Strengthening the network of European National Platforms

1. Strengthening the network of European National Platforms Meeting of CEUDIP MembersBonn 19.-20.11.2007

2. Strengthening the network of European National Platforms • Review of the functions and effectiveness of existing regional capacities and national platforms in Europe with the intention of developing and strengthening NP’s networks and capacities within Europe (EU countries in particular) and with other NP’s; In order to respond to NPs call to the UN/ISDR secretariat to: • Support NPs in gaining visibility on their activities; • Provide opportunities for exchanges with among themselves and other partners; • Support the development on synergies and opportunities of collaboration • Facilitating NPs establishment workshops and training material package to support the capacities of NP’s;

3. Goals of the Initiative • To identify possible common areas of activities and synergies • To enhance linkages between National Platforms • To establish the necessary information to promote the basis for an enlargement of the NP system • To advocate for better integration of disaster reduction at the national level • To support networking among National Platforms to strengthen regional capacities in disaster risk reduction

4. Overview of information collected National Platforms Bulgaria; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Hungary; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland. Their Coordinating Ministries: Ministry of Sustainable Development; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Interior; MOFA;

5. National Platforms Under Development • Austria (Austrian Academy of Science) • Ireland (Environment) • Italy (Civil Protection/MOFA) • Norway (Interior and Justice) • Romania (Interior) Manifested intention to develop one: • Croatia • Turkey

6. Regional structures analysed European Union / European Commission Council of Europe / Major Hazards Agreement Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development Sub-regional structures/initiatives are currently being reviewed: CEUDIP Central European Disaster Prevention Network DPPI: Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative/Stability Pact; CMEPC: Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness Council;

7. Outcomes and concrete products Information on NP in Europe and Focal points were collected together with good practises. Analysis of possible support instruments at regional structures was carried out the outcomes will be fully shared before the Global Platform; « UN/ISDR European Website » is under development; A two days facilitation workshop agenda has been developed, based on past UN/ISDR experiences to facilitate the establishment of national platforms and training material package is under development

8. Synergies and Opportunities for Cooperation Bilateral – Trilateral – Multilateral Regional International Sectoral

9. Synergies Bilateral – Trilateral - Multilateral Exchanges on existing know-how on specific topics in DRR (risk mapping, early warning systems, education, research) Potential for co-operation has been identified: E.g. Cross border catchment areas, river basins, mountain areas E.g. international commissions on rivers, convention on the Alps, warning systems of met-services.

10. Synergies - Regional Establish a regional cooperation in order to Liaise with regional structures in areas as: research, development, environment, disaster peparedness Strengthen advocacy capacities on regional level Become partner to regional structures/networks

11. Synergies - Regional Potential for co-operation has been identified between: E.g. National Platforms and the European Specialized Centres of the Council of Europe Major Hazard Agreement; E.g.: Cyprus Specialized centre for Education and Disaster Reduction expertise can be used by NPs when undertaken initiatives related to Education; PLANAT experience in avalanches can be shared with Council of Europe

12. Synergies - Regional EU/EC and National Platforms/HFA Focal Points: DG Research in relation to seismology; DG Environment on the issue of Climate Change. EU Presidencies and NPs role: NPs of the Countries heading the EU Presidency should consultant on how to raise the profile of DRR – the topic of climate change has been identified as one of the common topics that could be perpetuated in the next 2 years Cooperation on cross-border hazards: Floods: International river commissions, Earthquakes: SAFER (Seismic Early Warning for Europe) Longer list of opportunities indicated in the outcome document

13. Synergies - International Advocacy for DRR at international level Agenda setting Integration of DRR into humanitarian assistance and development programmes E.g.: IOC Tsunami Programme and the mediterranean, Global Earthquake risk map (OECD), Adaptation to Climate Change; Global Platform; Exchanges with other « regions » on experiences and lessons learnt.

14. A network of European National Platforms and Focal Points for Natural Disaster Reduction Common Goals To facilitate and improve the exchange of information on good practices, the experiences and public policies of each of the members by establishing a more structured approach to issues and problems. To support the integration of DRR into all aspects of policy, decision making, private sector and civil society of the national, regional and international level of European countries with the aim to reduce the vulnerability of the society. To become a partner to the European Union, the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations in all aspects related to DRR. To provide consolidated, substantive input to the Global Platform starting in June 2007.

15. A network of European National Platforms and Focal Points for Natural Disaster Reduction Specific objectives To facilitate within Europe the contacts and relationship building between national platforms, focal points and experts by e.g. organizing periodical theme based meetings (to be defined case by case), identifying important upcoming topics, developments and political processes of DRR on the regional and international level. To formulate substantive proposals after discussions among members, to be submitted to the bodies or authorities of the European Union (EU), Council of Europe (CoE) a.o. To represent civil society vis a vis the EU, CoE. To provide a European Network for support of DRR efforts in developing countries and countries in transition. To support the development of additional National Platforms in Europe and in developing countries for example by twinnings.

16. A network of European National Platforms and Focal Points for Natural Disaster Reduction Work Plan Initial elements of the first phase of thenetwork will be among others to: Develop a system of information exchange and channelling among the members of the network Establish a system of information flow between UNISDR and the members of the network Establish a system of information flow between UNISDR and the members of the network To initiate a structured approach to European institutions with regard to DRR matters with the aim to identify synergies for harmonization of DRR efforts across the European countries

17. A network of European National Platforms and Focal Points for Natural Disaster Reduction Work Plan Initial elements of the first phase of thenetwork will be among others to: Build on existing information on European national platforms as part of the UN/ISDR Strengthening the Network of European National Platforms initiative collected by DKKV Examine the possibility of establishing a two to three year programme of seminars to be hosted by one or several of the network’s members in the field of technical and scientific issues of importance to European countries, such as Early Warning or adaptation to climate change

18. A network of European National Platforms and Focal Points for Natural Disaster Reduction Structure and Organisation The network is open to all European National Platforms and Focal points Meetings of the network will be open to interested parties on invitation UNISDR will be the key partner to the network On a voluntary rotating system one of the members will chair the network for a period of 2 years The chair will coordinate the implementation of the work plan and organise and host the annual meeting of the network members Members of the network will be encouraged to provide additional resources to the chair of the network for the execution of the tasks The network will meet once a year to discuss substantive issues of DRR and the upcoming work plans The working language of the network will be English

19. First Steps Presentation at the Global Platform Joined initiatve with regard to the Greenpaper of the European Union, Adaptation to Climate Change Preparation for an upcoming Call of DG Research Joined workshop in December in France

21. Thank you!