Ukraine joins the EU civil protection system

The document was signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko and EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, and witnessed by the Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism is the world's largest system for providing international coordinated emergency assistance. It includes a variety of resources and forms of assistance from 28 member states and a number of EU candidate countries. Joining the EU Civil Protection Mechanism will allow Ukraine to make full use of all EU instruments and programs to develop its national civil protection system and attract assistance.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received more than 70,000 tons of aid from EU countries under the Civil Protection Mechanism, ranging from food to demining equipment and special equipment.

Ukraine received a roadmap to officially become part of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in the fall of 2022. The document outlined specific steps that Kyiv had to take before becoming a full member of the system.

In addition, during the summit, more than 10 agreements were concluded between the new twin cities, memoranda of cooperation and understanding, statements of intent, and plans for further cooperation were signed with a number of organizations from the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, France, and the United States.

During the event, the Declaration of the International Cities and Regions Summit was adopted.

The International Summit of Cities and Regions is a platform for deepening partnership, interaction and cooperation at the level of Ukrainian and foreign municipalities. Its goal is to establish direct international communication between leaders and representatives of regions and communities from different countries; to develop ideas, potential joint social, economic, and humanitarian projects during Ukraine's integration into the European Union.

The event was organized on the initiative and within the framework of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine.