At the 8th European Civil Protection Forum, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Adrian Efros, and the Head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, Colonel Alexandru Oprea, held a bilateral discussion with Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.
The main topics included the active participation of the Moldovan General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in the MODEX exercises in Bulgaria, Latvia, Moldova, Portugal, and Germany over the next two years. This participation reflects our commitment to the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
Additionally, the officials noted that since joining the Civil Protection Mechanism, Moldova’s response time to emergencies and exceptional situations has significantly improved. This improvement creates safer conditions, reduced material damage and supports economic development. Moldova’s capabilities to respond to fires, floods, and earthquakes will also be strengthened. Another key point discussed was the importance of further exchanging information and expertise in disaster management and emergency response.
The officials also referred to the various forms of support provided by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism Member and Partner countries. This support ranges from search and rescue operations to firefighting, deployment of medical personnel and equipment, temporary emergency shelters, among others.
They also identified several needs that could be addressed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. These include the accreditation of the USAR Moldova team according to INSARAG standards, the implementation of a national early warning system, the enhancement of training capacities in emergency and exceptional situations, and the sharing of best practices for emergency prevention among the population.
The participation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs leadership in this forum demonstrates the active contribution of the Republic of Moldova to the development and strengthening of European civil protection mechanisms. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation in risk and disaster management.
