The second day of the first 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), focused on the role of the European Union in civil protection, with particular emphasis on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM).
The workshops were delivered by Col. Claire Kowalewski, a French firefighter seconded to the European Commission who has been involved in the development and implementation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism for more than ten years, and Col. Grzegorz Borowiec from the National Rescue Coordination Centre of the Headquarters of the Polish State Fire Service. Drawing on their extensive experience in international emergency response operations carried out under the UCPM, the speakers shared valuable knowledge and practical insights with the participants.
Participants learned about the principles of the European civil protection system, the coordination of international assistance, and the role of participating countries in responding to disasters and emergencies. The workshops also introduced the wide range of opportunities offered by the Union Civil Protection Mechanism, including training courses, exchange programmes, expert development pathways, and participation in international missions and emergency response operations. Practical examples and first-hand experiences from real UCPM deployments provided an especially valuable dimension to the sessions.
Thanks to the expertise and experience of the presenters, the young firefighters from 18 countries gained a deeper understanding of the importance of international cooperation and the vital role the Union Civil Protection Mechanism plays in strengthening Europe's preparedness, resilience and collective response capacity.
Over the coming days, participants will continue to take part in workshops, practical exercises and simulations designed to further develop the knowledge, skills and teamwork required for effective cooperation within international emergency response teams and to strengthen collaboration among European fire and rescue services.
