Integrating Civil Protection within the European Union - Research Proposal Example

Name: Tutor: Task: Date: Research Proposal on integrating civil protection within the European Union Executive Summary Many nations globally occasionally have suffered from both human-induced as well as natural calamities. Their social and economic changes normally impact negatively affecting development and the level of competitiveness in the affected areas. Of late there has been evidence of increasing susceptibility to such calamities due to the ever worsening conditions in areas of climate change, emerging health problem threats, which occurs unexpectedly having adverse impacts on human health, political and social instability, ecosystems ,economy and infrastructure. The responsibility dealing with these challenges is mainly dependant on the concerned nations who are charged with coming up with a comprehensive strategy to lower down the differences within the affected communities. The European Community and member states have over the time begun to work more closely as large scale incidents need a coordinated response from different agencies across the European Union and with resources from all levels of government. European Nations acknowledges that many nations are playing a vital role in proposing a policy framework for assuring security and extensibility to their respective societies and protection of their own citizens. Whilst we recognize the value and importance of comprehensive European Union instruments and programmes already brought in, or in the process of preparation, we believe that relevant challenges political, legal, technical, operational are yet to be addressed to better overcome the obstacles that globalisation, ever changing technologies and ease of movement presently pose to various Communities. We also note that various agreements currently being considered by for adoption, contains specific and important changes regarding Civil Protection that will provide competence to the European Union in carrying out its major objectives with regards to civil protection. Currently the Civil Protection is facing situations where many national or local purchasing authorities coexist with limited coordination. An integrated European approach on security issues will considerably help the development and implementation of security policies with regards to the principles of solidarity, subsidiary, equality and national sovereignty while still maintaining the European model in the area of European Home Affairs by balancing movement, security and privacy. European nation members are ready to assist and complement actions at national, regional and local level in risk preventions, in promoting uniformity in their civil protection work and in responding to any disasters within the communities. Introduction Major calamities within the European nations and the world in general have brought the need to improve on the effectiveness of its already existing prevention, reduction as well as response capabilities. The types of calamities that theEuropean Union nations face depend to some extent on their climate and geography and due to these they have different response expertise and experiences. There is evidence of a growing sensitivity to disasters as the worsening conditions of climate change may increase the destruction of human life, ecosystems and infrastructures (Siberson, 2008). Urban populations are also growing with traditionally pastoral societies moving into cities under land use change pressures but still maintaining their behaviours relating to animal husbandry. These changes linked to ease of movement and societal cultural changes and tensions create an environment that places important civil populations at risk from a number of threats that are not part of the normal risk reduction planning. The responsibility of meeting these challenges is dependant on every Member nation, who must decide what resources to allocate to civil protection. This creates within the European Union considerable diversity in the capabilities and capacities available to face these threats. The European Community has therefore come up with a set of instruments to support and supplement these efforts with regard to disaster management. In addition, it has established various directives to better protect people, their environment, property and cultural heritage. Aims/Objectives The objective of this paper is to make proposals to strengthen the European Union’s disaster management capabilities, building upon and linking the already available measures. This communication seeks to identify and address the need for improved systems, secure communication, operational methodologies and common training to ensure an integrated, co-ordinated and effective response at European level in case of crisis. In summary, the overall objectives to this proposal are: Carry out actions to support, coordinate as well as supplementing the actions of Member Nations at national, regional and local level in risk prevention and preparation; Promote fast effective cooperative action within the European Union between national civil protection services. Promote consistency in international activities. Literature Review There are many literature sources that discuss about calamities. Stewart (2006) asserts that calamities may occur anytime and anywhere and may come in a variety of forms. This may include; floods, earthquakes, fires, terrorism or any other act of nature. Modern civil protection is therefore called upon to act on both the traditional threats such as wild fires and earth quakes as well as present threats including weapons of destruction, global warming and threats that lead to flexible scenarios that require flexible response and extensive capacity. The Monitoring and Information Centre found out that there are several calamities which are common in the society. These calamities