procedures.

7. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 6. Deliverables and deadlines/1

8. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 6. Deliverables and deadlines/2

9. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 7. Tentative dates and places for Major Events

10. Kick-off meeting, Brussels, 18-1-2016 8. Sustainability - Continuation • MEFISTO project aims to be the starting point for a joined European standardisation in forest fire fighting. • New figure of European Forest Fire Operator (FoFO). • Network between forest fire fighting training centers (transnational collaborations) • New organization EUFOFISC - EUropean FOrest FIre fighting Skills Council • EUFOFISC will continue its activity after the end of the project