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 FIRE AND rescue representatives met in Paris recently to debate how to improve civil protection arrangements across Europe.
Delegates from more than 20 countries attended the Rescue and Firefighting in Europe Symposium, held in March, to discuss the need for more effective cross-border working between European nations and better training for emergency personnel, particularly the large proportion of part-time responders.
Walter Egger, president of the international firefighters association, CTIF, said that effective mutual-aid mechanisms were key. ‘Any European country by itself is too small to manage everything, so an international network is very much needed,’ he said.
The event also stressed the need for more consideration of the 4 million volunteer responders across Europe. Many countries, including France, Germany, Portugal and the Czech Republic, rely on a high number of volunteers for firefighting and technical rescue operations. However, as Mr Egger said, ‘the recruitment, training and availability of volunteers is becoming more and more difficult in some countries and regions’.
Building on this theme, Dennis Davis, president of the Federation of British Fire Organisations, argued that the work of responders, whether volunteers or not, should be truly recognised and understood by the European Commission (EC).
‘Complex technical tasks need appropriate training and support – there is no short cut in this type of operational environment,’ he said. ‘If the EC does not make this sort of commitment, then it may find that this huge capacity for good will decline’
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