A full-scale civil protection field exercise entitled ‘EU MOLDEX 2017’ will be held between 18 and 21 September in the Republic of Moldova. Organised by the EU in the framework of the “Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters in the Eastern Partnership Countries” (PPRD East 2) programme, the event will involve representatives of rescue teams from the EU’s six Eastern Partner countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
In the exercise’s scenario, an earthquake will cause the collapse of buildings and the breach of a dam, resulting in flooding; meanwhile a traffic accident will result in the release of dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere. To answer this major emergency, Moldova will request the help of its neighbouring countries through the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) – exactly as it would do in case of a real disaster.
The objective of the exercise is thus to test the emergency cooperation procedures introduced in the six countries in the last few years with the assistance of the PPRD East Programme.
The journalists are invited to attend this unprecedented exercise on 20 September. Registration is open until 18:00 on 18 September via email to Veronique Ruggirello ([email protected]) or Liliana Puscasu ([email protected]).
The EU-funded Programme on Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural and Man-made Disasters (PPRD East 2) aims to contribute to the peace, stability, security and prosperity of the Eastern Partner Countries. It also aims to protect the environment, population, cultural heritage, resources and infrastructures of the region by strengthening the countries’ resilience, preparedness and response to man-made disasters and disasters caused by natural hazards.
The PPRD East 2 Programmefacilitates the strengthening of disaster risk management capacities at national level in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, strengthens regional cooperation among the Partner Countries, and brings Partner Countries progressively closer to the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Programme will last for 4 years, with a budget of €5.5 million.
