Developments in NATO’s Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee
The Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee (SCEPC) Plenary Session in EAPC and Allied format will take place on 4-5 June 2009 at NATO Headquarters. The plenary brings together representatives from Interior Ministries and Emergency Management Agencies to exchange best practices and enhance cooperation.
The meeting will focus on future trends and challenges with regard to Civil Emergency Planning, highlighting areas for potential NATO support.
The activities of NATO’s technical Planning Boards and Committees will be an important focus at the Plenary and highlight NATO’s contribution to issues such as critical infrastructure protection, emergency response and preparedness in the event of terrorist attacks. Sharing information on national exercises and training opportunities remains an important topic.
The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre’s (EADRCC) exercise “Zhetysu 2009”, to take place in Kazakhstan in September will be addressed. The scenario involves an earthquake causing mudflows, industrial damage and environmental contamination. The objective of the exercise is to practice international coordination, enhancing also interoperability of first responders.
This plenary will also be the occasion for Sweden to present the new 2009 Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) handbook. The CEP handbook, a national contribution by Sweden, provides a practical overview of civil emergency planning and crisis management structures in Euro-Atlantic Partnership Countries. In this context, the CEP Handbook is an important contribution to fostering cooperation among EAPC nations.