include; Terrorism and organized crimes involving the use of dangerous weapons of destruction. Human-induced calamities such as the major industrial accidents. Natural calamities including tsunami and volcanic eruptions, droughts, hurricanes and tornado, floods and dangerous storms as well as other pandemics or public diseases. Methodology The main data techniques applied in this research included semi-structured interviews, questionnaire as well as secondary source analysis. Direct interviews actually constituted the most important part of information in this case. These are believed to bring the social reality and the subjective meanings to the topic discussed by bringing out as well as observing what is more vital to them concerning the topic. There is therefore no rigid disconnection in this case between data collection and analysis, the combined processes therefore acting as an interactive way of data collection. A sample group of interviewees were chosen with their relevance to various questions concerning the topic and general networking through personal contacts expanded the samples. The total number of those responding to the interviews was reached when everyone interviewed was now not giving out new ideas hence reaching a saturation level. The information collected from the interviews was personal. Interview notes were then thoroughly analysed which made it possible to come out with a clear understanding of each of the interviewees views. A presentable formal document with all the field material evidence, data collection materials interview transcriptions and other field notes was made. This was to enable other investigators analyse the evidence directly and not be limited Ethical Considerations The key to the future growth of Civil Protection at European Union level lies in coming out with a comprehensive balance. This means that the protection of citizens alone cannot be fulfilled in isolation but by cooperation between the concerned. The decisions taken at regional and local level should go along with a European Union Civil Protection dimension. Member State should instead organize their significant financial, political and operational resources alongside the European Union to work in line with a series of similar civil protection goals. The European Commission has come up and is managing the Community Mechanism for Civil Protection that supports and supports efforts at national and local level with regard to calamity prevention, preparedness of those responsible for civil protection and the intervention in the occurrence of calamities. The EU should therefore work to improve global governance for a stronger coordination between local or national and European Union activities as well as effective coordination of decision and policy making has required. Decision taken at regional and local level should be in line with the European Union dimension that would emphasize territorial recognition and response through improved governance. The EU should complement national initiatives that would assist member nations to achieve in particular a better crisis control, but also preparedness, response and management through improved capabilities and capacity to provide better efficiency for crisis management, as well as greater solidarity and mutual assistance among Member States. It should also improve the effectiveness of coming joint actions through supporting definition of common organizational and legislative frameworks to integrate existing procedures within organizational boundaries and provide common response planning. Other than this, the EU should also consider providing understanding of legal restrictions in different countries and increase possibility for intervention by those having adequate resources for example the intervention of military rescue forces. The EU should also facilitate resource support from various member states to jointly respond, if need be, especially when there are major calamities. They should be ready to share their capabilities and competence in the civil protection region in an environment that allows for this. It should also envisage the constitution of Rapid Reaction Intervention Team similar to what NATO does by employing rapid intervention forces to handle multi- national calamities. They should as well increase dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sectors to acquire better understanding and understanding of problems needs and solutions that exist within the crisis management and civil protection in order to provide better economic and added value to the member States. Lastly they should provide a common platform for easier understanding of risks management approaches when exchanging information and best practices. Time Scale Time Objectives Activity First, second and third week To be able to establish the extent civil protection among member states of the EU. Collection of data. fourth and fifth week To come up with a clear understanding of the collected data in relation to the topic and the objectives. Thorough analysis of the collected data Sixth, seventh and eighth week To come up with findings Noting findings Ninth and tenth week Making the final draft hard copy Typing Works Cited Assoc, B. Civil Protection and Crisis Management in the European Union 6th Report of Session 2008-09 Report with Evidence: House of Lords Paper 43 Session 2008-09 House of Lords Paper Session 2008-09.The Stationery Office, 2009 (1) European Commission and Commission of the European Communities. General Report on the Activities of the European Union, Vol 2004.European Commission, 1996 (2) pg481-482 (2) Stewart, E.J. The European Union and conflict prevention: policy evolution and outcome. LIT Verlag Münster, 2006 (1) pg 99-124 Sieberson, C.S.Dividing lines between the European Union and its Member States: The Impact of the Treaty of Lisbon. Cambridge University Press, 2008 (1) pg 83-115 Read More