Today Minister Puchkov has met with Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. The meeting was devoted to issues of cooperation between EMERCOM of Russia and the European Commission in crisis response.
During the meeting Minister Puchkov expressed his satisfaction with the current level of cooperation between EMERCOM of Russia and structures of civil protection in European Commission based on the Administrative Agreement on cooperation, mutual help and aviation support in crisis response dated 25 June 2008. Within the framework of this Agreement the agencies annually exchange specialists, provide operational information exchange and cooperation of duty services in emergency situations, organize command-mapping and field exercises of search-and-rescue teams and aviation services. According to the Minister EMERCOM of Russia supports the initiative of the European Commission to improve and adapt the Administrative Agreement on cooperation of 25 June 2008. The Minister expressed his assurance that the work on this document would be completed in the near future and it would be signed no later than the beginning of next year.
“EMERCOM of Russia takes part in development of a new basic agreement between the Russian Federation and European Union. We plan that it will contain a proper core section relating to response to emergency situations and humanitarian aid”, - Minister Puchkov noted. The minister believes that it will give legal basis for resolving urgent questions in this sphere.
“We are sure that your participation in development of the document is absolutely necessary”, - pointed out Commissioner Georgieva in her turn. “We should extend our cooperation not only in civil protection system, but in emergency, difficult situations”, - she added.
The Commissioner also pointed out the importance of Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center in Nis and thanked EMERCOM of Russia for timely help in eliminating natural fires in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina this summer.
EMERCOM Head also thanked European Union for support to Russia in elimination of natural fires in 2010. According to the Minister humanitarian aid from official bodies and citizens of European Union amounted to tenth of millions US dollars. He stressed that this repeatedly demonstrated solidarity and tendencies towards mutual integration of European efforts in fighting disasters.
Source: EMERCOM of Russia
