About the Forum

general

During the hearing on “Local Authorities facing natural and industrial disasters and emergencies”, in Strasbourg on 25 October 2004, it was decided to set up, under the umbrella of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE), an European Network of cities confronted wit a disaster. The cities and municipalities present at this hearing asked Dr. Jan H.H. Mans, at that time mayor of the city of Enschede in The Netherlands to set up this network and nominated him as the President.

objective and means

1. The objective of the Association is to inform, advise and professionalize elected officials and public servants of local and regional authorities with regard to how to act in the event of a disaster.

2. It will endeavour to achieve its objectives by legal means including:

- The establishment of a European network.

- Working together with other relevant European institutions and organizations.

- Gathering, organizing, making accessible, validating and disseminating practical expertise.

- Providing a forum in which elected officials and public servants can meet in order to exchange experiences and dilemmas with regard to disaster management at local and regional level and give each other feedback regarding their own position and role.

- Ensuring that the specific needs and interests of towns, municipalities and regions which have been hit by a disaster are recognized and taken into account in the decision-making process at European level.

- Promoting specific national legislation for the protection and strengthening of disaster management at local and regional level.

- Encouraging and supporting European collaborative undertakings between towns, municipalities and regions which have been hit by a disaster as well as supporting them in the submission of applications for European subsidies.

- Promoting and facilitating education and training sessions in the area of disaster management at local and regional level.

- Supporting and promoting risk inventorization.

- All other legal means which may be beneficial to the achievement of its objectives.

activities

The activities of the Association are related to its objective and include:

- Organizing relevant exchanges of elected officials and public servants.

- Establishing and maintaining a database and website for the use of members.

- Collaboration with universities, knowledge centres and other relevant institutions to promote research of relevance to the target group.

- Participating as a partner in relevant European projects.

- Setting up European projects.

- Setting up and supporting relevant work groups.

- Organizing and participating in meetings, conferences, lectures, courses, study trips and such like.

- Setting up enterprises.

- Publishing or commissioning occasional or periodic publications.

- Supporting the activities of eligible organizations.