On May 21, the first day of the Europe Civil Security forum took place, bringing together three informative panel discussions on strengthening the civil protection system. Participants – representatives of authorities, communities, international organizations and experts from different countries – discussed practical response scenarios, long-term strategies and partnership models of interaction. Particular emphasis was placed on shared responsibility for the security of not only Ukraine, but the whole of Europe – today and in the future.
The forum was organized by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in partnership with the All-Ukrainian Association of Local Governments “Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities” as part of a project supported by the European Commission under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
Key speakers include those who formulate civil protection strategies and implement them in their daily work.
Viktor Vitovetskyi, Director of the Department for Organization of Civil Protection Measures at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, emphasized that the safety of civilians starts with infrastructure. In the face of a constant threat, Ukraine is creating a strategic network of shelters, which is not only protection but also an indicator of readiness for long-term challenges. According to him, strategic planning and proactive actions should become the norm not only for Ukraine but for the whole of Europe.
Oleksandr SINKOV, Deputy Director of the Department, Chief of the Rescue Forces Division of the Emergency Response Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, presented extensive statistics on the work of rescuers during the full-scale war and emphasized the change in approaches to rescue operations.
Oleksii RIABYKIN, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, emphasized that in times of war it is important not only to build new defense infrastructure, but also to ensure effective coordination between the central government, communities and international partners. According to him, despite the daily threats, Ukrainians continue to live, work and stay at home, and this is the main impetus for government officials to develop comprehensive security solutions.
Oleh BONDARENKO, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, noted that Ukraine is already at the level of many EU countries in the field of civil protection – and in some aspects even one step ahead. “We are uniting in reality, not on paper,” the MP emphasized, urging communities to become more actively involved in security initiatives.
Tetiana NEKHAICHUK, Security Project Management Expert, Head of the Project Office of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, CEO of Boosters Consulting Group and moderator of the panel “Civilian Protection in Action: Community-Based Solutions,” set the tone for the discussion, in which security is seen not only as a response system but as a result of the daily work of communities. She emphasized the importance of the local level, as communities are the first to face the consequences of threats and are the first to come up with innovative solutions. Her moderation ensured the depth of the discussion, in which practical cases were discussed at the level of the state strategy.
Vitaliy BEZGIN, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Chair of the Subcommittee on Administrative and Territorial Organization and Local Self-Government, Committee on State Power Organization, Local Self-Government, Regional Development, and Urban Planning of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, emphasized that Ukrainian communities have a unique experience that can already become part of security solutions for the whole of Europe. He emphasized: “Ukraine is not only ready to share its best practices, but is also developing specific mechanisms that have proven effective in emergency situations.
Roman PRYMUSH, Deputy Head for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, presented a new initiative – the institute of a community civil defense officer. According to him, in times of war, not every community leader has a clear algorithm of actions when it comes to people’s safety. That is why a separate trained person is needed in each community, who will know the risks, high-risk objects and the procedure.
Svitlana SPAZHEVA, Deputy Chair of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, Mayor of Pokrovske Territorial Community of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, shared a number of practical security cases that are already being implemented at the local level. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the community has established a security center, and a single call center is being formed based on the 112 model.
Oleh PYLYPENKO, Mayor of Shevchenkove Territorial Community of Mykolaiv Oblast, recalled that his community was one of the first to face a full-scale invasion. Mr. Pylypenko emphasized that there are two main professions in Ukraine today: protecting and rescuing, and that these are the areas where a safe community should be built.
Among the foreign speakers were Christer Brown (Swedish Civil Protection Agency MSB), Andrew Duncan (International Committee of the Red Cross) and David Petrovich (German Federal Agency for Technical Cooperation, THW). They emphasized the partnership with Ukraine and the need to adapt European civilian security systems to new challenges.
David PETROVIC, Deputy Head of the International Department, German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) international department, emphasized the importance of practical partnerships in times of war. The department is currently working on launching a program to create volunteer fire brigades. “We value cooperation with Ukrainians because when all Europeans have paper notes at the table, Ukrainians already have tablets,” he said, emphasizing that Ukraine’s experience in civil protection is not just unique, it is ahead of many European partners.
The Forum is organized with the financial support of the European Union.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union as represented by the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
Tomorrow is the second day of the Europe Civil Security Forum. Don’t miss it! We invite you to join the live broadcast:
Facebook page of the All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities
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