Today, at the Rescue Training Centre, Logistics and Development Base of the Fire University in Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, the first edition of the UCPM Exchange of Young Firefighters, organised by the Fire University in cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), came to an end.
The final day of the programme began with a summary of the entire week and a discussion dedicated to the experiences gained. Participants also had the opportunity to test their skills during sports competitions, which served as another element fostering integration among young firefighters from eighteen European countries.
An important part of the programme was the presentation of the rescEU DSiM Poland module. Both the programme participants and Maciej Popowski, Director-General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO), were introduced to the project’s assumptions and the operational capabilities of the module. The presentation was delivered by Chief Superintendent Zdzisław Salamonowicz, project manager, who highlighted the importance of this developing capability for strengthening the European civil protection system.
The official closing of the workshops and the certificate award ceremony were jointly conducted by Maciej Popowski and BG Tomasz Klimczak, Rector-Commandant of the Fire University. In their speeches, they emphasised that the future of European civil protection is based not only on modern equipment and procedures, but above all on people, mutual trust and cross-border cooperation. They underlined that the relationships, exchange of knowledge, experience and best practices developed during the week-long programme will prove valuable in the future, when participants meet again during joint exercises or international rescue operations carried out under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
The first edition of the UCPM Exchange of Young Firefighters created a unique space for building an international network of young firefighters from across Europe. Through joint workshops, exercises and daily cooperation, participants not only expanded their knowledge and skills, but also established professional contacts and friendships that may translate into even more effective cooperation during future international rescue operations. The event brought together 18 young firefighters and representatives of emergency services from 18 European countries: Poland, Germany, Iceland, Greece, Serbia, Latvia, Malta, Czechia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, France, Hungary and Spain.
Throughout the entire programme, the Polish State Fire Service and the Fire University were represented by 2LT Dominik Strzelczyk a graduate of the Fire University, who actively contributed to the international exchange of experience with young firefighters from eighteen countries.
We would like to thank all participants, lecturers, organisers and partners for this shared week. We believe that the first edition of the UCPM Exchange of Young Firefighters will become the beginning of a lasting European network of young firefighters who will jointly respond to future challenges related to civil protection and the safety of European citizens.
