Responding effectively to natural disasters and other emergencies requires collaboration and sharing. This is the idea behind the European Civil Protection Mechanism, a system that coordinates joint interventions in 37 European countries, including EU Member States and Participating States. It brings together specialized teams, equipment, and common procedures to support any country facing an emergency that exceeds its own capacity to respond.

At the heart of the Mechanism is the European spirit of solidarity — the idea that countries help each other in times of need. When a disaster strikes and a country asks for help, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) in Brussels organizes the intervention, sending trained teams, technical modules, and equipment from other European countries.
This network not only makes emergency response faster and more effective, but also strengthens the sense of belonging to a shared European community capable of facing challenges together.

As part of the Resilience Project, which works to strengthen the ability of South Adriatic territories to cope with the effects of climate change, the Civil Protection and Emergency Management Department of the Puglia Region, together with the Italian National Civil Protection Department, organized an online training session on the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

On 10 September, all project partners took part in a workshop to learn how the Mechanism works and how to design operational “Modules.”

• Carlo Centoducati, from the National Department’s International Activities and Relations Office, explained how the Mechanism functions and how knowledge is shared across countries.
• Francesco Ronco, SA-Resilience Project Manager for the Puglia Region, described how to design a Module within the Mechanism.
• Antonio Lanza, On-site Commander of the Puglia Region’s GFFF-V European Module, shared his experience in international training and field operations.

This initiative highlights the commitment of all Resilience partners to sharing knowledge and best practices, key elements for building safer, more united, and resilient communities.