In a landmark move, the European Union and Canada have agreed to enhance their collaboration in civil protection and disaster risk management.

This agreement was formalised during the recent EU-Canada Summit, where Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau endorsed an Administrative Arrangement for closer cooperation in disaster response and emergency management.

Strengthening collaboration and resource sharing

The partnership aims to elevate the sharing of best practices between the EU and Canada.

This will enhance prevention, preparedness, and coordination efforts, not just within their own territories, but also in third countries.

This collaborative effort is seen as a critical step in addressing both natural and human-induced disasters more effectively.

Boosting aerial firefighting capabilities

A significant element of this agreement is the European Commission’s decision to finance the acquisition of 12 new Canadian-built Canadair planes.

These aircraft are intended to augment the aerial firefighting capacity of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism’s strategic reserve, known as ‘rescEU’.

In addition to this, EU Member States have placed orders for a further 12 planes, significantly boosting the EU’s capability to combat wildfires.

Statements from leadership

Reflecting on the urgency of addressing natural disasters in light of the climate emergency, President Ursula von der Leyen remarked: “The climate emergency is all too real.

“We must partner to better address natural disasters.

“This is why today we agreed to work more closely with Canada on risk management and response.

“And we are looking forward to strengthening our European fleet by adding Canadian firefighting planes.”

Deepening emergency management cooperation

The Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission and the Emergency Management and Programs Branch (EMPB) of Public Safety Canada are the key bodies behind this Administrative Arrangement.

Both entities are dedicated to deepening joint work on disaster prevention, preparedness, and response, focusing on information sharing, lessons learned, international outreach, public awareness, training, warning systems, and capacity-building activities.

Global solidarity in action

Highlighting the global nature of this solidarity, Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, stated: “We have shown this June yet again, that our solidarity is truly global: France, Portugal and Spain have assisted by offering almost 300 firefighters through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help Canadian authorities tackle wildfires.

We welcome the signature of the Administrative Arrangement, which marks an important step to foster closer cooperation between the EU and Canada in civil protection and disaster management.

At the same time, we look forward to a swift finalisation of the purchase of Canadian-built fire-fighting aircraft to bolster the EU’s and Member States’ fire-fighting air fleets so as to further strengthen preparedness for future wildfires.”

Coordinated assistance under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

The EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which includes all EU Member States and 10 participating states, is designed to provide coordinated assistance when the scale of an emergency overwhelms a country’s response capabilities.

Administrative arrangements with additional countries, such as Canada, formalise cooperation and thereby enhance the collective response to natural and man-made disasters.

IFSJ Comment

The reinforced collaboration between the EU and Canada in civil protection and disaster risk management is a testament to the power of international cooperation in tackling global challenges.

This partnership not only leverages shared expertise and resources but also signifies a commitment to proactive and effective disaster response.

The addition of Canadian-built firefighting aircraft to the EU’s arsenal is a strategic move, strengthening the collective preparedness for future wildfire events.

Such international alliances underscore the importance of solidarity and cooperation in the face of increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters.