The European Commission, Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid, Civil Protection Unit is launching a call for proposals with the aim of identifying exercises which might be eligible for financial support in the framework of Civil Protection Financial Instrument.

The call for proposals for Exercises 2011 aims to improve civil protection preparedness and response to all kinds of emergencies, including marine pollution, through providing a testing environment and learning opportunity for all actors involved in civil protection assistance interventions under the Mechanism, all actors involved in civil protection modules, technical assistance and support teams, as well as testing the procedures of the Mechanism itself.

Exercises organised are designed primarily as field tests aiming mainly at :

1. Improving the response capacity and providing the necessary practice of the teams meeting the criteria for participation in civil protection assistance interventions;
2. Improving and verifying the procedures and establishing a common language for the coordination of civil protection assistance interventions and reducing the response time in major emergencies;
3. Enhancing operational cooperation between the civil protection services of the participating States;
4. Sharing lessons learned.

Exercises simulating the situation and conditions of major emergencies for the activation of the Mechanism including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear emergencies and the involvement of Participating States through the MIC, mainly with deployment of intervention teams (including modules), teams of experts, national key contact point staff, officials of the EU Institutions including humanitarian aid experts

Parts related to satellite communications might be subject to special procedure established between the Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA), co-funded by the ESA.

Exercises with marine pollution scenarios are possible. Whenever the scenario includes the participation of the European Maritime Safety Agency's (EMSA) oil spill response vessels, the daily rate for the vessel’s operational use and fuel costs will be covered by the EMSA.

The Community provisional funding available for the call for proposals is:

• 2,00 Million EUR (Orientation of the budget)

• 25 July 2011 - 12 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• Official page of the Call

• Common Provisions - Civil Protection Exercises 2011 (Other)
• Call for proposals – European Union Civil Protection Mechanism – Exercises 2011 (Legal base)

Opened to the following bodies or institutes with legal status established in the covered areas:

• Public authorities (all)
• Enterprises

Bodies or institutes must have their registered legal seat in one of the countries taking part in the Programme which are:

• European Union (EU)

Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security

• Call for proposals – Prevention and Preparedness in Civil Protection and Marine Pollution
• Call for proposals — Civil protection mechanism exercises
• Call for proposals – Prevention and Preparedness in Civil Protection and Marine Pollution
• Call for proposals – European Union Civil Protection Mechanism – Exercises 2011
• 2010 Call for proposals — Exercises, Union Civil Protection Mechanism